Roaring Fork birds - Thursday

[Dick Filby]

Hi all

 

This morning an adult Bald Eagle sat in a Cottonwood by the Roaring Fork river, about ½ mile below the Old Snowmass Post Office

I spent the middle of the day at Snowmass Ski area (Pitkin Cty), doing my free bird tour. Three very interested folks showed up and we enjoyed some good birding and great weather.

My last tour of this season will be next Thursday. Email if you are interested.

At Snowmass, at the top of Sam’s Knob today there were around 25 Rosy-Finches visiting the feeder, mainly Brown-caps, along with some Gray-crowned of both forms. Other visitors included Pine Grosbeak, Red-breasted Nuthatch as well as Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees. Blythe and I then headed up the hill to look for White-tailed Ptarmigans. Recent windier conditions over the ridges had cleared quite a few areas (of snow) since last week – so plenty of places to look – but alas, none to be found. It was however magical to be wandering around at nearly 13,000 feet on such a gorgeous day with great vistas of the Continental Divide, Mt Elbert and all the way up to Steamboat.

 

Later, back downvalley, the White-throated Sparrow put in a brief appearance at the backyard feeders. Judging by how little feed had gone, I would expect that at least one of our regular Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks had been making the rounds today.

 

Best wishes

 

Dick Filby

Carbondale, Garfield Cty