[cobirds] White-throated Sparrow,Carbondale; Rosy-Finches, Snowmass etc

Hi all

 

An update from the Roaring Fork Valley as the ‘Pineapple Express’ knocks on the door. It’s mid 40’s F here this morning – a massive change from the usual single digits (or negative single digits) that we have been waking up to all month. Rain later today, then three days off/on snow. We’ll see.

 

Today:

Garfield Cty: The White-throated Sparrow is here again today in our backyard. A Raccoon is out and about – last night it pried open the feed bin.. Still plenty of Dark-eyed Juncos – of all four expected forms.. no White-wingeds here!

Eagle Cty: Lewis’s Woodpeckers continue to use the poles on the hill behind the house this morning – present throughout the day most days it seems

 

Yesterday:

Garfield Cty: A single female Cassin’s Finch visited briefly, FOY. In recent winters they have been very scarce here-about until spring migration

 

Thursday:

Pitkin Cty: About 100 Rosy-Finches at Snowmass Ski-area at my Sam’s Knob free bird talk.. all three species (one Black), many Gray-crowned, including Hepburns and many Brown-capped

Also 4 Pine Grosbeaks, several Mountain and a single Black-capped Chickadee, Steller’s Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatch

Higher up we then went in search of White-tailed Ptarmigan – but without success. We’ll try again next Thursday. My wife Denise has seen them twice recently whilst teaching skiing, and the ski-patrol are seeing them regularly too.

 

Wednesday:

Was thrilled to host Dave Leatherman for a few hours birding and then to hear his talk “What birds eat” at the jointly hosted Roaring Fork Audubon evening in Carbondale

Pitkin County: In Snowmass we saw plenty of Rosy-Finches (alas no Black), Evening Grosbeaks, mountain form Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers

Eagle County: Frying Pan river (Basalt to Ruedi) 1 Barrow’s Goldeneye male, 1 Common Goldeneye female, several American Dippers,  several Bald Eagles. We missed spotting 5 Bighorn Sheep that were close to town. Lewis’s Woodpecker 1 along the Frying Pan, and another on the power poles behind our house. Prairie Falcon immature female frequenting the same poles.

 

Good birding all

Drive safe (if at all !)

 

Best wishes

 

Dick Filby

Carbondale, Garfield Cty, CO