Raptor Morning !

Jamie and I had been following the rare bird reports on CO Birds for several Golden-Crowned Sparrows and a few Snowy Owls. We had driven all the way down to Aurora Reservoir last weekend to try and see the Snowy, but no luck. On the way home that day we stopped by Red Rocks, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Golden-Crowned. And although we didnt catch the sparrow, we did get to see 4 of the 15 races that the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says exist. Here's an excerpt from their All About Birds website :

"Regional Differences

There is a huge range of geographic variation in the Dark-eyed Junco. Among the 15 described races, six forms are easily recognizable in the field and five used to be considered separate species until the 1980s. A field guide is the best place to look for complete illustration of ranges and plumages, but in general there are two widespread forms of the Dark-eyed Junco: “slate-colored” junco of the eastern United States and most of Canada, which is smooth gray above; and “Oregon” junco, found across much of the western U.S., with a dark hood, warm brown back and rufous flanks. Other more restricted variations include the slate-colored-like “white-winged” and Oregon-like “pink-sided” juncos of the Rockies and western Great Plains; and the Yellow-eyed Junco-like “red-backed” and “gray-headed” juncos of the Southwest."

We saw the basic Slate-colored ( all we ever saw back east....loved those little guys ! ),the Pink-sided, Grey-headed and the Oregon. A Spotted Towhee joined them now and then at the feeder behind the Trading Post, along with a Song Sparrow and House Finches and of course House Sparrows. A few Scrub Jays, apparent residents of the area, came and went...looking huge next to all the tiny finches and sparrows.

On our way out to the location described for the Snowy this morning we spotted a Northern Harrier, several American Kestrels and a few Red-Tailed Hawks. We scanned the cropped fields in every direction as we got closer to Harvest Drive, and suddenly, there it was...the Snowy Owl...WAY off, standing on a patch of snow in an open area of a dark green, very short cultivated grass/crop of some kind. Jamie set the scope up and brought s/he into view...wow ! What a beauty ! And so far from home. We chatted with some of the other birders for a few minutes and then headed over to nearby Barr Lake State Park. And there, out on the mostly frozen lake were at least 21 Bald eagles !!! Most of the were juveniles in various stages of plumage...looked like all the years were represented, including a few adults. Most were standing about on the ice, some flying, and some perching in the trees surrounding the lake. some gulls and ducks were floating in the small open water area, with the eagles walking about on the edges. It was cold...27 degrees, but no wind. But still...our mesh-topped summer running shoes were not match ! And fingers....how is it that the fingers can get SO cold ???? All in all a really great morning ! Unfortunately I never took my camera out...I would have had to take my gloves off....

Boulder, Colorado !

Click on the picture to better see the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the far distance. I'm at St. Vrains State Park taking this picture, a few weeks back. It's about 20 miles east and a few miles north of Boulder. Saw 5 American White Pelicans ( what a sight to see them take off from the water ! ), a platform nest of Osprey with 3 big fledglings, many many swallows ( VG, Tree, Barn, Cliff), Western Kingbirds and several other species. There was a big stand of milkweed near the water that was in full bloom, but no Monarch activity. I need to go back there and see if there is now.
We've been here for almost two months now, and it's felt like coming home from the very beginning. The Western climate really appeals to my early years in California, and the geology is not only spectacular to look at, it also shapes the weather and plant and animal life.

We arrived in Boulder with our two cats, Sam and Tomsky, May 30th. The kitties endured being pressed into tiny cat carriers and stuffed under the seats in front of our feet, for the 3 hour plane ride. We stayed three nights at the Boulder Outlook Hotel. Sam's carrier had to be taken apart for him to get out of it..he'd snagged a claw on the padding I put in there for him. A "single stream recycling" cardboard box provided by the hotel to drop our recyclables into became Sam's spot to pass two days and nights in deep ( comatose ? ) sleep, getting out only to drink a little and use the litterbox. He rallied on the third day and decided to join the rest of us. Yeh ! Hang in there , Sam ! Tomsky spent hours at the big window that faced the dog exercise area, watching people and dogs go by.
Jamie and I set out right away, exploring the town ( and birding ! ) and getting ready to move into the great house he rented for us only a mile or so from Scot and Terry. The PODS arrived as scheduled, my car showed up on the transport, delivered without incident :) Jamie spent a few days ( after working all day ) unloading the PODS. Scot and Terry's youngest son, Byron, came over one day and lent a strong back and some fun. My stupid back doesnt allow me to lift much weight, so I mostly unpacked and sorted things as they came in.
Each day we go for walks, bike rides and/or hikes in the surrounding area or get in the Prius and head up to the mountains, or out to the foothills, hogbacks, mesas, grasslands, plains or flatirons to poke around. Downtown and the farmer's market is just a quick bike ride away. It is so easy to live here.

An Awesome Day

Wow. A gorgeous Spring morning just got better and better as the sun moved across the sky. An hour and a half of home yoga with sun streaming thru the east window got me warmed up.
A cleaning crew came and got this house cleaner than its been in 12 years in 2 hours ! Why have I resisted for so long ?

I spent some time in the basement getting the slab roller unearthed and the kiln spiffed up...someone is coming by to have a look at it tomorrow and possibly buy it. I am happy to move on. I feel the pull of printmaking again. So simple and direct. And watercolors. And just drawing. Why have I strayed ?

I sat out in the new flower bed ( new as of 2010 ) and pulled a few weeds and just absorbed being in the garden. Had not done that in months and months. A big garden spider ( some fort of wolf spider ) emerged from a hole, its legs looking exactly like teeny tiny threads of incredibly fragile twigs.
Wild violets are blooming. Spring Beauties are blooming. May Apples are up, but not blooming yet. Cutleaf Toothwort and Service Berry ( Shadbush ) are in full feather though. The Spicebush doesnt seem to be putting on quite the show as last year , when they lit up a section of the woods on Rickard road with their tiny yellow flowers. Back in our garden, the Moonbeam and American dream coreopsis are emerging, as are the Echinacea and the Rudbeckia Maxima. The Peonies are up a good twelve inches now. Daffodils are extra bright this year it seems !

I went for a walk and saw a Brown Creeper for the first time in several years. I finally saw a Field Sparrow this season! I'd been hearing them, but could not lay eyes on them !

When i got home I steamed up some bok choy to go with my leftover zuke/kalamata olive fritatta and some mac n cheeze. Yum yum. A smallish chunk of banana cake rounded it all off. And a few Dandies marshmallows.

Yesterday was cool and rainy most of the day, perfect apparently, for the rubbery looking orange fungus pictured here.

I think the neighbor's Chimney Swifts may be back...I'll have to check again tomorrow.

My 55th B-Day and a Move

Today I turned 55. Double nickel as my hubby would say :)
Big changes happening. We are moving from Northern Virginia ( Lovettsville ) to Boulder, Colorado, for at least a few years. We will rent out our house here, and just rent in Boulder. My brother Scot and his wife and family all live in Colorado. My mother and another brother lives in AZ, and yet another brother and his family lives in Southern California. We are excited about the change, but it's also a little intimidating ....starting a new life in another town. I love our neighbors here. I will really miss the everyday rhythms of the seasons on this spot of the planet, but Colorado will have it's own.
The birding will be very different. But the geology will be awesome !
Just wanted to "check in " and start blogging again...I miss it.
Two books arrived in the mail today, for my birthday...the new Crossley ID Guide, and Zen Birding. The Crossley Guide is the next step in the evolution of bird guides...the author and photographer has combined many positions and proximity shots of birds and even placed them in typical scenery, all on one page, along with a map for each bird. Fantastic ! It weighs in at 3lbs. 13oz, so we won't be taking in the field, but it will be great in the car or back at the house, cabin or cottage. Sally, Laureen and I will give it a workout while up in Point Pelee, Canada, next month !

Bird Love

Man, I love birding. Nothing is as absorbing and rewarding as being out there, catching glimpses of birds in the air, in the trees or on the ground. The rewards are ephemeral...nothing you can keep (unless you have made the effort to photograph )
and what sightings you get can often be hard-won.
I spent most of yesterday counting birds with Bruce and Helen, and Helen's daughter, Holly. We were covering a small sector of Loudoun County, Va. for the 111th Audubon Christmas Bird Count. It was a little cold, but not too bad...it started out around 25, but shot up to 50 by 2:00. Patchy snow here and there. No wind to speak of. And lots of bright sunshine. Considering that most of the east coast had just endured a massive snowstorm, that left up to 30" in some areas of New Jersey, and 18" in Boston...we were actually very lucky! Our highlights included getting a good long look at a hovering Sharpie and seeing a flock of 15+ Northern Flickers going over an Osage Orange tree for what we werent sure, but something in or on the tree was very attractive to the Flickers and a small troop of Titmice. We stopped about 10 feet away and watched for a good five minutes.
Collecting information for scientists to use for projects like this Occurrence Map put together by eBird is such a privilege :)
The Christmas Bird Counts in our area are organized by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, which itself is a crucial organization striving to, among many issues, educate the public about the importance of wild places for wildlife and people.

Hmmmm.... in last post I was gushing about the raised beds we had set up ( did I thank my sister-in-law for helping me clear out the Fenced Garden?....I don't think I did ! ), and here I am having a Chickpea-of-the-Sea sandwich on rye with a small salad's worth of the last of the lettuce on it ! I picked it all this morning. We are expecting high temperatures, and it was wanting to bolt. I gave some to a neighbor, will give some to Dad, and will still have a lot. Jamie is in Brussels at the moment ( just called to say he's still alive after the Brussels 20k race ! ) , but when he gets home, he'll love the big salads we'll have for a week or so, till the lettuce ' turns' in the fridge. the picture here is of a sandwich I made a few weeks back with more CoftheP, sprouted lentils and tiny thinnings from the beets. Even that small, you can taste their sweetness.
I planted out around 65 milkweed seedlings...some as thin as threads. Some milkweed is coming up from last year...from wintered-over tubers ( rhizomes ? ). I think that is Swamp Milkweed. I've bee pulling up the Balloon Milkweed seedligns that are everywhere....I grew those last year. The Monarchs loved them, plants and blooms. They bloomed all the way up till a hard frost. But they are not native to our area, and I'm trying to plant only natives now, to help local species. I wish that I had been cued into this years ago...! The second anniversary of my brother Bill's passing is coming up June 2nd. All the Milkweeds got planted in his garden. AND, I think I may have seen a Monarch this morning !!!!

New Year and Raised Beds

Yikes ! Almost a year since the last post !!! I don't know how that is possible...I think of this blog often. The plants, bugs and animals that enter my life... I make mental blog entries , but then apparently never actually type the words.
Time to reconnect !
And we are starting this new year out with a re-invigorated veggie garden, including two new 4x8 foot raised beds, 12" deep. Jamie built the beds from old 2x6's and some plastic raised-bed corner thingys we've had for years ( I think I got them at a yard sale )but had never really used )that hold the boards in place. These beds will be for all the greens, lettuces, beets, carrots and a few herbs. I'm just finishing up some arugula, collards, chard and kale a very generous neighbor gave me at the end of last year's growing season. I blanched and froze the greens in batches so that I could easily add a servings worth of the super nutritious leaves to what ever I wanted. They've been used all Winter in soups, stews, over rice, quinoa and even rolled into burritos. The tomatoes and peppers will go in the ground , in the old hen yard, behind the hen house, after we till in some extra leaf mold and kelp meal.
Stink bugs kept us company all Winter, only occasionally going off and confirming that yes, they can stink...quite a bit! But for the most part, they tried to stay out of the way and were gentle reminders of the abundance of insect life.

Wild Peaches

Our compost pile has had a small fruit tree growing out the back of it for several years now. Jamie has insisted that it not be cut down. I reluctantly agreed...we keep a pretty casual yard and compost heap, and random trees sprouting here and there are a constant challenge. But this year the tree bloomed...nice big pink blossoms, right about the time the domestic cherry trees were blooming. But something about the leaves, that eventually developed the long, curved, slightly V -shaped look that I associate with peach leaves...and sure enough...tiny fuzz-covered fruit started to develop. I'm not sure if we must thin them out, or let it happen naturally, or hope that some peach disease doesnt take them all off ! this picture was taken yesterday, the 15th of May.

Lettuce Still Confined to Tofu Tubs !

These guys are so ready to go in the ground, but I've been busy (and neglectful)and they are quietly ( how else ?? ) waiting to be planted in the earth and spread their roots. Meanwhile, the slugs have discovered their confinement and sent word out to all of slugdom that there are sweet tender leaves, neatly contained...just waiting to be mowed down. Please hang in there guys...just a few more days, I promise !

Return of the Swallows

Last year we put up a bluebird box, hoping to attract some Bluebirds to our yard. We were quite surprised to see Tree Swallows show up, seemingly out of nowhere, set up house keeping, raise a twittering brood of six, gather with other Tree Swallows in the area and then disappear...all in a matter of just a few weeks. It was this date, April 30th, that they arrived last year. This year, they arrived on April 12th, (my birthday ! )and immediately started arguing with the House Sparrows as to who was going to use the box. We set up another box, about 100 feet away from the first, and watched the Swallows and Sparrows duke it out, while a pair of Chickadees decided that Box#2 was perfect for them and worked for several days building a nest. Then the Tree Swallows gave up on Box # 1, evicted the Chickadees and moved in. I'm clearing out House Sparrow nests from Box # 1 every few days now. The Chickadees moved on to less contentious grounds. Welcome back Swallows ! This picture was taken yesterday, through the misty rain.

Slow-Cooked Kitten Goodness

OK, not very sanitary, but I couldnt help it ! Tomsky is not supposed to be on the counter at all, let alone in a pot, but my back was to the counter and he jumped up and into the pot, and hunkered down so as to hide....such a cat-like thing to do :>...I just had to laugh !
Most of the seed catalogs are in and I've made many lists of what I'd like to grow, but the reality of the cold, hard January ground right outside the window and the awful state I left all the garden spots in the Fall, gives me pause as to just what I can realistically expect out of myself. Lettuce, peppers, beets and tomatoes are definites...potatoes, chard and zukes I want to grow, but the bugs so love the potatoes and squash leaves that it's hard to keep ahead of them.
I've followed Eat The View's efforts to replace at lest some of the White House's lawn with an organic garden ...what a great idea ! In fact, we are going to grow some food in our front yard this year, too...peppers and tomatoes would do well out there. All this lawn drives me crazy...grow it just to mow it...how dumb is that ?

Here's the first new addition to our family in almost 10 years. He's the sweetest kitten ever. But hell on the houseplants. Most of the plants are crammed into a spare bedroom, yearning towards the weak winter light filtering in through the North facing window. The Banana Grove, however, spends its winters basking in the glow of Southern exposure of our master bedroom. The only drawback for the Grove, this winter anyway, is the tiger twining through its trunks and casually drawing a claw through a shading leaf, or, more worse: getting used as a juicy scratching post...ouch !

Tiny guy's Flight Schedule

Here she is, just seconds before take off...which I also missed !

Tiny Guy Emerges on Sept. 18th

Here he ( she actually ! ) is seconds before and after popping back into the world. I kept on eye on the chrysalis for 5 glorious hours....5 hours of watching the world of birds, bugs, trees and 'weeds' right outside my back door. And while stretching my legs for a minute, Tiny Guy presses the 'eject' button !

And a very sad event : Our son-in-law's Father passed away this same day, after a long fight with cancer. I only met him once, but was impressed with his love for his family and I know he must have been a great father, judging what a wonderful man his son is. The following is an excerpt from a book put together by the Monarch Teacher's Network ..... "According to Aztec belief, birds and butterflies escorted the souls of those who died heroic deaths ( in battle, through sacrifice, or in childbirth ). The butterfly ( papalotl ) delivered these souls to a special heaven in flower gardens that provided nectar to sustain the butterflies. Like the butterfly, the souls also sipped the sweet nectar of flowers."
And also this :
"In the State of Michoacan, Mexico, most people believe that the souls of dead family members and friends come to visit their families once a year in early November during the "Days Of the Dead". It is also believed that the spirits of loved ones are permitted to return to Earth In the form of Monarch butterflies, since it is at this time that Monarchs come from the North to spend the winter in Michoacan. The families make alters with fragrant flowers and many foods for the spirits to enjoy. To be sad or to cry would disrespect the dead, so music plays and the Days of the Dead become a happy celebration of reunion."

Nice.

After this year's premature loses of life in our family, it has been such a comfort witnessing the incredible metamorphosis life cycle of the Monarchs...watching the caterpillars change to butterflies, and the butterflies bravely rise up and take on a life's journey of thousands of miles....aloft on airy wings of determination. And perhaps within them, a few human souls that have fought illness or never even made it into this world, as well.

Tiny Guy Update

Tiny Guy is now metamorphosing into a butterfly, privately, within its jade cloak. Here he/she is less than two days before giving up the exclusive milkweed diet and life as an Earthbound caterpillar. In the 17 days it took to hatch from the pearly egg on the underside of a milkweed plant to the jewel-like chrysalis presently hanging in the Monarch's rearing tower, Tiny Guy has been a unique presence in our home. An eating/pooping/growing machine has now withdrawn to transform itself into an ephemeral-looking winged insect that will fly almost 3,000 miles, winter over in chilly Mexican mountains and begin the journey back several months later. Assuming he/she escapes storms, predation, fatigue and disease. Every Monarch you see on the wing around this time of year is probably heading South to join millions of other Monarchs in their great migration. Tiny Guy will join them on or around September 16th.

Emergence Continued...

Here's a little montage I slapped together while playing in Photoshop...trying to get the emergence sequence in order. Not sure if I was successful or not :/
hmmm...guess I need to redo the writing with the Text tool...my hand writing looks like I've been drinking !
Click anywhere on the picture to get a better look at the butterfly :>

Emergence !

The first caterpillar we collected from wild milkweed in our yard, on the 19th of August, emerges from its jade and gold chrysalis September 1st, Labor Day. Click on the picture to enlarge it...and check out the intricate structures that were created inside the chrysalis...amazing !
It was a perfect day to enter the world on wings...warm and sunny with jsut the lightest breeze.

Glorious Milkweed Community !

Here's a fantastic stand of milkweed...perhaps Purple Milkweed...it is just now blooming, and the "classic" milkweed is way into pod-dom already. This stand is in a meadow in Bluemont, Virginia. The landowner carefully mowed around the milkweed when he bush-hogged his acres in May, at the special request of his wife. This month it has been full of Swallowtails, Monarchs, bees and a variety of insects. Smells great too!

Praying Mantis

And now for something completely not Monarch-related.
This spring-green Praying Mantis really stood out against the pink of the Autumn Joy sedum. And even though she was busy finishing off a Bumblebee meal, she didn't seem to mind my intrusion too much. I've seen lots of Mantids this year, and more Grasshoppers than I've ever seen...all kinds of them. I'm now wishing I'd kept track of all the kinds there are ! I wonder what set of conditions converged to give them such an advantage this year ?

Tiny Guy's 6th day as a caterpillar

While changing out the old milkweed stems for fresh ones , I had an opportunity to get a photo of Tiny Guy. 6 days out of the egg. Seriously cute at this stage.

Another caterpillar went Chrysalis yesterday afternoon. But first I rescued it from the inside of a big milk bottle that was holding the new milkweed stems....and lots of water ! The caterpillar's front antenna were dangling in the water...there it was, adhered to the damp glass sides by most of its feet...a sticky substance gluing the feet to the bottle. I ran outside and found a long twig that I slipped between its legs and applied a little bit of pressure so that it would have to push back on and hopefully cling to the twig. I waited until it had backed up a segment or two and then very gently pulled it up and away from a watery grave ! Whew ! After a brief rest the cat went on "walkabout" and found a better site on the wire of the rearing tower ( the cage ). We'll be moving the 3 chrysalids in the next day or so, and we've got two more to go !
Today it's about 65 degrees and lightly rainy...awful butterfly weather...I'm hoping we have some good, warm sunny days to release ours out into.