Post by Gord on Oct 9, 2023 21:00:17 GMT -8
We went for a family hike up Flatiron today. Quite a grind but was proud of all as we made it up and back safely.
On the way up we noted a Three-toed Woodpecker fairly soon into the hike. Soon after we got a Pygmy Owl. The wind came up quite aggressively and the birding dropped off quite a bit. We made it to the lake and had a lunch then went up the 'hill' north of the lake to look for ptarmigan. While looking, a long Grey-crowned Rosy Finch made a brief appearance. Benny was keen for a ptarmigan as he's never seen one. We spread out and looked carefully. I had one eye on the ground and another keeping an eye on the incoming clouds that looked a bit damp. I soon realized I didn't need to put 'summer time' effort into looking for ptarmigan as they are mostly all pretty much white now and were easy to see from 100 yds away. We enjoyed watching them and had them all around us as they fed not at all alarmed by us. But, they sure take note of raptors and when a Red-tailed Hawk showed up, they are clucked at each other and stood very still. We counted 24 in total when we decided we better go as a few rain drops were starting.
_0231975 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0231989 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0232003 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
An American Pipit we watched while having lunch. The pipit was reminding us that it used to be named Water Pipit. There were also two Horned Lark at the lake's edge.
_0231957 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
On the way down it was quieter for birds. The rain was light and stopped quite soon happily. We did run into another Three-toed Woodpecker near the bottom. A great hike but I'll pay for it tomorrow.
On the way up we noted a Three-toed Woodpecker fairly soon into the hike. Soon after we got a Pygmy Owl. The wind came up quite aggressively and the birding dropped off quite a bit. We made it to the lake and had a lunch then went up the 'hill' north of the lake to look for ptarmigan. While looking, a long Grey-crowned Rosy Finch made a brief appearance. Benny was keen for a ptarmigan as he's never seen one. We spread out and looked carefully. I had one eye on the ground and another keeping an eye on the incoming clouds that looked a bit damp. I soon realized I didn't need to put 'summer time' effort into looking for ptarmigan as they are mostly all pretty much white now and were easy to see from 100 yds away. We enjoyed watching them and had them all around us as they fed not at all alarmed by us. But, they sure take note of raptors and when a Red-tailed Hawk showed up, they are clucked at each other and stood very still. We counted 24 in total when we decided we better go as a few rain drops were starting.
_0231975 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0231989 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0232003 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrAn American Pipit we watched while having lunch. The pipit was reminding us that it used to be named Water Pipit. There were also two Horned Lark at the lake's edge.
_0231957 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrOn the way down it was quieter for birds. The rain was light and stopped quite soon happily. We did run into another Three-toed Woodpecker near the bottom. A great hike but I'll pay for it tomorrow.
