Black-throated Blue Warbler in Millennium Park

I saw this very, very, very late Black-throated Blue Warbler in Chicago's Millennium Park on December 29, 2011.  Warblers are NOT expected in Illinois in December.  Previously the latest Illinois record for BTBW was November, 28, 2008.  They are a neotropical species which breeds in the deep woods of the northeastern U.S. and Canada.  Normally at this time of year, BTBWs are "wintering" on islands in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Panama, with the northernmost records being in Florida. 

A little research on eBird shows that a female BTBW was observed in British Colombia on December 18, 2011.  Since BTBWs do not breed that far west, her genetic impulse to migrate must be really mixed up, sending her west instead of south. 

Perhaps the male BTBW I saw will make it to the tropics yet.  It is highly unlikely he could survive a harsh Chicago winter.  BTBW diet mainly consists of insects and some small fruits.   He has been seen taking advantage of the sap oozing from a tree drilled by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (which is a little north of its typical range, too).  The presence of these birds underscores the importance of maintaining wildlife habitat in the middle of an urban landscape.  Vive le Chicago Wilderness! 

Both birds were easily seen from the sidewalk next to the Cycling Center.  I was especially pleased to add the BTBW to my Illinois list for the year (#242), since I had previously not seen any this year.  The handsome little guy was a real joy.

Christmas in Indiana 2011

Here are a few visitors during a snowy Christmas celebration in Indiana.  There's a pair of Northern Cardinals, an American Tree Sparrow, and a Dark-eyed Junco.

December Backyard Birds 2011

There has been a flurry of activity at the bird feeders lately.  I've been getting more species.  Here are some snapshots of the latest visitors.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Great Sand Dunes 2011

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a world of sand, stone, and streams.  Situated against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes are the highest dunes in North America. 

"Star Dune," the highest sand ridge, is a strenuous 750-foot climb up shifting sand.  The view from the top is spectacular.  We hiked early on a fall morning while the ridges were frosted with snow.  Cold temperatures and frozen sand made the hike a little easier.  [NOTE: our campsite had a great view of the dunes.  At night the temperature dropped to 25°F, and by morning our breath had encrusted the tent fly with frost.]

It is an extremely diverse region with massive dunes surrounded by alpine peaks, a desert valley, creeks flowing on the surface of the sand, pristine mountains, and rural range land.  There was a herd of American Bison on the plains -- too far away to get a decent photograph.  But a pair of Pronghorn Antelope were grazing a little closer to the road. 

While exploring the valley, we visited the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.  October was a quiet time on the refuge (most of the breeding birds already left), but we managed to find a Porcupine!  In the absence of any trees, its quills were excellent camouflage in the dry grasses.

We also checked out Zapata Falls, a 30-foot cascade that is hidden a half-mile through a narrow crevasse.  I had to stand directly in the icy water to capture any images of the waterfall.  Here's a video postcard from the Great Sand Dunes.







Pine Siskin 2011

I've always thought that Pine Siskins were a neat winter finch.  They're close relatives of goldfinches but they have streaking on the breast (I know how that sounds) and really sharp pointed beaks.  Their breeding territory is Alaska and Canada, the Rockies and the west coast, but in the winter they can be found throughout the lower 48 and Mexico. 

For the last 5 years I have been keeping a couple of finch feeders (year-round).  They have attacted upwards of 12-15 American Goldfinches at a time, as well as several House Finches and a few occasional Black-capped Chickadees.  Yesterday, I finally saw a PISI in the yard!!!  Check out my newest visitor.

Black Squirrels 2011

The most common squirrels I get in the backyard are Fox Squirrels and Eastern Grey Squirrels.  Occasionally a black squirrel has wandered into the yard.

Black Squirrels are actually a melanistic variation of Eastern Grey Squirrels.  Before human settlement of North America, the black subgroup was more common than grey, because of their advantage in darker uncut forests.  In colder northern regions of North America, they also lose less heat than greys. 

One day in the middle of November, I noticed 2 black squirrels in the yard at the same time!  That's the most black squirrels I've seen in the yard at one time.  There are places like Kent, OH, and Kalamazoo, MI, where black squirrels are abundant.  But it was a rare treat to see 2 in my northeastern Illinois yard.

Rocky Mountain National Park 2011

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorite places to visit.  Created by Congress in 1915, it features grassy meadows, babbling brooks, and soaring peaks over 14,000 feet above sea level.  It also protects America's most accessible tundra ecosystem...in fact, the tundra landscape at ROMO reminded me of the northern Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. 

All of my previous visits to ROMO have been in the summer.  During my first visit in the fall, I was hoping to see golden aspens and to hear bugling elk.  I was not disappointed.

While backpacking, it was necessary to take off my boots and socks and hike up my pants to cross a very chilly river (knee deep).  I didn't realize how cold my feet were until I stepped back on the bank.  I was groaning as loud as the elk! 

After a very close encounter with a bull elk in the foothills (while drying off my cold wet feet), I also saw a female moose foraging in a trail-side pond on the way to the Cub Lake campsite in the backcountry.  There were a few western birds that I added to my life list at ROMO, including Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Chickadee, as well as awesome looks at spawning Rainbow Trout.  It was great to find a flock of Red Crossbills working the cones off of a tree and to hear numerous Townsend's Solitaires singing their tuneful alpine song on the trail. 

Because the forecast called for snow that would close Trail Ridge Road, which was my planned path to Durango, I had to leave ROMO a day early.  I did not want the family lore to include, "Yeah, remember when Brian was stranded in the mountains and couldn't go to Tim's wedding?"  Here's a video postcard of Rocky Mountain National Park.