40 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

As you know I'm taking a road trip. . . actually on it right now. It's awesome so far.

First we stopped in MO visiting my sister at her collage. . . camped at a place called Hidden Oaks. Got photo lifer BAWW. Also saw Summer Tanagers, Warbling, White and Red-eyed Vireos, Tennessee Warblers, and other common birds. We stayed the night there, (got there at like 7:30pm) so I saw most of the birds in the morning.

That morning we left, to get to the middle of Kansas. Kansas is very pretty. Hills of prairie, just breath-taking. We stopped at a state park in Kansas called Wilson State Park. We got there, and got a spot right on the side of the lake. (something like 300 square acres. . .) Right away I went down to the shore, to find crawdads all over. I caught a total of 44 that night, and released them. In the morning, I caught 26 more crawdads, and got photo lifers Turkey Vulture, and Forster's Tern. I watched a massive flock of gulls fly over, and noticed the were hooded. Pulled out binocs, and got good looks. Lifer #1, Franklin's Gull!

We left that morning driving to colorado. On the way I saw a Meadowlark, and we were in western Kansas, so Western Meadowlark is the only thing in range. . . lifer #2, Western Meadowlark! The western part of kansas isn't very pretty, just dead corn.

Eastern Colorado is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO boring!!!!!!! NOTHING! We finally got to the campsite at the base of the rockies, and I got a bunch of lifers. Lifer #3 was Black-billed Magpie, it flew over the campsite squawking. #4 was a nice Broad-tailed Hummingbird. . . at the feeder. #5 Was Pygmy Nuthatch, which are ALL over the place! They love coming to the water spouts that leak, since it's so dry. #6 was one I've been wanting to see, Townsend's Solitare! Also came to the water spout. Also got photo lifer Mountain Chickadee.

More coming, wish us safe travels while pulling a 30ft camper over the rockies, had a lot of trouble just getting to the 7,800ft elevation we're at now. . .

JB

[Aveschapines]

Have fun Jim Bob! You should have cooked the crawdads up for dinner! Congrats on the lifers.

[JimBob]

Well the name of the park I was at in Golden Colorado was Chief Hosa RV Park. I think it might have been a county or city park too. While there I got some more lifers. I walked out of the camper, and at the picnic table there was a Steller's Jay, lifer #7 of the trip. I managed to get some good picture later when they came to that leaky water spout thing. Tons of Pygmy, White-breasted Nuthatches, American Crows, Black-billed Magpies, Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, Hairy Woodpeckers, one Red-breasted Nuthatch (photo lifer), House Finch, and Chipping Sparrow. I kept hearing what I assumed was the Pygmy Nuthatches chattering, but I looked around to see a finch-like bird. I zoomed in with my camera to find a dead give-away of the kind of bird: a crossbill. . . TONS of Red Crossbills, lifer #8 of the trip. I managed to get some awesome pictures. One more bird showed itself, Cassin's Finch, lifer #9 of the trip! Got a picture of what I think was the Cassin's Finch, but when I download the pictures I'd like a confirmation.

We left that morning, and I was a little sad to. . . so many cool birds! But we had some mountains to tackle. The drive was very, very cool! Got up to 11,000 ft, the highest I've ever been.

I asked my dad if we could stop at Grizzly Creek Rest Area, and he said we could. . . When we got to the Glenwood Springs area, it was CRAZY cool!!!!!! If you haven't been there, you HAVE to. Rock over-hangs, and formations. . . going up to dizzying heights. We stopped at the rest area, and even though I didn't get a lifer, it was extremely cool. Still awesome scenery, with the Colorado River in the middle of it. I am very glad we stopped, well worth the hour we spent there.

We are now in Grand Junction Colorado, where yet another lifer has found me, Green-winged Teal, lifer #10 of the trip. Sadly I didn't get a photo of it. . .

As you can tell we made it over the rockies fine, and are going to go to Arches National Park tomorrow, and I think Zion National Park too. . .

[meghann]

Sounds like the drive is going well! Colorado is one of my favorite places, although Utah is beautiful, too.

[Liam]

Sounds like a great trip so far! By the end you'll pass me on my lifelist!

Are you on a road trip to San Diego?

[JimBob]

By the end you'll pass me on my lifelist!

Are you on a road trip to San Diego?

I wish!!! But alas, we are coming to the end of the journey. . . and yes we're going to San Diego.

We stopped at a KOA campground here in Utah, a VERY pretty state. As pretty as Colorado, but in a different way. I've been seeing a bunch of swifts, and I believe that White-throated Swift is the only one in range, can someone confirm that? Utah has been very cool.

Sadly we can't go to Zion National Park. . . you have to ride a bus to get in, and we have a dog, parrot, rabbit, and guinie pig traveling with us. So we have to keep the engine on, and stay in the car with them. We are going to Bryce National Park instead.

My dad said that we'll get the computer up in the new house soon, so I should have pictures up in a week or so. . . going to be a pain in the butt to go through; I've taken close to 700 pictures!

[Liam]

Yes, White-throated Swift is the only swift regularly found in Utah. When I was in California i was surprised at how common they were. Not as abundant as the Chimneys we have here on the East, but WTSW was the first lifer I got in California. In the car ride from the airport.

[Pat B.]

JimBob - We're going to Bryce next week; let me know if you saw anything good, OK? Sorry about Zion; when I suggested it I didn't realize you were with a mobile zoo.

[JimBob]

Well I got another at the same place that I saw the swift at, Western Tanager! It was a female, and I got a few pictures I would like confirmed. The movers are getting stuff out of the truck, and into the new house, and should have some pics up in two/three days.

JimBob - We're going to Bryce next week; let me know if you saw anything good, OK? Sorry about Zion; when I suggested it I didn't realize you were with a mobile zoo.

Bryce was CRAZY COOL!!! Out does the Grand Canyon by a in awesomeness 10x over! If your in the area, GO!!!! Lots of birds too. . . and parula, I got the Clark's Nutcracker for y'u! (parula asked me to find one on the trip) Pat, you should see us when we're settled down. . . I'm going to get more bunnies, but not ones to cuddle with, meat bunnies. And chickens and a goat, probably Fancy Rats. . . maybe a cat, and a second dog. . . The joys of living on three acres!!!!!

[JimBob]

Oh I forgot to say that we camped in southern Nevada, and I got a lifer, and photo lifer. Verdin was the lifer, and American Kestrel was the photo lifer.

The house we moved into, has passed my test to become a "good" house. It gave me a lifer. Lark Sparrow!!! XD (not to mention that I got good pictures)

[JimBob]

I just realized how hard it's going to be to sort through 800 pictures. . .

[Liam]

All this sounds fantastic, JB! You'll love meat rabbits! They taste amazing fried.
Looking forward to photos.

[JimBob]

Well. . . the packers didn't get the computer out. So we'll have to find it. . . will take longer then I thought. Sorry!

[dklucius]

when i was still working i often had to leave for work by 6am. the evening before i had shot a couple of cotton tail rabbit and skinned them out. Usually i fry rabbit like fried chicken but knew i would not get home till late evening. so i put them in the crock pot on low and figued they would be ready when i got home. Well that evening i took the top off the pot and i had a pot of rabbit bone stew as they just came all apart. never tried that again.

[illin]

Jim you need to slow down. You are going to pass me on your life list if you keep this up....

Just kidding bud, keep up the good work. Glad you like your new house.

[guy_incognito]

I am a bit jealous of the road trip...lots of good birds from the Rockies. Looking forward to some of the pictures.

[creeker]

JimBob, there are plenty of Cottontails to hunt here in the county. You can skip the feeding and poop scooping that way.

[JimBob]

Yeah, my yard is full of them! Seen 6 at once, but they were a little out of my guns range. (more like, I wouldn't be able to aim well because they were so far away)

My mom, and oldest brother are going to set up the computer today. So pictures should be up by tonight, or tomorrow. It's going to take forever to go through. I think I've given up labeling them, too.

[JimBob]

PICTURES COMING SOON!!!!!! Uploading right now!!

[JimBob]

Alright! PICTURES!!

Black-and-white Warbler


I believe this is a Forster's Tern. (taken with a little digital zoom, so poor quality)


Turkey Vulture