I never played the Call of Duty games, but nonetheless I can admit that, sometimes, duty calls. Needing to check out a potential vendor/manufacturing partner, we flew west to the land of Magpies and and Mile Highs, where the colorful mountains and marijuana fountains abound.
Shortly before our time in Canon City, Bailey, and Denver, CO, an April flurry dropped 6 inches of snow. Not to be deterred, we still struck out for a hike at Staunton State Park. There was only one real target bird for this trip: The Black-billed Magpie.
Why? I dunno, because somehow, for some reason, despite many moons in Colorado, I'd never clocked them for the photo list before. This is a roadside bird in CO. In fact, we had way better visuals while driving than on any trails; did not do it justice at all.
We really don't talk about Magpies enough. They're large and scrappy, strikingly patterned while being subtly colorful, hyper intelligent, have plumes that would be the envy of many tropical species, and make their homes in the Rockies (among other places) throughout the year. Elegance and toughness. Gumption.
At any rate, between the Magpies, the Stellar's Jays, and Ravens, Corvidae is well-represented around here.
Northern Flickers are cool too but, I dunno, they just don't excite in the same way, at least for me. Maybe I'm just not a Woodpecker guy. That's not true actually; I'm a big fan. Just need American Black-backed to complete my North American Woodpecker set. Red-shafted or Yellow-shafted, what's your preference?
It has been a weirdly nuthatch-less year so far. I thought they liked me? Some years are like that. Brown Creepers have been plentiful, both in CO and NC. Gotta give props to a little perv that's willing to work for their gratification.
I can honestly say, this was the stockiest coyote I had ever seen, much more filled out and winterized than the AZ varieties I cut my teeth on. Really wanted to turn it into a wolf at the distance. But look it those stubby lil' legs. The acme of foolishness.
For a much more thorough and ecologically diverse recounting of good times and hikes in CO, please review HERE, a TOP 10 All Time North American Butler's Birds hike.
