Recently, (well actually more like 6 weeks ago) I made a trip back to Nebraska to visit family. Being from southwestern Nebraska, the most convenient airport to use, is Denver International and then renting a car. So I took advantage of the time spent driving in northeastern Colorado and checking out a few birding hotspots on my way to Nebraska. This was the first time that I got to actually enter reports on eBird for the state of Colorado. Of course I hit the area during part of the annual fall migration.
It is always nice to find a Black-bellied Plover, even if it is not in breeding plumage. Discovered one at a reservoir along with some other nice shore birds, including Semipalmated Plover, Willet, and Baird's Sandpipers.
Black-bellied Plover
Baird's Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Willet
Shorebirds were not the only birds that made their presence known. I was able to finally capture a decent photo of a Blue Jay. I have found that they can be a bit skulky and not pose for photos even though they are very noisy.
Blue Jay
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ring-necked Pheasant
Crossing the state line into Nebraska, gave me some different birds, of which a Sanderling was probably the most unexpected for me.
Sanderling
Sanderling
American Goldfinch
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
White-breasted Nuthatch
The worse part of the trip was the fact that we had 3 full days of straight strong southerly winds while in Nebraska. Wind and birding do not always go hand in hand. It can make it tough looking for birds, however, a few made it all worthwhile, including a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the Sunken Gardens in Lincoln, Nebraska. All the years I have lived in Nebraska and I had never seen a hummingbird of any kind in that state, until now.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Robin
'Yellow-shafted' Northern Flicker
'Red-shafted' Northern Flicker
Pied-billed Grebe
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Along with all the birds, a few butterflies, insects, and mammals were nice to see and observe.
Cabbage White
Common Checkered-Skipper
Two-striped Grasshopper
Dainty Sulphur
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady-upper left, Sachem-lower right
Sachem - This was a lifer butterfly for me.
Clouded Sulphur
Monarch
Eastern Comma
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
It is always great to explore new locations to see what a person can find in nature. This world is full of so many wonderful things and they are so fascinating to observe and learn about their lives.