Winged Wonders, Colorado

At the start of this month I had the pleasure of visiting Colorado. I had my medium lens with me and was keen to see some new wildlife. It was a thrill to see this exquisite hummingbird perched on a nearby twig. These tiny birds can dart about at more than 20mph. I was lucky to see some as they migrate further south mid September for warmer climes. There are many varieties of hummingbird and I believe this one is the “broad tailed hummingbird”.

More frequently seen than hummingbirds themselves was the hummingbird moth. You can see why they get their name. Like hummingbirds they hover using an extremely fast wingbeat and use their long proboscises to extract nectar from flowers.

During the heat of the days and at dusk we were surrounded by a soundtrack of crickets and cicadas.

Some birds were familiar, like these swallow chicks from a late brood. They were on the verge of taking their first flights.

Other birds were totally different, like this bright yellow one, I think a Wilson’s warbler spotted high up in the Rocky Mountains.

Also up in the mountains grey jays were not too shy. They were crow sized.

On this trip I did not see any bald eagles, however there were plenty of other hawks around. This one flew across my path with half eaten supper.

It’s always a treat getting to see different birds and insects from back home. No matter which side of “the pond”, these creatures never cease to fill me with a sense of awe and wonder.