Look who came to visit!

/ Tracy Abell

This is a Spotted Towhee (image found on photobucket). I happened to glance out my window today and saw a bird hopping around my backyard. I grabbed my binoculars but instead of getting overwhelmed the way I usually do as I try to remember every little detail, I recited them aloud: Black head and neck, white chest, white spots on wings, white on tip of tail, red eyes.

Then he flew away. But when I picked up my bird guide and thumbed through, I found a match. And sure enough, the description matched mine.

That, my friends, was a very satisfying birding moment for this bad birdwatcher.

4 thoughts on “Look who came to visit!”

  1. What a cutie. I didn’t know you were a birdwatcher. My MIL bought my kids this machine with all different bird chirps to help you recognize them–worst kids present ever (from a parent’s perspective). I do enjoy listening to the real thing and watching whatever flies by, even if I can’t name them.
    I’m glad spring has come to Colorado.
    P.S. Still possibly working on a vaca to Colorado in mid-August. We’d fly to Denver and then possibly make our way to Moab, Utah. All only in the possible stage right now. Please let me know if you have any must see kind of advice.

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    • I’ve been watching birds for a while now and have just recently begun to pay more attention to the details. Too bad about that bird chirp machine because it sounds like something I’d use right now. I have such a hard time keeping different songs in my head and in fact was playing a few audio files I found online over and over last week so as to learn. Well, the loon call I knew but I couldn’t help listening to it twenty times because it’s so beautiful. Plus, it made my dog cock her head and perk up her ears. 🙂
      Spring has come and gone. We got snow yesterday and today it’s pretty chilly here and dumping snow in the mountains. Lotsa snow. My tulips are standing tall, though.
      That’s excellent about the possible CO vacation! Is there a possibility I could see you? Hmm…must see advice? Even though I’ve lived here 11 years I still don’t know much. Ask me about Alaska, though, and I’d have tons of suggestions. HA. Let’s see: Rocky Mtn National Park is gorgeous. Red Rocks is near me and is a glorious amphitheater. Great Sand Dunes National Monument (Zebu and Wildebeest love it there, went with my sister, but I haven’t been yet). Leadville might be interesting (you could write a book about the environmental horrors of mining…). Those are off the top of my head. If/when the plan takes shape, let me know and I’ll send more info.
      One other thing: yesterday I was doing a training run and started to lose motivation so I used my coach’s suggestion to visualize supportive people. I got a mental image of you with a Team Vinca sign which got me smiling and helped me keep running. Thank you!

      Like

  2. What a cutie. I didn’t know you were a birdwatcher. My MIL bought my kids this machine with all different bird chirps to help you recognize them–worst kids present ever (from a parent’s perspective). I do enjoy listening to the real thing and watching whatever flies by, even if I can’t name them.

    I’m glad spring has come to Colorado.

    P.S. Still possibly working on a vaca to Colorado in mid-August. We’d fly to Denver and then possibly make our way to Moab, Utah. All only in the possible stage right now. Please let me know if you have any must see kind of advice.

    Like

  3. I’ve been watching birds for a while now and have just recently begun to pay more attention to the details. Too bad about that bird chirp machine because it sounds like something I’d use right now. I have such a hard time keeping different songs in my head and in fact was playing a few audio files I found online over and over last week so as to learn. Well, the loon call I knew but I couldn’t help listening to it twenty times because it’s so beautiful. Plus, it made my dog cock her head and perk up her ears. 🙂

    Spring has come and gone. We got snow yesterday and today it’s pretty chilly here and dumping snow in the mountains. Lotsa snow. My tulips are standing tall, though.

    That’s excellent about the possible CO vacation! Is there a possibility I could see you? Hmm…must see advice? Even though I’ve lived here 11 years I still don’t know much. Ask me about Alaska, though, and I’d have tons of suggestions. HA. Let’s see: Rocky Mtn National Park is gorgeous. Red Rocks is near me and is a glorious amphitheater. Great Sand Dunes National Monument (Zebu and Wildebeest love it there, went with my sister, but I haven’t been yet). Leadville might be interesting (you could write a book about the environmental horrors of mining…). Those are off the top of my head. If/when the plan takes shape, let me know and I’ll send more info.

    One other thing: yesterday I was doing a training run and started to lose motivation so I used my coach’s suggestion to visualize supportive people. I got a mental image of you with a Team Vinca sign which got me smiling and helped me keep running. Thank you!

    Like

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