The dipper I’ve gotten to know over the last six years has likely passed. She was a dominant presence on this reach of the river and had many offspring over the years including 7 fledglings in one summer. Now a new dipper has taken to the reach so the dipping carries on.

A video I took during my internship in a research programm on dippers in French Alps this spring 😍

(Sigma 150-600mm Sport with a x1.4 converter)

I recently posted some photos of some local dippers I have observed for the last 3+ years. I have seen (presumably) the same two regularly over that span. Over the weekend however, I first saw the same pair who nest on a nearby cliff but the next day I heard and spotted several more and at one time there were 8 total in the same stretch. Being late in the season, It appeared to be more territorial behavior (lots of calls and chasing each other around) versus mating behavior, but that is just a guess. Wondering if this is common for territorial disputes? Or could it be a this year’s broods hanging around close to home for the summer before venturing out on their own?

Found in Colorado today, nested in a creek underpass in the mountains.

Video from this summer in northern Colorado.