I returned last night from a visit to southeastern CO, mostly devoted to dragonflies and damselflies. Here is a summary of the more interesting birds, with some other stuff thrown in:
Lamar (Prowers): Black-chinned Hummingbird (female) visiting feeder in Willow Creek Subdivision White-winged Dove (more than one) heard and seen visiting feeder in Willow Creek Subdivision Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1 heard) Lamar Community College woods at the north end Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 heard) Lamar Community College woods at the south end Dickcissels (heard) in appropriate habitat north of town (and probably in all other cardinal directions) Blue Grosbeak (heard at various places) Lesser Goldfinch (heard at Fairmount Cemetery, where they have nested in years past) Orchard Oriole (heard at both Fairmount and east of Willow Creek opposite LCC) [Bleached Skimmer dragonfly- several seen over the wide spot in Willow Creek about 100 yards south of the Memorial Street Bridge. Bill and Inez Prather, my ode mentors and, I think, first finders of this species in CO, tell me it was unknown from CO two years ago, and now has been seen in five SECO counties - an observer thing or range expansion, or both?] [Black-fronted Forktail damselfly (several along Willow Creek, as accessed from the east side bike trail)] Thurston Reservoir north of Lamar (Prowers): Black Terns (several) [no wandering waders that I could see from the south side boat ramp] [Halloween Pennant dragonfly(1)] [Bleached Skimmer dragonfly (few)] Carrizo Creek Picnic Area (Baca County Road M 22 miles w of US287): First of all, it is significant that this area is now open after the construction. Indigo Bunting (subadult male) singing constantly Yellow-billed Cuckoo (probably 3, two for sure) Blue Grosbeak (heard) Chihuahuan Raven (family) Rufous-crowned Sparrow? (pretty sure I heard one) [Emerald Euphoria (a green and maroon scarab belonging to a genus that must be fun - Euphoria)] [coolest thing was an Eastern Fence Lizard eating (head-first, wings and all) a Sulphur-tipped Clubtail] [Dot-winged Baskettail dragonfly (at least 5-6)] Long-billed Curlew (1, probably local breeder) Road M about 10 miles west of US 287 Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca County below the dam): Red-eyed Vireo (1) singing Wild Turkey (small group by the main parking area at the bottom of the hill coming down from the dam) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard 1 or 2) White-winged Dove (heard along the cliffs north of the main parking area, a first for me at Two Buttes) [No Black Vultures among the many resident Turkey Vultures] [Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (1)] [Texan Crescent butterflies - few] Grasshopper Sparrow (zillions of fledglings and adults on the county road fencelines near Two Buttes Res., hiding in post shadows with their mouths open - reading their yellow lips, they seemed to be saying, "Hot!") Miscellaneous Comments: This was not a bird trip, per se, so I am sure I missed a lot. The southeastern plains are not nearly as lush as the northeastern plains, or else, day after day of 100+ degrees, wind, and hit-or-miss hail of late has fried/pounded it into submission. Two Buttes Reservoir is still dry, and most of the ponds below the dam are low. Not a lot of water in playas or other temporary wetspots in SECO. Wanted to make it to Cottonwood Canyon but ran out of time (thus, no report). No migrant hummingbirds reported in SECO, yet. Orioles and some of the early molt-migrants still present. For anyone headed down there, don't forget about the chiggers, poison ivy, and mosquitos. Great Crested Flycatchers and Greater Roadrunners seem harder to come by than in past years. Does anyone (Nick?) know if cavity-nesters in general are more prone to West Nile Virus than birds nesting out in the open? I have long-wondered if that is the explanation for Eastern Screech-Owl taking a hit. If so, maybe that's part of the answer with the flycatcher. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
