This is late and is just a status report on fall migration from the Lamar area during this past week, rather than a litany of rarities or special bird alert.
During my 4-day stay, mostly a dragonfly/damselfly expedition, I checked all the usual bird places except for the following three: the high school windbreak, the Carder Gravel Ponds e of where Main Street crosses the Arkansas River, and Riverside Cemetery (north end of town on Maple St). Places I did check at least once included Lamar Community College (LCC) Woods, Thurston Reservoir, Higbee State Wildlife Area, the bridge over the Arkansas e of town on CR13, the bridge over the Arkansas River w of town on the Bent/Prowers county line north of the place name of Prowers (Bent Rd36/Prowers Rd 1), Z Best rendering facility w of the big feedlot s of the US50/US287 junction w of town, the Willow Valley neighborhood e of Willow Creek Park, and Fairmount Cemetery. Migrant species observed or heard: Solitary Sandpiper (on Willow Creek near LCC and heard over the tennis courts near Willow Valley at night) Greater Yellowlegs (1 on the Ark R. at CR13) Lesser Yellowlegs (1 at Thurston Res) Calliope Hummingbird (male) Willow Valley subdivision [Rufous, Broad-tailed, and Ruby-throated have been reported of late, also. Several Black-chins are visiting feeders, too, but they are more likely local breeders than migrants.] Chipping Sparrow (a few heard at various locations) Olive-sided Flycatcher (both at LCC and Fairmount Cemetery) Western Wood-Pewee (both at LCC and Fairmount Cemetery) Empidonax species, probably Least (at Thurston Reservoir near the south side boat ramp) Bank Swallow (groups over Thurston appeared to be flying directionally (southward) away from the res) That's about it. In other words, hummingbirds, shorebirds, and flycatchers plus the chipping sparrows and maybe the swallows were on the move on the southern plains as far as Lamar. But for what it's worth, a whole host of species seemed imminent. Lark Buntings are obviously grouping up and maybe moving somewhat. I saw probably 500 individuals on the county roads south of Lamar, mostly in two big groups. Orioles, siskins, and Dickcissels present in early summer are apparently gone. Mississippi Kites and Chimney Swifts still cruise the sky over town, although Tom Shane of Garden City, KA reported seeing during this time period a flock of over 200 kites (obviously on the move) in southwest KA. LCC was a jungle. A machete and mosquito fogger might be more helpful at present than optics. During my entire fight from the north end to the south, I saw a grand total of 1 live bird (a Cooper's Hawk carrying a dead dove of some type). The over-my-head ragweed was literally salivating, the Culex (i.e. West Nile type) mosquitos were boiling, and the grass just looked full of chiggers (although I only got two bites). When the little birds get there, they will have much vegetative substrate to scan and plenty of arthropods to fuel their trips. An experienced tracker would probably sense my increasing exasperation, the further my path extended from north to south. I whacked a pretty good trail at first, did the best I could with one hand at a semi-run toward the south. No cardinals or Red-bellied Woodpeckers heard for sure at LCC, although I suspect they are there (or in the housing development south of LCC) and probably most vocal early in the morning. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew across the river at CR13. Lesser Goldfinch heard from the east side of Willow Creek across from LCC. Thurston Res had both Clark's and Western Grebes, Black Terns, and a pair of Redheads (no unusual waders, however). [Both White-winged Dove and Inca Dove have been seen or heard of late in the vacinity of Willow Creek Park, but not by me] 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
