On the morning of 6/16 on Stop 46 (Las Animas County) of the Ninaview BBS Route
(south of the road to Higbee Canyon and the Purgatoire River, but north of
Kim), was a very cooperative Gray Vireo (close, constantly singing). Stop 46
is along SR109 at about milepost 18, just north of Road 197.6. The bird was on
a slope on the east side of SR109. This is the first I've ever seen on the
East Slope, although a small population of this species has been documented in
this general area of northeastern Las Animas County in "Andrews & Righter",
during BBA 1, and by others.
Yesterday was scheduled for running the Villagreen BBS Route (also Las Animas
County) but it was way too windy to hear things. I waited until mid-morning
and drove the route in reverse, just because of the already-considerable
investment in sleep, money, and effort and because it was my first time seeing
the route. Interestingly there were White-throated Swifts about 12 miles north
of Villagreen along Rd 177.9. Hepatic Tanagers have been reported on this
route in the past but none detected yesterday. In spots Common Hoptree (Ptelea
angustifolia) grew, similar to Temple Canyon near Canon City. This "tree" is
really a glorified shrub with ash-like compound leaves and elm-like seeds.
Working back to Lamar:
Cottonwood Canyon - Black-chinned Hummingbird male visiting thistle blooms,
hybrid Indigo-Lazuli Bunting male chasing a Lazuli female, Mississippi Kites,
Hairy Woodpecker (mountain form), Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebes at a
nest, no Painted Bunting.
Carrizo Picnic Area - Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Indigo Bunting male.
Rd M from Carrizo Picnic Area east to US287 - Long-billed Curlew (3 adults)
Two Buttes Res below the dam - Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard), lots of trash.
There was considerable water in the reservoir earlier this spring but it is
fast drying-up, to the short-lived glee of Great Blue Herons and Turkey
Vultures.
Lastly, for the dragonfly/damselfly folks, I saw two (caught one) Pale-faced
Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) along the Ark River a few miles east of Lake
Hasty (Bent County) a couple days ago. This might be a first for Colorado.
Exciting.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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