Hi COBirders, Following the thread on juncos at feeders this winter, we had a variety of birds coming and going all day in the light snow. What I noticed especially were some very different-looking birds, and could track individuals arriving and leaving several different times, returning about once every hour. It was the Colorado "Clean Sweep" of Juncos again today here on the west-side of the Springs, North of Garden of the Gods.
In addition to the expected Pink-sided and Gray-headed, we had several Oregon, (one very dark-hooded), 3 "normal" Slate-colored, 2 White-winged (we get these in small numbers almost every winter), and 2 Cassiar - one looking like it was supposed to, and one very dark, with an even darker hood, and with white wingbars. The unusual one wasn't as large as other nearby juncos, and much darker than the White-winged individuals. I've seen in Sibley that about 0.5% Slate-colored can show wingbars, and I've had a couple here in different winters, but this one was a first. (Of course it was never in place for a decent photo - but I'll watch for it tomorrow.) Also of note - a flock of waxwings of 40+ waxwings flew by here as well, although I couldn't ID the species in the quick pass; 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 4 SY, 1 adult; my first American Tree Sparrow in 3 winters; and a flock of 15 Bushtits returned 6-7 times today, when I usually see them about 1-2 times all day when it is cold. Was fun and busy all day. Good birding, Steve Brown Colorado Springs (Mountain Shadows, 6400', suburban, not pine forest (for WW Juncos)) -- 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.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
