After going out on an AVAS field trip yesterday, and Paul being the only one to have a good look at the Hepatic Tanagner...we decided to go back to Rouse Road this morning. We were rewarded with a good quick look at the Hepatic Tanager! It took about 2 hours of searching...we tried playing the tape at the location just after the railroad tracks...and spent quite a bit of time there. We finally went over the cattleguard and just over the hilll...when we heard the Hepatic. We had been hearing Am. Robin and Black-headed Grosbeak earlier...but this call was different...more "clipped" shorter and sharper than the other two. Searched in cottonwoods on the right hand side of the road...finally played the tape to verify what we were hearing...it responded...and moved from one cottonwood to another one on the same side of the road! Sang from there but never appeared again! We saw a dull red-orange bird...in flight...we could see the gray underwings and dusky ariculars. Having seen this bird in Arizona, albeit a much more cooperative one, we are certain this was Hepatic. Also had a Gray flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Lazuli Bunting, pair of Blue Grosbeak (the gorgeous male posed quite cooperatively for photos) American Kestral harassing a Red-tailed hawk, American Crows, American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassin's Kingbirds, lots of Yellow Warblers and Warbling Vireos.
Dipped on the Pine Grosbeak on Cordova Pass...but heard and had both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets again...we are now able to pick out their song while driving! Lewis's Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Clark's Nutcrackers were the highlights there. We returned home to our noisy, food-begging, fledglling Pinyon Jays...those red gapes and dull plumage are a dead giveaway! Yellow-billed Cuckoos are still with us! Polly and Paul Neldner La Veta Huerfano County -- 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.
