I led a very enjoyable field trip for the Boulder Bird Club this morning. No stop-the-presses birds, but a beautiful, cool, sunny morning with good company.
Six of us started out at 7:00 a.m. at the CO93XCO128 trail head. We walked the trail down to Coal Creek mainly looking at Vesper Sparrows against the sun. Few birds were obviously evident and there was little song, yet I have the impression that the healthy grasslands were full of birds on the ground, even if only Western Meadowlarks, Horned Larks and Vesper Sparrows. As we approached Coal Creek I could hear the loud "clink' of a Blue Grosbeak and we all had great looks at a nice family group in the choke cherries by the road (or what every they are-sorry Dave L.). Other highly usual, but warmly rewarding birds present included close to last-of-season Yellow Warblers singing, goldfinches of both local types, a Spotted Towhee and a Song Sparrow. We then moved down CO 128 to the Coalton Trail parking area (aka everyone's favorite spot for adding Mountain Plover to their Boulder and Jefferson County lists). The walk was pleasant and rewarding bird-wise. Again lots of Vespers but also a couple of Say's Phoebes, a Grasshopper Sparrow still taking food to the nest and a solitary Brewer's Sparrow. Two Lark Buntings, our state bird and not a regular Boulder County bird, appeared along the fence in an emotional moment as it was just as I had picked up the voice mail message from Doug Faulkner that Larry Semo had passed away. Next we tried the Mowry Open Space off Indiana in NE Jefferson County. I had not been here before, but will try to pass this way again. There were more Blue Grosbeaks right along the road. A host of 30 or so Chipping Sparrows was all around us as we moved in. Next we found two or three Sage Thrashers-yet another species already on the move. At the (dry) Mowry Lake there was a family of Western Wood Pewees, a Great Horned Owl, Lark Sparrows. And did I mention Vesper Sparrows? A lovely, friendly, poignant day, Bill Kaempfer -- 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.
