Today was the first day that really felt like autumn migration. I've seen a few things in recent weeks that certainly indicate birds on the move (few orioles in odd places north of Lamar, MacGillivray's Warbler f or imm at Last Chance on 8/17, Olive-sided Flycatcher at Grandview Cemetery (Fort Collins, Larimer) last week, few Western Wood-Pewees at various places in Lamar and at Grandview where I don't think they bred, Mountain Chickadee showed up in Grandview on 8/15, flock of Chipping Sparrows at Grandview yesterday, hummingbirds that nested at Grandview are gone, that sort of thing) but today seemed earnest and involved multiple taxa.
Townsend's Warbler (1 f or imm) FOY foraging in the champion Thornless Honeylocust Wilson's Warbler (1 f or imm) FOS foraging in shrubs near the pumphouse in the southeast corner Common Grackle (flock of at least 75) flying off to the northwest Warbling Vireo (1) FOS at low elevation in a place where they didn't breed, foraging in the aforementioned honeylocust Bunting (heard a buzz, twice, probably a Lazuli) Western Wood-Pewee (2, foraging from their champ honeylocust basecamp) No empids, kingbirds or Myiarchus, yet. Also, Belted Kingfisher (an autumn phenomenon along the ditch that flows thru the cemetery - minnows/chubs be forewarned before you risk coming out from an undercut bank for grasshoppers flushed into mid-channel). Coolest thing today, however, was a Western Wood-Pewee calmly sallying from the honeylocust, then dipping violently to get a Band-winged Meadowhawk that was, in turn, hunting flying insects off the peony seedheads. To get the picture, remember the line by Tony Joe White in "Poke Salad Annie" that goes, "Gator got your granny, chomp, chomp, chomp." Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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.
