Hi all, Joey Kellner & Glenn Walbek took me on tour of several NE Colorado counties (Adams, Morgan, Washington, Logan, Sedgwick & Weld) today (Monday, December 26th). We hit a number of reservoirs, including Jumbo, Sterling & Lower Latham. (We'd originally planned to visit Pruitt Reservoir, but I think we ran out of time and skipped it--I apologize for my vague recollection, but I'm a trifle unfamiliar with them all.)
We failed in a quest for Snowy Owls, but it was otherwise a great day. Highlights included at least 200 Great-tailed Grackles in Adams County on the NE corner of the Denver metro area shortly after first light. Both Glenn & Joey remarked it was the largest number either of them had seen together in Colorado. Perhaps the most surprising bird (considering the season) was a Green-tailed Towhee in Morgan County, north of Fort Morgan, near a Jehovah's Witness church building. We were most impressed by all the Ferruginous Hawks we saw (one or more birds in each of Adams, Morgan, Washington, Logan & Swedgwick), a total of at least 14 birds, probably outnumbering Rough-legged Hawks by a 3 to 1 ratio. We watched one of the Ferruginous Hawks pounce on a young prairie dog--I think our presence may have inhibited the bird and it flew off empty-taloned. Other raptors included 3 Prairie Falcons and 2 Golden Eagles, among some of the more expected species. We finished the day at Lower Latham Reservoir in Weld County where we were treated to a Short-eared Owl coursing over the marsh. It wasn't quite our last bird of the day, that honor fell to two Great Horned Owls between the reservoir and Hudson, as we returned to Denver. Thanks, guys, for taking me along with you. I'd also like to thank Becky Campbell for inviting me into her home to view her Pine Warbler on the 23rd. As usual, I enjoyed my Colorado birding thanks to the generosity of Colorado birders and I eagerly await my next visit to your great state! Cheers, Rob Parsons Winnipeg, MB CANADA (but in Arapahoe County for a few more hours) [email protected] -- 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.
