Here I am in my Comfort Inn room (my home away from home with about 6-8 stays here this year) on New Year’s Eve pondering a tradition started some years back by Brandon Percival. I’ve reached the end of a great year with 319 species in the state—that’s only 75 percent or so of what some manage, but I’m competing with myself and feel like 2011 was a winner.
What were my top ten Colorado birds of the Year? Golden-winged Warbler: This was the first bird seen out of the car at Lamar CC Woods on a trip in May. Scott’s Oriole: At the CFO Convention--it wasn't easy to pick out as it lurked in a juniper across a gulch near the Baxter Pass road. Black-chinned Sparrow: I stood with Rick and Connie Steincamp looking at this bird for about 5 minutes unaware that the CFO group down the trail hadn't picked it up. Gray Vireo: Found this one a couple of weeks later at the Black-chinned spot with John Vanderpoel for his big-year list. Check his blog to see the bird on nest. Arctic Tern: At Boulder Reservoir, it was nice enough to hang around for the 5 or 6 days when I was out of town, and then stayed for at least a week beyond to allow better and better views. Common Redpoll: Just got it Thursday (12-29) on the Flagler CBC--Gary Matthews returned the favor on a bird I got for him on a Sterling count several years back. Snowy Owl: Okay, so this one was on this year's Sterling CBC. Thanks to Tim and Cathy. Anna’s Hummingbird: Mark Chavez's yard bird--Joe and Larry kidnapped me to go down for it. Brown Pelican: A wild and crazy touch down in the Kit Carson sewage ponds. It stayed in Cheyenne County for about 15 minutes. Yellow-throated something: Both Vireo and Warbler on the CU East Campus this spring, but the vireo was the one I was waiting for. Do you get the drift here? For great birds, go to the CFO Convention and do several Christmas Bird Counts. Bill Kaempfer Boulder -- 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.
