Today produced the best species total of 2012 (32) but none of the birds were super-special in terms of rarity.
Highlights: Broad-tailed Hummingbird female apparently getting webbing or old cottonwood seed "fluff" from mid-trunk bark of a Northern Hackberry and then zooming off to near the location of one of last year's nests. I am curious as to whether this female, likely a returnee from last year, will refurbish a nest built last summer, as Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have done in the past at Grandview. In fact the known "double-decker" nest that Tina Jones observed last summer and wisely discerned had been used twice, also shows signs of recent updating for possibly a third use. Oddly, the items added to the outside of the cup near the rim appear to be circular patches of spruce pitch. Cedar Waxwings were feasting on new dark green hackberries in at least three different trees. FOY-at-Grandview Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Passing thru or thinking of breeding? Only the fourth I have seen anywhere in CO this year. The first three were together in one tree in the corner of Jane Stulp's yard a couple weeks ago. Anybody else think kinglets are scarce this spring? The cemetery Great Horned Owls had three babies this year. All three have fledged and were seen together in an American Elm 50 yards or so west of the nest elm. No sign of the parents, although they have to be around to provide food-procurement training. Both Barn and Cliff Swallows are nesting where the ditch (now flowing) goes under Taft adjacent to the extreme nw corner. Interestingly, the Cliff Swallows all (well, maybe a few exceptions) go in the west side, the Barn Swallows the east side. Wonder if there is a line drawn with mud down under there denoting neighborhood boundaries? Cowbirds were seen for the first time at Grandview this year plotting their deeds. Hopefully this go around they will pick on species bigger than Ruby-crowned Kinglets, although the latter proved themselves up to the task in 2011. Chipping Sparrows will apparently nest again at Grandview. No warblers, vireos, empids, thrushes, orioles, or grosbeaks. 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.
