Greetings All,
I went n. from the "Golden-crowned Sparrow" parking lot at Teller Farms off of Valmont. I parked at 5am (the earliest allowable time per sign) and walked at full tilt for about 2 miles until I was standing in the rolling grasslands at about 5:30am. Unlike last year, when serenaded by Cassin's Sparrows and such, 2 Grasshopper Sparrows and 1 Vesper were all I could detect (not to slight the many Western Meadowlarks). Walking back, there is a stream crossing just n. of the lake one walks past. This stream crossing held a WILLOW FLYCATCHER last year, and indeed, does so again this year. A 100 yards or so farther south, a bird flew into a cottonwood and started to call. To my utter surprise, it was a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. As it continued to call, sounding most agitated, I realized that it was not of the mountain race, but was an EASTERN WB NUTHATCH!!!! After 30-40 seconds, it took off to the south. I pursued, but it kept on going, landing for about 10 seconds, calling repeatedly, flying another 100 yards, stopping, and so forth. Otherwise, no surprises. The Weld County Road 7 ponds have a baby avocet or two, but not much else. The St Vrain State Park police force (that's what they act like) tried to give me a parking ticket for parking on private property (at the intersection of 119 and WCR 7). I strode back to my car, and the officer was rather befuddled when I said, "I have permission from the folks that own this place to park here." "Who gave you that permission?" He replied... of course, this is ignoring the fact that I was parked on private property, and thus in a spot that he had no jurisdiction over. I answered his question, and he said, "I guess I'll take your word for it and not give you a ticket." Really. Nothing better to do, I gather. It really amazes me how much they try to prevent people (even those with annual park passes) from stopping anywhere along that road at all seasons, no matter how far off the actual road you are, no matter how brief your pause. One of life's little mysteries. So, now that my tirade is over, back to birds -- the Firestone Gravel Pits had precisely one duck upon them, the continuing imm male COMMON GOLDENEYE. Good Birding, Steven Mlodinow Longmont, CO -- 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.
