Folks, During the past 5 days I along with others, have birded NE Colorado hotspots, several on multiple occasions. I can safely say... a) Late August is very birdy (158 species) and b) shorebird turnover at Prewitt and Jackson is fast and furious. I will start with shorebirds. Both Prewitt and Jackson reservoirs hold spectacular conditions for attracting and holding shorebirds. You have probably gathered this from the recent reports on COBIRDS. Water levels are low and there is ample habitat for migrating sandpipers. I have observed thousands of migrant shorebirds in the past few days, with several goodies among them. That said, I have missed some of the reported rarities as well, even on the same day they were reported. And others I have communicated with have had the same experience, missing birds I have seen. This tells me there is rapid turnover of these fast flying extenda-migrants. All this translates to opportunity (coupled with some frustration) for us birders. You must be prepared to walk the mud (not treacherous, but extensive) and use a scope. So here are some highlights:
Black-bellied Plovers (breeding or near breeding plumage, both Jackson and Prewitt) Mountain Plovers (32+ along the north shore of Jackson) Long-billed Curlews (both Prewitt and Jackson) WHIMBREL (rare in CO in fall, several reported from Jackson) Pectoral Sandpipers (both Prewitt and Jackson) Marbled Godwits (Barr Lake and Jackson) Stilt Sandpipers (many at both Prewitt and Jackson) Sanderlings (not many, but at both Prewitt and Jackson) Short-billed Dowitchers (a couple at Prewitt, likely some at Jackson, but still not loads of dowitchers at either) BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (1 at Jackson that I have seen, several at Prewitt (Mlodinow)) CURLEW SANDPIPER (Jackson (Mlodinow and apparently some UK birders)) TONS of: Baird's, Least, Semipalmated, as well as yellowlegs and a handful of Westerns Snowy and Great Egrets all over Jackson LITTLE GULL (Jackson) Least, Black and Forster's Terns (mainly Jackson) ROYAL TERN (albeit a few weeks ago) Peregrine Falcons migrant passerines and raptors, grouping up to migrate Landbirds have also been plentiful. High country breeders (warblers, flycatchers, vireos, sparrows and tanagers) are out in force, along with many Townsend's Warblers from the PAC10. I hadn't seen a Sage Thrasher all year, but saw 15 on Friday. Other goodies include Great Crested Flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers, Hammond's Flycatchers, Baltimore Orioles, Ovenbirds, American Redstarts, Tennessee Warblers and Black-and-White Warblers all of which I have seen multiples of in 5 days. Tim Smart found the Kellner-lead DFO trip a cooperative Barn Owl, which I gladly photographed. Two interesting looking warblers, a JUVENILE or near juvenile plumage Pine Warbler and Northern Parula were observed at Prewitt. Migrating hummingbirds are all over the eastern plains per Peterson's 8/13 post. Jefferson Co. has a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Denver Co., a transitional plumage Little Blue Heron. I know I have missed some stuff, (including west slope and SLV goodies) but the point is... get out there! Glenn Walbek Castle Rock, CO http://www.pbase.com/gwalbek/2012_birds -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
