Howdy!
It was a frigid morning drive out to Last Chance (Washington County, Colorado)
-- 25F at 8:30 AM. My family homesteaded in Washington County in 1914 before
moving to Denver -- don't know how they made it. Along the route, I saw 3
coyotes and scores of Western Meadowlark sitting on steaming electric wire and
fence line warming with the morning sun. There were also a number of
Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel. Scores of antelope stay nearer the
cattle these days -- hunting season. When I arrived in Last Chance, I arrived
alone. Last Saturday, I arrived to a small crowd wearing t-shirt and shorts --
this weekend I donned gloves and three layers and still froze my tail off.
I wanted everyone to know that the Black-throated Blue Warbler was still out
there this morning (Sunday, October 7) -- again, near the pond. Magnificent
with very good views by camera or binoculars. This warbler has a tendency to
hide in the green weeks around the pond -- and then suddenly, pop out for a
bit. The edges of the pond did freeze, but only barely and melting fast.
I also saw Townsend's Solitaire, the show-stealing Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(flashing), Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, the ever-reliable Sora, Cedar
Wawing, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House
Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed
Junco (my FOS on the plains -- pink-sided), Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker,
Downy Woodpecker and White-crowned Sparrow. So -- not much different than
yesterday's report by Mark Chavez et.al, but much different from what I saw
last week. I was there from about 8:45 AM to 10:30 AM this morning and it was
getting more bird-active with the warmth of the morning (alas, employment
beckoned my departure). Good news, bad news -- not near as many bugs compared
to last week.
I've met some extraordinarily kind birders on my visits to Last Chance -- and
just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone for helping and encouraging me (I
have one eye for birding).
Ben Kemena
Denver
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