The Lamar Community College Woods were good early this morning 7:45-11am, at
which time the fog burned off, the sun came out, and the birds in large measure
disappeared, settling into more normal numbers and patterns.
Essentially all the birds early on were at the north end, and migration was
tangible (birds just dropping in out of the sky to begin feeding and flitting
their way southward thru the trees and shrubs. I have never seen as many
Warbling Vireos in one session as this morning (I estimate 20, but there could
have been many more, had 5 in one binocular view!)
Highlights:
Blue-headed Vireo (at least 2)
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Warbling Vireo (20+)
Red-eyed Vireo (1)
Nashville Warbler (5+)
Black-and-white Warbler (1f)
American Redstart (1f)
Tennessee Warbler (1)
Yellow-breasted Chat (1)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (one f has been in the same area over the trail for 3
days straight, chipping constantly, flying to different perches, never going to
a nest, never revealing an owl or snake or other problem).
Hermit Thrush (1)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2)
Wilson's Warbler (who knows? many many)
Nightjar sp. (flushed, got no look, really, gave a muted "chuck,
chuck...........chuck", probably C. Poorwill)
Hammond's Flycatcher (1)
Northern Cardinal (heard)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Mississippi Kite (still a big flock of mostly young birds in town, they will
leave any day)
Lowlight:
NO Canada Warbler
[After looking at photos, we decided the probable Black-throated Green Warbler
reported yesterday was actually a Townsend's. We also decided the probable
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher seen two days ago and photographed extensively at
point blank range (photos circulated to experts) was a young YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER. The probable YBFL yesterday (not photographed) is best left in the
probable category (may or may not have been the same individual, given the
number of this species reported on the eastern plains of late).]
If you are coming to Lamar any time soon, it is worth checking Thurston
Reservoir. There is a small area of water viewable by scope from either the
south side boat ramp or the two-track dirt lane coming in off the CR in the
northwest corner.
Species total for the Lamar area this visit (9/12-17): 100 (only 9 waterbirds,
total of 15 warbler spp.)
Tempel's Grove (Bent):
Fairly quiet, but the area under the tall cottonwoods west of CR35 on the south
side of the ditch (which is getting a run of water at present) had the
following:
Ovenbird (1)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
Western Tanager (1)
Empid (probably "Western")
Red-breasted Nuthatch
East of CR35 along the ditch in Tempel's Grove was an Eastern Phoebe.
I would reiterate, food for insectivores is abundant and diverse right now in
southeastern CO. The array of small moths is impressive and the birds are
chowdering their share (i.e., the fluff is flying). Vireos, flycatchers, and
warblers are really having a feast. A few individual grackles seem to have a
thing for the big dogday cicadas. A number of vireos and warblers today scored
lime green caterpillars from the deciduous trees (I think what they called
"green fruitworms"). The number of sulfur butterflies is quite impressive in
unsprayed alfalfa. Thousands litter the highways and dirt roads, victims of
vehicles. A nighthawk was feeding over one of these fields, and lots of
Swainson's Hawks are sitting around, more in p-dog towns than alfalfa.
I am heading home tomorrow, back to the reality of normal birding and flood
aftermath.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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