Longspurs hang out Weld CR 122/Weld 45 first 1-2 miles of BBS route. Other longspur areas of interest:
- (MY FAVORITE PLACE BY FAR) Chalk Bluffs Road 3 miles north of CO/WY border along Hwy 85 (at end of pavement green marker tied to fence indicates a stop) - Weld CR 73, north of Weld CR 110: 4 MOUNTAIN PLOVER, 2 CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS, 1 BURROWING OWL--2 days ago - In the vicinity of Weld CR 134 Chestnut-collared Longspurs in the area as well (especially along Weld CR 115 - Weld CR 108/Hwy 85 (need permit) SE corner both longspurs seen in spring. Denver Audubon leading trip this Sunday on CPER Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m On Wednesday, July 2, 2014 10:32:48 AM UTC-6, Dave Leatherman wrote: > > There is a phenomenon on-going involving evening primrose (a > white-flowered species of *Oencantha*), the white-lined sphinx moth (*Hylea > lineata*), and birds. Caterpillars of the moth are gorging on the > abundant plant, which, in response to much-needed rains, blanketed the > northern prairies of Larimer and Weld Counties with blooms in this late > spring. The caterpillars in spots have out-stripped the sparse leaves of > this plant and are wandering in search of more leaves to complete their > development. If they make it to adulthood, they turn into what many call a > "hummingbird moth", familiar to most of us as they hover about ornamental > flowers at dusk (they are boldly marked with dark brown and white, with > mostly pink hindwings, long proboscis, ghostlike). Technically, other > sphinx moths are more properly called hummingbird moths, but this post > isn't technical. Above I said, "If they make it..." because birds, and I > suspect other potential predators, make the completion of their > metamorphosis less than a sure thing. So far, during this spate of > hundreds (thousands?) of caterpillars wandering across roads in Larimer and > Weld, birds of many species are cashing in on the bounty. To date I have > seen House Sparrow, Lark Buntings, Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks, and > McCown's Longspurs involved. I have a good photo of a female McCown's > Longspur subduing a caterpillar taken on 6/30, if anyone would want to see > it. I suspect this will be subject of "The Hungry Bird" in "Colorado > Birds" at some point, so you will see this photo again. > > One good place to see the caterpillars and bird response, including > McCown's Longspurs, is CR5 north of Buckeye Road (the exit on I-25 near the > WY line one would take for Hamilton Reservoir near the Rawhide Power > Plant). Go west on Buckeye Road from I-25, cross the RR tracks, and take > the first county road north. Note that normally one could hit CR29 at the > north terminus of CR5 and go east to I-25 at the Carr Exit, but the other > day there was bridge out which prevents this (was out on 6/30, may be fixed > now). > > Also, longspurs of any type are somewhat hard to find this year on the > northern prairie. While wandering aimlessly on 6/30, I had good numbers of > McCown's of all sexes and ages on Weld CR120 between 55 and 67. I have yet > to find a Chestnut-collared, but surely they are out there, too, albeit > fairly locally. I note where Gary Lefko reported them on a Pawnee BBS > without details. > > There are 4 female type Barrow's Goldeneyes on Echo Lake (Clear Creek) as > of 6/26, first reported by John Breitsch on 6/24. A dusky Fox Sparrow was > singing about a half mile west of the Guanella Pass Summit (Clear Creek) on > 6/26. Gray Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers were east of Echo Lake at the > campground on 6/26. We did not find Pine Grosbeaks but Doug Kibbe, who we > ran into, said he had seen two in the campground on 6/26. From public > parking for the trailhead near the campground host campsite looking north, > we had 3 Band-tailed Pigeons either flying over or perched in distant dead > conifers. Lots of Red Crossbills on Squaw Pass Road (SR103) between Echo > Lake and Squaw Pass itself (Clear Creek). Also Gray Jays in the picnic > areas along this road. > > Dave Leatherman > Fort Collins > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/f7a5aaf1-57c0-4545-9a24-52697f904861%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
