Highlights of a trip today, 29June, to Picture Canyon (9 miles south of Baca M
Rd on 18Rd) were:
PAINTED BUNTING (probably the same one reported earlier this spring by Kaempfer
et al, at least one male calling at several locations both south and north of
the main Picnic Area). I did not hear any Painted Buntings for the first two
hours of my visit while insect collecting, but then heard one singing for at
least 15 minutes during each of several subsequent hours). It is quite
possible more than one male was involved. I did not see any females.
Greater Roadrunner (1 along the east rimrock)
Curve-billed Thrasher (pair in cholla at the north end of the area, east of the
Forest Service road that goes from the county road to the Picnic Area)
Ash-throated Flycatcher (few pairs)
Canyon Towhee (few)
Rock Wren (several)
Canyon Wren (few)
Orchard Oriole (pair at the south end near the old homestead)
Awesome insects including lots of Soapberry Hairstreaks on the catkins of the
one coyote willow blooming 2 months late, at least three species of cicadas,
giant wheel bugs, a gaudy clerid beetle I've never seen in CO before,
grasshoppers of all flavors (including Green Fool and Painted), a mydas fly
that got away, robber flies of a few types, Hackberry Butterflies (including
one on what I think was bear scat), etc., etc.
As an aside, keying in on a comment from the Prathers about seeing a Black
Witch moth at recently opened Crow Valley Campground, I have seen two of these
in Lamar since two days ago and have heard of 5 others! We get invasions every
summer from the South out on the Plains, but this seems like a particularly
robust incursion.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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