Late report, but better late than never. I birded around Park County on 14 August, the day after David Suddjian. I also went up CR56 (Lost Park Rd) into Pike NF. In the prairies, as David noted, there were a lot of Savannah Sparrows and a random *Eurasian Collared-Dove*. I had a *Western Kingbird* at the entrance gate/fence to the NF about a mile from Hwy 285. Lots of *Chipping Sparrows *and *Gray-headed Junco’s* all over the place and scattered *Clark’s Nutcrackers* (which are a bird that doesn’t get old). About 6.7 miles from 285 in an area of open pines and a great scenic view, I heard the distinct call of *Pinyon Jays*. I wasn’t expecting them around here, but eventually saw one flying away. They are quite uncommon in the north part of the county and that was a really lucky lifer! At the same spot I had a small group of warblers and sparrows fly over. I got a pretty decent look at one of the birds and I’m quite certain it was a Townsend’s Warbler, but not 100%. A pair of *Three-toed Woodpeckers* showed nicely along the creek by a road side camp site and there were good numbers of *Violet-green Swallows* up and down the valley (as per high count flags in eBird). Further up the road I finally found a long overdue, terrible nemesis lifer *Gray Jay* thanks to intel from David on where he saw them the day before! I heard two and got nice, but distant, looks at one, but they didn’t linger. It was quite nice, and unexpected, to get two lifer jays on the same road!
An *Olive-sided Flycatcher* was perched high on CR39 as I was cutting south towards CR77 from Lost Park Rd. I traveled south on CR77 towards the community of Tarryall and found a nice group of *Brewer’s Blackbirds *and a male* Lazuli Bunting. * I went up CR211 through Pike NF and the Hayman fire. I didn’t really have much time to stop continually, but stopped when I saw birds, which was often enough. One of the greener areas (still in Park Co) had 3 *Williamson’s Sapsuckers*. Back into Jefferson Co now, I stopped at a green draw and a female Broad-tailed Hummer came zipping out of the woods and hovered outside my open window for 15 sec or so, while we assessed each other. Another random flock on a ridge top had at least 3 *Western Tanagers*, a *Lark Sparrow*, among other more common species and a couple miles up the road I had a pair of *Peregrine Falcons* flying around, one with a snack in its talons. Eventually I got to Stony Pass Rd and quickly refound one *Lewis’s Woodpecker* and 3 *Red-headed Woodpeckers*. Thanks to the folks that eBirded from here recently! I had an adult female/imm Northern Harrier circling Hwy 126 south of Buffalo Creek, more specifically at Spring Creek Trail and just south of the large burn here. I guess it was passing through as that bird caught me off guard and it was about to storm! Not a bad day of birding considering a late start and early end! Good birding, Scott Somershoe Littleton CO -- 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/CAJmtx%2BUo%3Dmp1O1P3Cxo0w-Tzja7ps%3DFAP3GkzpbrkMqG4KHpcw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
