Highlights of my recent visit to the Lamar area are as follows:
Lamar's Willow Creek from Willow Creek Park south thru the LCC Woods to the
Woodland Park Subdivision/College Drive (Prowers)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (at least 3, maybe as many as 5)
Northern Cardinal (1 pair, south end of LCC Woods on 2/9)
Bullock's Oriole (f, first reported by Jill White Smith on CFO Facebook on
2/10, seen by me on 2/11, in undeveloped sand dune area with Russian-olives and
Plains Cottonwoods between College Drive and Woodland Park Subdivision south of
LCC, private, eating Russian-olives in trees and off ground, only the second I
have ever seen in CO during the winter period, both in Lamar (first one eating
dried up grapes (aka raisins) in residential area on w side of Memorial Drive
nw of Fairmount Cemetery, 1Dec1999). Neither grapes or Russian-olive fruits
are mentioned in the BNA account for Bullock's Oriole. Suspect it might also
be eating juniper berries and/or visiting feeders but no confirmation.
White-breasted Nuthatch (eastern) LCC Woods
Common Grackle (1, seen at a feeder and the same bird (I think) was near the
oriole).
White-winged Dove (1, where the oriole was, and a few also seen in Willow Creek
Subdivision e of Willow Creek Park)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 adult male) north end of Willow Creek Park in pines
just se of restroom building, usually up high, tough to see, first seen late
last year
Lake Hasty (Bent), including the outlet canal south of the lake and the CG
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1m, getting bostrichid beetles from fire-charred
tamarisk south and southwest of the lake)
White Pelican (2 along the outlet canal near the weir, one with green wing tag
with white letters (Utah 3P1))
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 getting Russian-olives from the grass, north side of
CG)
NO Eastern Bluebirds
Thurston Reservoir about 5 miles north of Lamar (Prowers):
Greater White-fronted Goose (1 in with a few hundred white-cheeked geese)
Other Comments:
Area very dry, water mostly open, good numbers of common waterfowl, 80 degrees
on 10th of February!
Road over John Martin Res dam is closed. Why?
Dorm construction on-going at LCC, including ominous pipework between
mid-college and the creek that may result in closure of the road behind the
college for the next several months. Not sure if foot traffic will be able to
cross this area or if birding the LCC Woods will require doing so in two
sections: the north section, then drive around on 287 to the south section.
Marsh Wrens heard calling from various cattail marshes near Lamar and Lake
Hasty. Good number of Northern Harriers, three Loggerhead Shrikes (no
Northerns), few Harlan's Hawks around, saw one bird I believe was a dark
Rough-legged Hawk but could not confirm, few Merlins, NO cranes that I saw or
heard, did NOT see any white geese in Lamar proper but they are no doubt around
(with plenty at John Martin Res), pockets of Mourning Doves here and there, as
is normal in winter lots of Western Meadowlarks (i.e. NOT harbingers). Did NOT
see or hear a single longspur in many miles of driving south of Caddoa and
working over to US287 near Gobbler's Knob half way between Lamar and Two Buttes
turnoff. Unidentifiable ravens were occasionally seen. NO redpolls, despite
checking every goldfinch and siskin. Two Eastern Bluebirds at Fairmount
Cemetery (south edge), while others have been reported near the hospital. Saw
one rather worn anglewing butterfly at LCC which I believe was a Satyr Comma
and one Festive Tiger Beetle (C. scutellaris) at the oriole site.
Total of 65 species in the Lamar "CBC" circle, if there was one.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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