COBirds, Haven't seen any post yet so thought it's worth sharing: someone (can't remember who) found a Black-throated Green Warbler at Arapaho Bend Natural Area, Fort Collins, Larimer County today. It was feeding and giving chip notes in the taller willows etc just a few meters away from the foot bridge by the parking lot at Horsetooth Rd. @ Strauss Cabin Rd. I stopped by the area to look for the Sabine's Gulls previously reported at Rigden Reservoir and just happened to see some big lenses pointed at a tree, and it turned out to be friendly faces looking at this beautiful warbler. Always follow the big lenses and you'll see something good! Referencing Peters field guide to Warblers (Dunn, Garrett), I'd say the warbler is probably a female, as it lacks the extensive black throat that even a first-year male should have.
Also at least one first-year Sabine's Gull was at Rigden Reservoir. Swallows (mainly Barn) were ubiquitous and surely fattening up for southbound migration very soon. Dozens of finches, mostly American Goldfinch with a few House Finch and at least one Pine Sisken, were feasting on the dense sunflowers which have gone to seed right around the parking lot. I'm 100% success rate on finding Bald Eagle at this spot between my two visits this summer/fall. Rigden Reservoir was lacking in birds besides the hundreds of swallows, less than a dozen gulls (including at least one SAGU), and 3 or 4 Western Grebes, but the much smaller "Topminnow Pond" across the street was loaded with birds. Mostly coots but some dabblers mixed in as well. Not yet open to the public but can be scoped from the side of the dirt road. Possibly the Sabine's Gull(s) could be hanging out there as well. BTNW pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26102738@N07/ Good birding, Derek Hill Milliken, 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/65ca4f9c-5962-4649-b6fa-3366a75c564d%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
