[cobirds] Lots of ducks etc. @ Russell Lakes SWA
Hi, All! I spent the weekend in the San Luis Valley and passed by several wetlands and waterbodies. Other than a bunch of Sage Thrashers at Alamosa NWR, it was pretty quiet until I got to Russell Lakes SWA. The ponds there were very crowded, and species included (in no particular order): Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Ruddy Duck Bufflehead American Coot Mallard Canada Goose There may have been other species as well, but I don't have a spotting scope and had trouble seeing more distant birds due to the sheer density of individuals and the turbulence caused by the stiff wind. Someone with a scope could probably pull out more species. In the adjacent fields there were several Sandhill Cranes. There was at least one Northern Harrier working the fields. I heard a single Marsh Wren. Earlier (in Monte Vista), I saw an Osprey standing in the middle of a tilled field. -Amber Carver 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAFG0sBrrae-CXh64ObyUKZRBb9_8iDN9BvnN6Dz8Ep0LpkfWw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] No Vermilion Flycatcher this morning 4/6
Lots of birders looking all morning, though as far as I know, the male Vermilion Flycatcher hasn't been seen, below Pueblo Reservoir dam. This species isn't great at staying, so I'm not too surprised. If it turns up again, I'll be sure to report. Brandon Percival Pueblo West, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/683942659.558227.1428345573155.JavaMail.yahoo%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Long-tailed Ducks, Larimer County
Hi Cobirders, Both Long-tailed Ducks continued at the Walmart Pond at Harmony Rd and I-25 this afternoon between 1 - 2:30pm. Handsome birds! Also present: Common Merganser - approx 60 Red-breasted Merganser male - 1 Horned Grebe - 8 Lesser Scaup - 2 Common Goldeneye - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Ring-billed Gull - several, coming and going Larry Griffin Ft. Collins --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5522F28C.4000202%40frii.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Breeding Chucker's Mead area, Weld
I have a pair of Chuckers who have been hanging around my yard for three weeks now. I'm sure that they are escapees from the hunt club up the road. Until today, whenever I saw them (several times a day) they were always together. Today, I've only seen the male. Unless something got a hold of the female, I am assuming that she is now sitting on a nest somewhere. They do not seem to be concerned with human or our dogs activity. They are a little wary, but not excessively so. I have a Vizsla who thankfully failed all her hunting training and was surrendered to a local rescue where we adopted her from. She has no interest in birds at all, but squirrels, rabbits, mice, and voles are a whole different matter. ;-). I have no idea where their nest might be, but they were spending a lot of time around our barn and hen house and then under the bird feeders on the south side of our house. I mostly see them now around the south or west yards where there are a lot of trees and cover. Pauli Smith Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/COL402-EAS38C4D9E22558174491B391DFFE0%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Neotropic Corm adult
Great find, Steve. My field trip missed this MEGA yesterday. Just to clarify for others, this site is WEST of Windsor. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO Sent from my iPhone On Apr 6, 2015, at 3:50 PM, 'Steven Mlodinow' via Colorado Birds cobirds@googlegroups.com wrote: At gravel ponds in east side of Windsor south of road in flock of 350+ mergansers. Turn south at 17th from highway east of town and park at end of road Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F6AABC88-A5A3-4657-8257-65CBBA1454F0%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/42AF0117-3315-44A7-B8B8-C0786C4FE190%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Re: Morgan/Weld Easter Birding
This morning I visited the Chestnut-collared Longspur location mentioned by Bill (and the visitor from Alabama) and saw 5. Thanks Bill! Despite searching the Pawnee Grasslands a bit, I also did not find any Mountain Plover. Kevin Keirn Fort Collins, CO On Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 7:44:49 PM UTC-6, William Kaempfer wrote: Tina Jones and I went out on the NE plains today for grassland and water birds. Ponds are full of dabbling ducks, but diving ducks were harder to find. To start the day we had a FOS Swainson’s Hawk at Ireland Reservoir between Hudson and Keansburg. We continued on to Andrick SWA and Jackson Reservoir; the former was full of ducks with a heavy dose of American White Pelicans plus 3 or 4 Bonaparte’s Gulls. Three Northern Harriers were “messing around” in the area, too. Jackson was not very active other than Ring-billed Gulls and Western Grebes, but there was a small group of 9 Snow Geese way out on the water. We headed north from Jackson, and made a snap decision to try for longspurs noting that Briggsdale is about as close to Jackson Res. as it is to anything else! On the way we had another Swainson’s in Weld, just beyond the NW corner of Morgan County. At Murphy’s Pasture we had a smattering of McCown’s Longspurs, and then we accidentally flushed a group of about 15 along the road being observed by a visitor from Alabama. He accepted our apology with such grace that he pointed up on to a spot where he had seen Chestnut-collareds as well. We backtracked to WCR 86 just west of WCR 105 where we found said birds. (Unlike Mark Miller’s trip to Washington County we could not add a Mountain Plover.) Then we turned for home via the Loloff/Latham area. Loloff’s resident Black-necked Stilts were present at the north end while the playa on the south side of WCR 48 at Lower Latham not only had another stilt flying around, it had three Lesser Yellowlegs joining a couple of Greaters plus four Baird’s Sandpipers. Bill Kaempfer Boulder -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/09b7b02d-6788-4d69-bf01-25eb9513bc28%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Neotropic Corm adult
At gravel ponds in east side of Windsor south of road in flock of 350+ mergansers. Turn south at 17th from highway east of town and park at end of road Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F6AABC88-A5A3-4657-8257-65CBBA1454F0%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Neotropic Corm
Gravel pits are as you are heading WEST not EAST from town Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CB264A00-FE2D-41B2-BCB5-0B8CE8F09A56%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Ross's Goose, Walden Res, Jackson
Probable Ross's Goose with 2 Canadas this morning on north arm of Walden Res. Chuck Hundertmark Lafayette Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/r963pm6vk1kmjr24fcg400ee.1428358176470%40email.android.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Neotopic Cormorant- NO
I got to the Windsor Gravel Ponds around 5:30 this evening and did not see any cormorants out on the lake. Around 5:45 I did see a cormorant that looked like it had a long tail flying off to the southeast. A little bit later a few groups of Double-crested Cormorants were seen flying towards Fossil Creek Reservoir. I drove towards the southeast looking for water, but the few ponds I was able to find and scan did not have anything but Double-crested Cormorants. When I came back to the gravel ponds, there were still no cormorants on the water but a few more Double-cresteds flew over. Good Birding, Andy Bankert -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAMvLbkhxq%2Bw%2BeNmz%2BTovW9NmdZ8ToQeHkommweRgUDGzCNSiEA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 6 April 2015
Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: April 6, 2015 This is the Rare Bird Alert, Monday, April 6, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species). Tundra Swan (Pueblo) BRANT (Rio Grande) Long-tailed Duck (El Paso, *Larimer, Mesa) Barrow's Goldeneye (Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, *Park) Pacific Loon (*Montrose) Broad-winged Hawk (Montrose) Black Rail (Bent) Snowy Plover (Otero) Mountain Plover (*El Paso, *Washington) Thayer's Gull (*Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Crowley, El Paso, *Larimer)) Caspian Tern (Delta) ACORN WOODPECKER (Pueblo) Williamson's Sapsucker (Pueblo, Teller) Black Phoebe (*Boulder, Mesa, Ouray) Eastern Phoebe (*Boulder, *Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, Yuma) Vermilion Flycatcher (*Pueblo) Carolina Wren (*Otero) Lapland Longspur (Prowers) Chestnut-collared Longspur (El Paso, *Washington, *Weld) McCown's Longspur (*Washington, *Weld) Fox Sparrow (Montose) Swamp Sparrow (Montrose) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Boulder) Northern Cardinal (El Paso) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Jackson, Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch (*Douglas, Jefferson) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Jackson, Jefferson) BENT COUNTY: --2 Black Rail were reported by Peterson at Fort Lyon Marsh Complex at CR HH and CR 16 on March 29. BOULDER COUNTY: --On March 29, Nunes reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. --On April 3, Floyd reported Eastern and Black Phoebe at 75th St Bridge over Boulder Creek. On April 4, Steadman reported Eastern Phoebe and Black Phoebe at 75th St Bridge over Boulder Creek. On April 5, Minner-Lee reported both Eastern and Black Phoebe at 75th St Bridge over Boulder Creek. CROWLEY COUNTY: --A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Chris Wood at Lake Henry on March 26. DELTA COUNTY: --A Caspian Tern was reported by Robinsong at Fruitgrower's Reservoir on March 31. DOUGLAS COUNTY: --An Eastern Phoebe was reported by Kellner at Plum Creek Picnic Area at Chatfield SP on March 28 and March 29. On March 30, Gen Moore reported Eastern Phoebe at Plum Creek Delta on March 30. On April 2, Eastern Phoebe was reported by Matt Crooks on Douglas county side of Chatfield. On April 3, Chavez reported Eastern Phoebe at Plum Creek Delta at Chatfield. On April 4, Bob Spencer reported Eastern Phoebe at Plum Creek bridge at Chatfield. On April 5, Kellner reported Eastern Phoebe atr Plum Creek Delta at Chatfield. --A m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Schottler swimming on bay between Marina Sandspit and Plub Creek Delta on April 1. --4 Black Rosy-FInches were reported by Glynn on Rampart Range Rd at Hwy 67 on April 5. EL PASO COUNTY: --A pair of Mountain Plovers was reported by Drummond in a field S of intersection of Ellicott Hwy and Squirrel Creek Road on March 28. On March 30, Driscoll reported 3 Mountain Plovers at the intersection of Ellicott Hwy and Squirred Creek Road. --3 Mountain Plovers were reported by Walbek in Ramah (15618 - 16498), Ramah Hwy on March 30. --2 Mountain Plovers were reported by Driscoll at Hanover Road and Milne Road on March 30. --On March 31, Goff reported 2 Mountain Plovers on Squirrel Creek Rd across from red brick ruins of a school. On April 2, Rick Taylor reported Mountain Plover about 500 ft N of red brick school ruins at NW corner of Squirrel Creek Road and Squirrel Creek Place. On April 5, Matt Clark reported 2 Mountain Plovers at Squirrel Creek Road N of Squirrel Creek Place. --On April 2, Koehn reported 2 Mountain Plovers N of Hanover Road about .7 miles E of Milne Road. --On April 2, Peterson reported Mountain Plover and 4 Chestnut-collared Longspurs on Drennan Road. --A f Northern Cardinal was reported by Tyler Stuart in Sondermann Park about 1/4 m N of Cable roadblock on March 30. On March 31, Richard Taylor reported Northern Cardinal at Sondermann Park. --On April 3, Goff reported Long-tailed Duck at Big Johnson. --On April 4, Drummond reported 4 Mountain Plovers at the intersection of Squirrel Creek Road and S Ellicott Hwy. On April 5, Matt Clark reported 5 Mountain Plovers at Squireel Creek Road and S Ellicott Hwy. JACKSON COUNTY: --4 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Leatherman at Lake John on March 31. --Leatherman reported 2-3 Brown-capped Rosy-Finchese at Mosse Visitor Center at Gould on March 31. JEFFERSON COUNTY: --Ira Sanders reports Gray-crowned, Brown-capped and Black Rosy-Finches coming to his front yard at 314 DeFrance Ct in Golden on December 29. Birders are welcome to watch from the street. On March 7, Sanders reported one Rosy-finch at his feeder. On March 12, Sanders reported 1 Rosy-Finch in his yard. On March 14, Sanders reported one Rosy-Finch in his yard. On March 25, Sanders reported 1 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in his yard. --A m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Sanders at Chatfield SP at a gravel pit pond W of Kingfisher bridge and S of the road on March 29. --An Eastern Phoebe was reported by Morrison and Wheeler on the Jeff Co Side of
[cobirds] Rio Grande County, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge - Brant
Buoyed by a forwarded report from the San Luis Valley we ventured over to see if the Brant was still present at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Seldom do we go after a bird and not only am I the first to spot it, but we find it less than 60 seconds after leaving the vehicle! Luck was with us this morning. The bird had relocated to the pond on the East side of the road. Paul had just done a quick perusal with the spotting scope and decided the bird was not present...but I thought one of those geese is smaller than the others...one of those geese is not the same. At the time the bird was on the far side of the pond with a few Canada Geese, head tucked down. As I can be stubborn at times I asked for my turn at the scope and happened to line it up just as the Brant lifted it's head! Pics may be seen on CFO Facebook page. They were taken a bit later when the Brant had come to our side of the pond. While it was still a bit distant, heat shimmer and lighting working against us, we had fantastic scope views and later in the morning were rewarded with a close flyover...as the birds decided to fly to one of the inlets far to the West side of the road. If it had been there to start with we would have never have seen it! Life bird # 3209...Happy Easter for us! Paul and Polly Wren Neldner La Veta, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%2BFr6DLrSCUGv%3D%3DeHFrtrUnsm_z6mXEw8pNYD6CEyLjSE4wx%3DA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Nesting Raptors and more, Longmont CO (Boulder/Weld Counties)
I meant to post this on Friday, but was anxious to head down to Alamosa County. The City of Longmont's volunteer raptor monitoring program is under way with many of our *Red-tailed Hawks* and *Great Horned Owls* already incubating. Most, if not all, of our Great Horneds have been on the nest for a month now and should have chicks soon. We also have 2 pairs of *Bald Eagles *that have returned this year. The (presumably) well-known Great Horned Owl nest on the cliffside at Sandstone Ranch District Park (Weld) failed this year. We had an owl on the cliff incubating as early as Feb 5, but she was off again mid March with no chicks in sight. The same morning, there were 2 *Barn Owls* seen at SSR and they continued for about a week but have not been located since. Out at a property closed to the public, we found a deceased Barn Owl near one of our Great Horned Owl nests that already has chicks. Additionally, we added our first two *Cooper's Hawk* nests to the monitoring program last week, with hopefully more to come. *Ospreys* are also back on about half of the platforms around town, but no sign of Swainson's Hawks yet. The heron rookeries are active again, with 46 *Great Blue Herons* and 2 *Great Egrets * counted in one of them early last week. Rounding out the nesting, we found a pair of *Eurasian Collared-doves* nest building in an alley last Thursday. On Friday, we saw our first *Turkey Vultures, *but they did not appear to be potential residents. 16 of them climbed as high as they could on a thermal before all heading north in a ragged line. *Great-tailed Grackles* have been at Union Res for at least a week now, and *Common Grackles* are showing up all over town, but no sign of Yellow-headed Blackbirds so far. We don't give out nest locations and our raptor monitoring program is currently full, but we will hopefully have more volunteer birding opportunities in Longmont soon. Feel free to contact me if you are interested, and I'll hopefully be making an official post about it sometime in the next few weeks. Bill Blackburn City of Longmont Open Space Broomfield, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/b13286c3-3ab5-465b-b9ca-85d8d025f9b5%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] NO Red Crossbill @ Cheesman (Denver), Monday morning
I took an hour walk with my dog at Cheesman around 7:30 on Monday morning. I did not see any crossbill, although it's possible I just did not find them, as the park was noisy enough and my dog distracting enough. - Jared Del Rosso Denver, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/dfd865d9-ebd8-44b0-a01c-36c3efe772b5%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Spring Arrivals/Northcentral Weld County
Hi all Spring arrival highlights: - Sandhill Crane - 50+ (Pawnee National Grassland) - Burrowing Owl - 4 (Weld CR 33 btw 98/100 (3); Weld CR 108/53 SE (1)) - Swainson's Hawk - 1 (Nunn) - Blue-winged Teal - 3 (Weld CR 108 btw 31/33) - Franklin's Gull - 14 (Crom Lake) - American Avocet - 6 (Crom Lake (4); Loloff Reservoir (2)) - Greater Yellowlegs - 4 (Crom Lake (2); Loloff Reservoir (2); Weld CR 48 Marsh (2)) - Turkey Vulture - 1 (Weld County Dump) - Yellow-headed Blackbird - 5 (Drake Lake) - Great-tailed Grackle - 2 (Drake Lake (1); Crom Lake (1)) - Horned Grebe - 11+ (Windsor Lake) - Double-crested Cormorant - 2 (Windsor Lake (1); Latham Reservoir (1)) - Mourning Dove - 1 (Siebring Reservoir) - Black-crowned Night Heron - 1 (Glenmere Park) - Wild Turkey - 1 (Platter River-Greeley) - Cinnamon Teal - 6 (Weld CR 48 Marsh (5); Weld CR 59 Marsh (1)) - Loggerhead Shrike - 1 (Weld CR 42) Total of 58 species seen. Photos here: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/photo Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/6c49e496-e38b-42c7-bf84-46f26111ccb8%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Alamosa and El Paso Counties (4/3/15 - 4/5/15)
Hannah Espy and I headed out to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve out in Alamosa County this weekend for a camping trip. I squeezed some birding in while there and had the following highlights. Thanks to Ted Floyd for his very in-depth post about the area last week. Great Sand Dunes NP campground: Surprisingly little activity. Only a few *Mountain Chickadees* and *Mountain Bluebirds *hanging around and no owls heard either night. The abundance of people might keep most things away. The lunar eclipse over the dunes was pretty spectacular but very cold. Great Sand Dunes Preserve Primitive road: *Clark's Nutcrackers* and *Pinyon Jays* were everywhere on 4/5 on a brief hike both north and south of the parking lot before the road becomes 4x4 access only. We also had both* Red* and* White-breasted Nuthatches.* Zapata Falls: We had a few *Pinyon Jays* fly over and one *Western Scrub-Jay* near the base of the road on 4/4. The falls are frozen right now and look amazing. Worth a visit even if you don't see too much on the 1/4 mile hike to the falls. I did not hear any owls at the trailhead or along the drive up from 5:15-5:45 am on 4/5. Zapata Ranch: What a difference ~1/2 mile can make. A visit to the gate at 5:15 AM and 5:45 AM on 4/5 produced zero owls seen or heard. I had a pretty good view of the creek system and lodge from where I was, but the wind was pretty high, making it hard to hear if there were any calling in the distance. From the gate we did have *Pinyon Jays *and *Bushtits * at around 4:00 pm on 4/4 Ln 6: I finally got a *Great Horned Owl* hovering (didnt know they would do that) in the wind over an ag field just East of Mosca at dawn on 4/5. There was a raptor-sized nest on the southeast corner of the field, but it was too distant to see if it was occupied. I then headed east along LN 6 and saw many *Sage Thrashers. *They were present at every stop I made. At one I even had four perched on 4 adjacent sagebrush/rabbitbrush. Many were singing which made locating them rather easy. I also had two singing (and seen) *Sagebrush Sparrows*, one at either end of the road. There were probably more out there, but the wind was still pretty high at that point. At the entrance to San Luis State Park, I had my only *Eurasian Collared-Dove* of the trip. I also had what I thought was a *Northern Shrike *(late?) at the canal crossing (there is a structure, un-used raptor nest, and a cattle guard there), but did not see Ted's Loggerhead. At the same canal I had a single *Brewer's Blackbird* and around 12 *Green-winged Teal. * I hopefully have a decent enough picture of the shrike, but I haven't had a chance to go through my photos. About 1 mile north of the East end of LN 6, towards the Sand Dunes, Hannah and I had an adult *Golden Eagle* eating what appeared to be a roadkilled deer on the side of the road. There were *Common Ravens* on the same carcass on 4/4. On the drive home yesterday (4/5) we stopped by El Paso county for *Mountain Plovers. *We did not see any at the Milne Road location, but did see two *Burrowing Owls* and a pair of *Killdeer* there. On the drive out from I-25 we also found a *Loggerhead Shrike* perched on a wire. After striking out at Milne, we headed over to the school ruins at Squirrel Creek Road and Squirrel Creek Place. Somewhere along the way (not sure exactly where we were) we flushed a *Ferruginous Hawk* from the roadside. At the school ruins were had more Burrowing Owls. They were spread out with single birds seen on all sides of the road (about 6 total). On the east side of the road, north of the ruins and south of the lone tree out there, we did have a pair of Mountain Plovers. They were foraging about 50 yards from the roadside. With mission success, we headed back to the highway through Fountain and did not stop at the cowfield at Squirrel Creek and Ellicot Hwy. Somewhere west of there, as we neared Fountain we drove past a pond where I noticed 5 *American Avocets* and at least one male *Cinnamon Tea*l, but we did not stop. In Fountain proper, we rounded out the trip with 5 ( *Wild*) *Turkeys* walking across a field. All in all, we had a blast and got four lifers: Mountain Plover, Pinyon Jay, Sagebrush Sparrow, and Sage Thrasher. Bill Blackburn Broomfield, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/3c77682e-7a0e-44c2-b6d2-756e281c58f2%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
