I made a Weld County run today with Nina Routh and Toni Rautus.
Everywhere we went proved very birdy, with a top-notch warbler day at
Crow Valley. We began at Roads 82/51 (the grasshopper sparrow site)
where a new oil road now facilitates parking (is there anywhere in Weld
County that is not being drilled? More on that later), and quickly
picked up several of the sparrows and a burrowing owl. On the way to
Crow Valley we made a detour over to Norma's Grove, where the
highlights were a red-headed woodpecker (which suddenly are showing up
everywhere) and northern waterthrush. There was a flock" of Empids on
the fenceline west of the grove, and we managed to pull dusky and
Hammond's out of it.
At Crow Valley we had a great warbler day, inlcuding common
yellowthroat, yellow warbler (lots), Virginia's warbler (4), Tennessee
warbler, ovenbird (2, maybe three), Am. redstart (two females, one
male), McGillivray's (2) and Wilson's (several). Eight warbler
species, nine if you are still counting chats as a warbler (2). We
refound the red-headed woodpecker that has been seen around the park
(north end today), and the nighthawks have finally returned. I had a
Denver Museum group out there last Saturday and there were inexplicably
no nighthawks to be found. Today they were flying at mid-day and we
saw around a dozen. Empids were abundant, including least, dusky,
Hammond's, and probable willow. There are amazing infestations of
Swainson's thrushes, catbirds and western wood-pewees. The "big miss"
(for the second week in a row) was orchard oriole. I have always
considered this bird a sure thing at Crow Valley in May, but I haven't
seen one nor heard one reported this year.
After Crow Valley we switched into waterbird mode and hit Road 59 Pond,
which had the usual suspects including almost all summer ducks and a
few Wilson's phalarops (no red-necks that we could find). We
encountered a real surprise at Loloff. Last Saturday's trip had
produced eight whimbrel and two spanking dunlin in full breeding
attire. Today there were not only few birds, but since last week an
oil rig has taken up residence. So, if you haven't been out there in
the last couple of days- the large vacant area between the parking area
and the lake is now occupied by a drill rig with all the accoutrements.
Doesn't do much for the view.
Latham had the usual suspects including a few very vocal Virginia
rails. No bitterns, though we had two last week. At Beebe Draw there
were only a few birds on the water, but in the wet meadow across the
road was a flock of at least 150 ibis. Unfortunately, time did not
permit a thorough search of the flock for a glossy. Odds are that
there is one in there someplace......
Happy Memorial Day birding to all!
Norm Lewis
Lakewood
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