I've been remiss in posting on local happenings for many months, so here goes an attempt at a run-down of the highlights, starting with the most recent observations. Since January I've been doing daily hikes up Horsetooth Mountain (turning around where the Horsetooth Rock trail and South Ridge trail join together, roughly 1/2 mile before the top), which has provided a nice opportunity for birding by ear, although I think I'll start to bring binoculars as its finally starting to get more interesting.
Today at Horsetooth Mtn Park I heard and saw my first LAZULI BUNTING of the year, as well as my first LARK SPARROW of the year. I am fairly sure I heard a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER chip as well, but it only called once and I could not confirm the ID. Also today, a flock of 20+ Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS added some nice color and movement to the ponderosa pine forest which has been mostly devoid of birds for the last 4 months. That's not completely true as Chipping Sparrows and Spotted Towhees have been trickling in over the last 10 days or so, and their numbers continue to build. Surprisingly, the first Towhees did not arrive until the 20th of April. Some years the first ones arrive by end of March. Yesterday I had a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH along this same hike, most certainly a migrant as it had not been detected here all year (and was not heard today). On April 28, I had PLUMBEOUS VIREO singing below the main trail near the first bench, but it has not been heard since. Also on that day I had a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, neither of which breed in this part of the park. On April 25, I woke up to a distant NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL calling. A new yard bird, although technically not in the yard, I still count it since it was heard from the yard. Also on this day, TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS arrived, along with BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. A push of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS also came through this day, and smaller numbers have persisted daily. On April11, my first BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD was seen in the yard, although since I just returned from a trip that day, its possible they arrived even earlier. The females arrived last weekend (Apr 25). Earlier in April (sorry, no date!) I had a singing BROWN CREEPER come through Horsetooth Mountain Park, it too moved on after only a day. Looking forward to seeing more migrants in the days to come. No Poorwills yet, although Great Horned Owls are quite active at night. Good birding to all, Arvind Panjabi 5700' feet, Larimer County, CO On the north slope of Milner Mtn Mountain mahogany shrubland and grassland -- 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/506433131.587034.1430521173101.JavaMail.yahoo%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
