I've had seven species at Fort Collins' Grandview Cemetery in the last two days
that are new for that location in 2018.
Tuesday, September 18th Highlights (* = first of year species for the location)
*Song Sparrow - along the ditch south of the entry bridge
*Hermit Thrush - southeast corner spruce near the Pump House
*Hammond's Flycatcher (seen at close range briefly, couldn't get a photo)
*Northern Harrier (flyover going e to w)
Townsend's Warbler (2)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2-3)
possible Townsend's Solitaire (fleeting glimpse)
Wednesday, September 19th Highlights
*American Redstart (imm. male)
*Broad-winged Hawk (1 adult flying low, w to e, usually see 1-5 in the spring
but was beginning to think this was going to be a "miss")
*Osprey (high flyover going n to s)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (several)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
Townsend's Warbler (heard)
Wilson's Warbler (several)
The mixed flocks of neotropical migrants seem to be concentrating in big
American elms that have European elm scale infestations. Their big attraction,
judging by their very hyper, fast-twitch movements high in the tree crowns are
yellowjacket wasps. The yellowjackets seek the sugary excrement ("honeydew")
of the immobile scale insects.
A big flock of Chipping Sparrows has been present for over a week, feeding
mostly up in spruce crowns on seeds from cones. Brown Creepers are starting to
arrive, presumably to capitalize on hackberry psyllid emergence (7-10 days from
now) and overwintering. Red-breasted Nuthatches are their normal busy selves
caching spruce seeds wherever they can stick them.
Total species for the year at Grandview now stands at 94 which is higher than
last year at this time but about average for mid-September over the years. My
goal is always 100 (totally arbitrary) and there's a chance this year with a
little luck and several visits.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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