[cobirds] Crow Valley camping, Weld County
Hello birders, I went to the Crow Valley website. It says closed for camping. No mention of when it might open. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=32173 But at the Recreation.gov website I made a reservation for camping at Crow Valley for two nights, June 9 to 11. They charged my VISA card $36. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233845/availability Barb and I are looking forward to birds, wildflowers, and stars out there in June while wearing masks. Or a refund. :-) Tom Wilberding 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/9be2797b-7aef-4bd8-8c6b-47f969cbc27b%40googlegroups.com.
[cobirds] Crow Valley CG/Weld County
Good day all! Had a fun little Daddy/daughter picnic at Crow Valley today. There was as much playing around, climbing trees and bug collecting as there was birding just as it should be. We were there from about 11-1. There were a few highlights: Townsend's Warbler-2 American Redstart-2 males Orange-crowned Warbler-1 Common Yellowthroat-1m, 1f Yellow-rumped Warbler-handful Wilson's Warblers-everywhere Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-1 female. Completely white throat and red present only on top of head and crazy barring on the back. Reminded me of growing up in PA. Hanging out in the Russian Olives right near the first parking area. Introduced specie or not, I am always astounded in the fall seeing the amount of different birds that utilize this tree for food. Sage Thrasher-1 Townsend's Solitaire-several Western Tanager-2 Cedar Waxwings-100's all over the campground of all ages Merlin-Prairie type. Seems way early... No Vireos that I got my eyes on. No empids. All pewees were silent. Headed to the pond at CR 124 west of 75. Still a good amount of Greater Yellowlegs as well as one Lesser. Two Semi-palmated Plovers, several Baird's Sandpipers, one Pectoral Sandpiper were new for the year for me. At least one Stilt and a maybe a dozen semi-palmated/westerns that I did not take the time to properly ID. Bird is the word y'all! Josh Bruening Fort Collins -- 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/f9e4d7e0-0c62-4669-80e5-2dc2d022a1a0%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Crow Valley and Weld County today
I joined Toni Rautus and Paul Slingsby for a run up to Crow Valley this morning. This trip was from the A bad day birding beats a good day working school of ornithology, as recent sunny, pleasant weather didn't seem to bode well for any kind of birdiness. Once again and as usual- wrong. As we dismounted our vehicles adjacent to the group picnic shelter, one of the ubiquitous kingbirds chased something out of its tree. Bright male Lazuli Bunting. A favorable omen. Still setting the expectation bar quite low, we set off down the south fenceline, and were immediately rewarded with a Black-throated Gray Warbler and a female American Redstart, each a highlight in a tapestry of common warblers, goldfinches, Blue Jays, pewees, backed by a meadowlark soundtrack. Not bad. Heading back down the fenceline to the west, we had a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a male American Redstart and a Deb Carstensen, in more or less that order. We enjoyed the former two and invited the latter to join us. After running through an assortment of Bullock's Orioles, Yellow, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak and a Cordilleran Flycatcher (am I allowed to call it that in the spring?), we turned up a Northern Waterthrush. Hmm. This may not be so bad after all.we made the turn toward the campground and came up with a Virginia's Warbler, an Orchard Oriole, a Western Tanager and 765 more Western Kingbirds. A few easterns began to appear, mostly toward the north end of the campground. Turf war, eastern Jets versus western Sharks? Moving up toward the northwest corner (the water is higher than ever, and since we forgot our waterwings, the southwest corner was off the table), we watched a MacGillivray's Warbler do some very accommodating flitting among the tangles and floating tumbleweeds, and followed up with a Black-and-white Warbler. Then things got interesting. Amid the cacophony of mocker and thrasher yak, we spotted a Tennessee Warbler working the willows and some other birders got us on a Magnolia Warbler. While trying to refind the Mag and figure out a mystery warbler in the treetops (we called it a female Virginia's and beat a hasty retreat- why won't some of these things fly away when you need them to?), we stumbled over an adjacent Nashville. Not a bad haul for a slow day. For the cherry on the sundae, Paul spotted an American Bittern standing in the grass by the flooded areas to the north. Deb then headed off to try to photograph the bittern, and Paul departed for Denver, where a family function was waiting. Family function. That guy really needs to get his priorities straight. Toni and I decided to sample the usual Weld County Ponds and marshes on the way home. Along the way we added Loggerhead Shrike, Burrowing Owl, and a few of the other usual suspects. Shorebirds were not plentiful, but 59 Pond had dowitchers, stilts, avocets and Stilt Sandpipers. At Loloff the phalarope numbers were down somewhat but there were still a lot of Wilson's and a few red-necks (phalaropes, not golf cart vigilantes). At Latham we had (heard only) Sora and Virginia Rail, a Great Egret, and the final surprise of the day in the grassy marshes- six Whimbrel. I don't think I've seen that many together before. Without a formal count (eBird chores later), we ended the day somewhere around a hundred species. That'll teach me to dabble in meteorology... Norm Lewis Lakewood, 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/8D141F5F5BED53B-1FB4-2D866%40webmail-vm011.sysops.aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Crow Valley Campground - Weld County, 5/14
Birders, Crow Valley remains productive and numerous birders saw a plethora of migrants that have been seen in the last week. The water in the normally dry creek is running at 1 - 1.5 ft high in most places so bring hip waders if you plan on viewing both sides of the riparian area. Highlights from my visit (Some seen by others while there) Gray Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Plumbeous Vireo Hermit Thrush Swainson's Thrush (many) Gray-cheeked Thrush Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat (many) Black-and-white Warbler Northern Waterthrush (over a dozen) Pine Warbler Blackpoll Warbler (5 refound) Nashville Warbler Townsend Warbler Virginia Warbler Swamp Sparrow Cassin's Sparrow Bushtit The Green Heron and Wood Thrush were not seen by any of the couple dozen people I ran into. Regards, Mark Minner-Lee Superior, CO 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/AC5DAEEE-37B6-47ED-8B26-B93032086332%40gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Crow Valley Campground, Weld County, Tues., 5/6
Hello, Birders. Mike San Miguel, Jr., visiting from California, was at Crow Valley Campground, Weld County, earlier today, Tuesday, May 6th. He found 8 warbler species there, including a male Chestnut-sided Warbler and a male Hooded Warbler. Ted Floyd Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado -- 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/BAY177-W226298E6756AD16BEEF70FC04E0%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Crow Valley and Weld County
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 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Crow Valley report (Weld County)
The Varied Thrush was seen (by another birder) close to first light at the northwest picnic area but not thereafter to my knowledge. Otherwise, it was fairly birdy. Other birds included: Hammond's Flycatcher, calling (photos) Swamp Sparrow, calling (photos) White-throated Sparrow, 2 White-crowned Sparrow-12 Chipping Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow-2 Brown Thrasher-1 Gray Catbird-1 or 2 Red-naped Sapsucker-1 Orange-crowned Warbler-3 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 6 Hermit Thrush - 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Townsend's Solitaire - 3 Pine Siskin-1 Additional common species were: American Robins Red-shafted Flickers European Starlings Horned Larks (flyovers) Blue Jay-1 Downy Woodpecker-1 Nick Komar Fort Collins CO --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[cobirds] Crow Valley Campground, Weld County, June 6th
Hello, Birders. Kei, Hannah, and Andrew and I saw and heard a second-calendar-year Summer Tanager at Crow Valley Campground, Weld County, late this morning, Saturday, June 6th. We had stopped for a picnic en route to the Pawnee National Grassland, and the bird just dropped in for a visit right above our picnic table. That was nice. We didn't really bird the rest of the campground, but we couldn't help but notice that Swainson's Thrushes were still staging there, as reported yesterday by Joey Kellner Co. And the usual suspects: Orchard Oriole, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, etc. Nothing earth-shattering out on the Pawnee, but it was nice to see Chestnut-collared Longspurs (along with gazillions of McCown's) at several stops. Maybe the lush conditions have something to do with that. Speaking of the lush conditions, Hannah had an interesting assessment of spectacular wildflower show out there: They planted too many flowers this year. Also, we saw Western Wood-Pewees--migrants, of course, out in that habitat--at several sites on the Pawnee. Ted Floyd tedfloy...@hotmail.com Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado --- Ted Floyd Editor, Birding --- Please support the American Birding Association: Click on http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=884482 to search the internet. Every search provides support to the ABA's programs in Education, Conservation, and Publications. Please visit the website of the American Birding Association: http://www.aba.org _ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
