Hi all: I returned to Colorado today to be met by 40-45 mph winds (gusts to 55 mph), though it was ONLY 95F today (unlike yesterday's 104F at Elkhart, KS). Gee, thanks.
I was block-busting for the COBBA II, doing three blocks by the Cimarron River (WAY SE CO) today. 'Twas rough, though not quite so rough first thing this AM. The highlights were all late spring migrants, as I did not locate any potentially-breeding Scissor-tailed or Vermilion flycatchers, nor Painted Buntings. Olive-sided Flycatcher -- one at an abandoned homestead woodlot on the W side of 43 Road, N of C Rd; Willow Flycatcher -- singles SE of Midway in a homestead woodlot on the W side of 52 Rd, S of M Rd and along the Cimarron River SE of the S end of 48 Rd at the Witcher Ranch (private; no access); ALDER FLYCATCHER -- one along the Cimarron River on the Witcher Ranch; Willow/ALDER Flycatcher --- one that was probably another ALDER at an abandoned homestead woodlot on the N side of C Rd a bit E of 43 Rd (photos are uploading now); Dendroica warbler with extensive white in tail and yellow on the head like Prairie or Black-throated Green -- in same woodlot with first Willow Fly -- it flew off and, unfortunately, I was not able to obtain permission to walk the woodlot; Chipping Sparrow -- 2 at Selman residence (E end of J Rd, E of 48 Rd); Brewer's Sparrow -- singles at homestead woodlot on E side of 52 Rd south of M Rd (beyond the first Willow Fly spot) and at AH on E side of 45 Rd at C Rd; Mountain White-crowned Sparrow -- along Cimarron River at the Witcher Ranch; . Western Tanager -- one at site of first Willow Fly and two at the Selman residence. Then there were the oddities that I don't really now how to treat; both were surprises. The first was a male, black-backed LESSER GOLDFINCH at the Selman residence (photos; very poor, but photos). The second was two PINE SISKINS flying into get water at one of the ponds by the Cimarron River at the Witcher Ranch. Since there was a decent flight of the species in fall/winter, I was expecting to run across breeding siskins in towns with conifers. However, there wasn't a conifer in sight (not even a juniper) where these birds were along the Cimarron. Muy interesante! The wind made it difficult to dig secretive, open-country sparrows (e.g., Cassin's and Grasshopper) out, but I managed to see a few. How much was the wind and how much was the drought, I don't know, but I didn't detect a single Long-billed Curlew, Greater Roadrunner, or Curve-billed Thrasher. I ran across a lot of Scaled Quail and a few coveys of Northern Bobwhite. There was one adult Mississippi Kite along the Cimarron. And, oh yeah, did you know that there are a few Bullock's Orioles down there? Sheesh! Enjoy, Tony Leukering Villas, NJ -- 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.
