cobirds colorado rare bird: August 2013

Saturday 31 August 2013

[cobirds] Curlew Sandpiper Photos

Birders

I have some photos of the Curlew Sandpiper on my photo site at: http://zroadrunner.smugmug.com/Birds/Just-Birds

I wish they were better and that everyone had been able to see it.

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

zroadrunner.smugmug.com

[cobirds] Re: Dead Finches-Larimer Co.

Some points -

Nick, I found dead at the outbreak of the last West Nile peak...mid-90s
(?)...mostly magpies. They are big and visible. Yet an even more
pronounced drop off was in black-capped chickadees. It took at least 3
years to approach normal numbers.
I most often found the magpies in my yard near or in my "watering hole"
(mostly for birds). So, Nick I wonder...is there any similarity when one
compares the brain effect of rabies with West Nile?

Karl Stecher
Centennial

quetzal65@comcast.net writes:

>
>
> I will also add that over 300 species of North American birds have been fatally infected with West Nile virus over the last decade or so. Probably many more, but most dead birds are not tested. House Finches have been shown to have a high mortality rate (85% in one study). Crows and jays get more press because they are more useful for surveillance (house finches die from other causes as well, and are often overlooked). Not to take away from the point that insecticides can have non-target impacts, but these days if the insecticides registered for mosquito control are used according to the label specifications, direct negative effects on birds (and humans) should be negligible. The impact of the spray is designed to be beneficial for humans, and ultimately should be beneficial for any vertebrate species that is negatively affected by West Nile virus. Decisions to spray are taken very seriously, and with much caution. In fact, the delays caused by caution often reduce the bene
ficial impacts of the spray. It is a messy situation, and everyone means well. Thankfully, West Nile virus season is almost over this year here in Colorado, and we can get back to enjoying the birds without the use of mosquito repellant. If this post strayed from the purpose of Cobirds, my apologies to the moderator. My next post will be strictly about birds.
>
>
>
> Nick Komar
>
> Fort Collins CO
>
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[cobirds] Report from Jackson Lake today (Laughing Gull)

I arrived at Jackson Lake (Morgan County) at dusk last night, with three other birders from Fort Collins. We were fortunate to find the Curlew Sandpiper where it had been hanging out all afternoon in the northwest shoreline. At 7:38 pm, it took flight with some of the other birds. It was too dark for us to follow it, but we assumed the birds returned, as groups had been flying around and returning while we were there. Unfortunately, by midday today, it had not been refound.

We spent the first hour of daylight in the campground thickets (fee area) and found many Yellow and Wilson's Warblers, and some empidonax flycatchers (probably Willow Flycatcher), and lots of robins, but little else of note. Back to shorebirding, the most noteworthy birds we observed was a second-cycle (i.e. immature) Laughing Gull and a Dunlin in non-breeding plumage, both in the northeast corner, which was the most birdy part of the shoreline.

Photos of the Laughing Gull and a molting Cassin's Kingbird on Morgan CR2 north of Jackson Lake are in my recent pix gallery at the bottom of the page, at www.pbase.com/quetzal.

Thanks to Ira for finding the Curlew Sandpiper and spreading the word so quickly. It was great running into so many birding friends at Jackson today. Jackson promises to be a hotspot for fall migrants in the coming weeks. One can easily spend an entire productive birding day there. Telescope, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water are essential. A State Parks pass is needed for access to west and south sides. Other rarities that we heard about from others but did not see ourselves included Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Mountain Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Sanderling and Northern Waterthrush.

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO

Re: [cobirds] Dead Finches-Larimer Co.

I will also add that over 300 species of North American birds have been fatally infected with West Nile virus over the last decade or so. Probably many more, but most dead birds are not tested. House Finches have been shown to have a high mortality rate (85% in one study). Crows and jays get more press because they are more useful for surveillance (house finches die from other causes as well, and are often overlooked). Not to take away from the point that insecticides can have non-target impacts, but these days if the insecticides registered for mosquito control are used according to the label specifications, direct negative effects on birds (and humans) should be negligible. The impact of the spray is designed to be beneficial for humans, and ultimately should be beneficial for any vertebrate species that is negatively affected by West Nile virus. Decisions to spray are taken very seriously, and with much caution. In fact, the delays caused by caution often reduce the beneficial impacts of the spray. It is a messy situation, and everyone means well. Thankfully, West Nile virus season is almost over this year here in Colorado, and we can get back to enjoying the birds without the use of mosquito repellant. If this post strayed from the purpose of Cobirds, my apologies to the moderator. My next post will be strictly about birds.

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO

[cobirds] Dead Finches-Larimer Co.

I wanted to add that the dead Finches started showing up weeks before
the mosquito spraying in our area and continued after. I wash my
feeders with a bleach solution but, if others don't do that, diseases
could be spread in that manner.

I thank everyone for their info. If I find another dead bird, I'll get
it to Nick Komar.

Tom and Mary France
Fort Collins, CO

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[cobirds] RMBO Barr Banding Station Report, 8/31/13

Wilson’s Warblers dominated today - coming through in a couple of flocks early in the morning – making for a pretty typical early migration day at Barr. Here’s the breakdown:

Willow Flycatcher 2

“Traill’s” Flycatcher 1 (Measurements and a more obvious eye-ring suggested this might not have been our usual Willow…..)

Black-capped Chickadee 1

House Wren 3 new, 1 return (banded 8/19/12)

Yellow Warbler 5

MacGillivray’s Warbler 1

Wilson’s Warbler 22

Weather remains HOT, and the birds are out and active early – we caught the vast majority of our birds by 8:30, and started closing at 10:30. So, we hope you will visit this weekend, but please come early!

We are open 6 days a week from now through October 13. This coming week we are closed Friday, 9/6; the following week Monday, 9/9.

Meredith McBurney

Biologist/Bander

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

303-329-8091

Celebrating 25 Years of Bird and Habitat Conservation

[cobirds] Black-and-White Warbler/Crow Valley Campground

At Crow Valley this morning

Black-and-White Warbler

MacGillvray's Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat

Ton of Western Wood-Pewees

About 8 other species

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://coloradobirder.ning.com/

Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m

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[cobirds] No Curlew Sandpiper - Jackson Lake - Morgan Co

Birders,

I just received a call from Glenn Walbek who has been at Jackson Lake all morning along with many other birders and no one has been able to relocate the Curlew Sandpiper.

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

[cobirds] Interesting discussion of death of Finches in Ft. Collins

Ann Molson suggested a possible cause of the death of Finches was the community wide spraying of insecticides. Dave Leatherman dismissed insecticides as a cause based on the type of spraying. I would be cautious about dismissing insecticides as the cause. I have never known City Officials/ Companies that provide the spray to ever admit that their widespread spraying of insecticides will kill anything other than the target- mosquitos, but scientific studies have shown otherwise. The sudden death of small birds after spraying points more to poisoning than disease. Correlation never proves cause but certainly points a finger in the direction of the spraying. We do know that the spraying of insecticides will kill all other insects including bees & butterflies as well as small birds. It is also unlikely that the birds were killed by West Nile because historically that disease has largely affected Corvidae species such as Jays & Crows.

Cindy Valentine

Castle Rock, Douglas County

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, August 31, 2013

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: August 31, 2013

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, August 31, 2013, sponsored

by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the

star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone

number, detailed directions including county, and dates for each sighting.

It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.

Highlight species include (* indicates new information on this species in this report):

TRUMPETER SWAM (Garfield)

REDDISH EGRET (Bent)

Snowy Plover (Alamosa)

CURLEW SANDPIPER (*Morgan)

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (*Morgan, Washington)

Short-billed Dowitcher (Morgan)

Caspian Tern (Bent)

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Larimer)

Black Phoebe (Montrose)

Great Crested Flycatcher (Washington)

Bell's Vireo (Logan)

BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Washington)

Purple Martin (Mesa)

Nashville Warbler (Moffat)

Black-and-white Warbler (*Adams)

Northern Waterthrush (Boulder, Larimer)

Indigo Bunting (Jefferson, Moffat)

ADAMS COUNTY:

-- A Black-and-white Warbler was reported by McBurney at the Barr Lake Banding Station on August 30.

ALAMOSA COUNTY:

--On August 26, Rawinski reported 14 species of shorebirds at Blanca Wetlands including a Snowy Plover. Pond #16 continues to be a hotspot. It is a mile walk south of the first gate on the right. Bring a scope.

BENT COUNTY:

--A sub-adult white-morph REDDISH EGRET was reported by Duane Nelson at Lake Hasty below the dam at John Martin Reservoir on August 20. It was partial the the shallow water on either side of the isthmus that divides the north and south halves of the lake. The REDDISH EGRET was seen on August 21 by numerous birders at Lake Hasty as reported by Duane Nelson. Nelson reported on August 22 that the REDDISH EGRET flew from Lake Hasty to a private ranch with a lake. Nelson reports that the REDDISH EGRET remains at private Verhoeff Reservoir. It may be visible from US 50 just east of CR 26.5 but before the lone tree on the south side of the Hwy. If you want more information or help contact Duane at dnelson1 AT centurytel.net On August 28, Duane Nelson reported that the REDDISH EGRET is still around. He is able to help those who want to see it on Thursday and Friday.

--An ad Caspian Tern was reported by Duane Nelson on a tiny island off shore from Lake Hasty swim beach on August 26.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Floyd on the north shore of Waneka Lake on August 22.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Boyd on the Mamm Creek Ponds near I-70 near Rifle on August 27. Take exit 94 from I-70. Take the northern frontage road west. Swan had been on the third pond as you travel west about 1.5 miles from exit.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--An Indigo Bunting family (m, 4 young) was reported by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on August 19. The family was along Bear Creek just below the Soda Lakes Road across the street from the Conoco Station at C470 and Morrison Road. On August 24, Kibbe reported (m, 1 young) Indigo Bunting on the east side of Soda Lakes Road.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--At least one Northern Waterthrush was reported by Biggerstaff on the Poudre River near the Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins on August 23.

--A possible immature male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was reported by Jim Nelson in Estes Park

on Lower Broadview Road 30 feet west of intersection with Mary's Lake Road on August 29.

LOGAN COUNTY:

--Calling Bell's Vireos were reported by Kaempfer at Red Lion below the "Little Jumbo" dam on August 17. On August 21, Lewis reported 3 Bell's Vireos at "Little Jumbo". On August 26, Kaempfer reported multiple Bell's Vireo singing below "Little Jumbo" dam.

MOFFAT COUNTY:.

--On August 24, Luke reported 2+ Nashville Warblers and a juv male Indigo Bunting at Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig. On August 26, Luke reported 5 Nashville Warblers at Loudy-Simpson Park.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

--A Black Phoebe was reported by Horn near Uravan on V19 Road on August 21. V19 turns off of Hwy 141 where the Hwy crosses the San Miguel River. V19 crosses Tabeguache Creek on a small bridge and the phobe was sitting on an old piece of fence just upstream.

MORGAN COUNTY:

--A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and Short-billed Dowitcher were reported by Dowell along the NW shore at Jackson on August 21. Best viewing was from the north end SWA. On August 24, Kaempfer reported BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER in NW corner at Jackson. On August 25, Fink reported that the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER continues in the NW corner at Jackson.

--Two first year BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were reported by Walbek at Jackson Reservoir on August 29. The two birds were together on the north side of the reservoir. Park in the parking lot for the SWA and walk out onto the sandflats. Head east. The birds were near the shore around a rocky area.

On August 30, Sanders reported BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER in the NE corner and one is NW corner of Jackson

--An ad CURLEW SANDPIPER was reported by Ira Sanders in the NW corner of Jackson Reservoir on August 30.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

--A Great Crested Flycatcher was reported by Kaempfer at the inlet canal at Prewitt on August 16. On August 24, Kaempfer again reported a Great Crested Flycatcher at the inlet canal at Prewitt. On August 26, Kellner reported a Great Crested Flycatcher below the dam at Prewitt.

--A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was reported by Walbek by the inlet canal at Prewitt on August 23.

--A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported by Walbek at Prewitt on August 23.

DFO FIELD TRIPS:

--The DFO Field trip for Saturday, August 31 will be to Lair o' the Bear Park led by Nina Routh (303-987-8687).

Lair o' the Bear is located west of Morrison about halfway between Idledale and Kittredge. Meet at 0800 at the far west end of Lair o' the Bear parking lot. Bear Creek runs through the park surrounded by mountain meadows and forested hillsides. Approximately 2.5 mile hike to see who is around at the end of the summer.

Please RSVP with leader. Limited group size; Preregistered participants only. Bird until about noon and for those who want lunch at Bear Creek Restaurant in Kittredge with view of the hummingbird feeders.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulde

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Friday 30 August 2013

[cobirds] Curlew Sandpiper Photos

CO Birders :

You can see some digiscoped shots of todays Curlew Sandpiper at Jackson on this link : www.pbase.com/jxdrummo/coloradobirds_2013.

Great find Ira .

John Drummond

Monument

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RE: [cobirds] CURLEW SANDPIPER found at Jackson Lake by Ira Sanders Fri afternoon!

The Curlew Sandpiper was still there when a group left at 6:30. It was about the same place I saw it earlier on the west side maybe a 1/4 to 1/3 of the way to the boat ramp in the state park from the SWA in the NW corner. Park at the parking lot that is furthest west at the SWA.

The bird is chestnut colored and still has most of it's alternate plumage. When it fly's with the Baird's and phalaropes (lots of Red-necked) it's easy to pick out as a larger all dark shape.

Also there are at least 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper remaining and I think there are 2 though I never saw both of them together. One was in the NE corner and the other in the NW corner.

Other shorebirds were:

Sanderling

Baird's

Least Sandpiper

Semi Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

LB Dowitcher

SB Dowitcher

Avocet

Wilson's Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope (the numbers increased exponentially as the day progressed)

Black-bellied Plover

Semi Plover

And John Drummond had 5 Mt. Plover.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joe Roller
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 3:03 PM
To: Colorado Birds
Subject: [cobirds] CURLEW SANDPIPER found at Jackson Lake by Ira Sanders Fri afternoon!

At about 2:30 Ira Sanders called me to report an adult Curlew Sandpiper in the NW corner

of Jackson Reservoir, Lake whatever you call it, in Morgan County. Directions are on the CFO County Birding Website. Park in the westerly of the two State Wildlife Areas on the north shore.

This site is reached by looking at a map and driving east on I-76 to near Wiggins, then drive north on road 39, aka road 5, which becomes 144. Follow 144 as it bends right, then go north on road 5. Follow 5 as it makes somes bends, then at a T, go west on road CC. Do not stay on CC as it bends north,but rather turn left on to road 4 and drive toward the lake. Follow road 4 as it turns west and go to the large parking lot, with a porta potty. No other services. Bring water. Walk west along the shore. The bird will be located where the scopes of many birders lines of sight converge. At the moment, it is just to the south of the NW corner of the water body.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET CRIPPLING VIEWS OR CRACKING GOOD PHOTOS BY

APPROACHING THIS BIRD TOO CLOSELY. MANY OF US CANNOT GET THERE UNTIL SATURDAY.

It's age was based on it's reddish color as it molts out of alternate plumage. Doug Kibbe

was there and confirmed the bird. Congrats to Ira for finding this mega-rarity, one of only a few

seen in Colorado.

For more details, go up there and ask anyone you see with a telescope.

Joe Roller,

Denver

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[cobirds] Boulder: Good night flight and Peregrine, 8/30

Hello, Birders.

The night flight over Lafayette, eastern Boulder County, earlier today, Friday, August 30th, was really good. I listened and recorded from about 1:30 until 6:00 a.m. There were several 15-minute periods when birds were going over at close to 300 flight calls per hour, which is excellent for us in Colorado; the flight was strongest from around 2:30 to 3:15 and then again from 5:00 to 5:45. Many were Chipping Sparrows and I believe Brewer's Sparrows; also Yellow and Wilson's warblers; and a nice Lincoln's Sparrow. I heard one Solitary Sandpiper, too, and saw a nighthawk, presumably a Common.

After sunup, a Peregrine Falcon flew over Greenlee Preserve in Lafayette.

Ted Floyd

tedfloyd57@hotmail.com

Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

RE: [cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.

Ms. Molison,
Pesticide use is a serious matter, whenever, wherever. However, the material used for the recent mosquito spraying in FC (resmethrin), and the manner in which it was applied (fogging at night), make it very unlikely this is the cause of House Finch deaths observed by Mary France and perhaps others. The suspicions about West Nile Virus, and perhaps other contagious diseases commonly associated with feeder operations, seem well founded. Perhaps bird disease professional Nick Komar and tests performed on salvaged specimens can confirm some things, at least for the individuals tested.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

> CC: cobirds@googlegroups.com
> From: amolison@comcast.net
> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.
> Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:36:03 -0600
> To: MKF1945@comcast.net
>
> Our neighborhood has been sprayed for mosquitoes and perhaps this is the cause.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On Aug 29, 2013, at 8:29 PM, Mary France <mkf1945@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > Tom and Mary France live in SE Fort Collins and have just discovered our 5th dead House Finch in our yard today - 3 males, 2 females, none appeared to be juveniles.
> > I wondered if this has occurred elsewhere and what might be causing it. I did notice a couple acting ill - puffy feathers, not moving much. We've never had this happen before. Could it be West Nile? Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tom and Mary France
> > Fort Collins, CO
> >
> > --
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Re: [cobirds] Re: Mad dogs, Englishmen and NE CO yesterday

I had a group of eighteen out there, and we tramped right through the area referenced by David without seeing a single bird in that obnoxious vegetation that covers the upper beach. Last year the plovers seemed to like hanging out in that stuff, and I assume that's where they are now. Clearly they came in after we left around 4:00.

Having missed the buff-bellieds, I now see that we also missed the curlew sandpiper. Wonder if it might be the same bird found by Steve M. last year....can't say for sure that this bird wasn't there yesterday, because there were quite a few shorebirds on the west shore south of the corner that we could check out only at great distance.

Good luck to all chasers. I might just get disgusted enough to go back out there myself.....

Norm Lewis

Lakewood, CO

-----Original Message-----
From: David Dowell <dave1wx@gmail.com>
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Aug 30, 2013 1:20 pm
Subject: [cobirds] Re: Mad dogs, Englishmen and NE CO yesterday

Apparently some mysterious force drew a lot of us to Jackson Reservoir yesterday. I stopped by there late afternoon to sunset. Apparently, we now have some interesting documentation of how birds move around at Jackson. It's also challenging to cover the whole area currently with the runoff and mud associated with the "enhanced wetland program". (Currently, this is also an "enhanced mosquito program", and there are some happy mosquitoes after my visit.) Hopefully the new wetlands will attract an even greater variety of birds.

I also missed out on the buff-breasted sandpipers, but the consolation prize was 16 mountain plovers on the "beach" near the SWA parking lot on the north side of the lake. The plovers also congregated there in late August and early September last year. Hopefully the plovers will hang around for a while again this year. If the plovers aren't found on the "beach", they might be in the fields farther north.

David Dowell

Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] Barr Lake (Adams County) being drained

Division of Wildlife has lifted bag limits for anglers at Barr Lake while irrigators drain 75 percent of its water. Hello, shorebirds!

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23984898/fishing-bag-limits-lifted-barr-lake-is-drained?source=rss

Good birding.

Mark Obmascik

Denver, CO

[cobirds] RMBO Barr Banding Station Opens Saturday!

Hi Bird Lovers,

As you are trying to think of relatively cool ways to spend some time outdoors with birds this hot weekend, remember that the Barr Banding Station is now officially open. We should have birds back at the station by about 7:30 a.m. and you can enjoy about 3 at least somewhat cool hours with birds before it is too hot to be catching birds and humans with any sense are someplace air-conditioned (which apparently excludes Norm Lewis and many others, judging from recent postings!).

And what are we catching? We’ve been banding for training and practice some days over the past couple of weeks:

· The summer residents are moving out – We are still catching some Yellow Warblers and House Wrens, but less than we were a week ago.

· Flycatchers – We’ve caught Willow, Dusky, Western, Least. And today our first Western Wood-pewee.

· Lots of warblers – In addition to Yellows, we’ve had Wilsons, MacGillivrays, Townsends, Common Yellowthroats, American Redstarts, and today we had our first BLACK AND WHITE since 2003 (and only the 15^th in 26 years).

· Vireos - Warbling of course, earlier this week a Cassins, and today a RED-EYED.

Not super busy yet – today we had 23 new and 2 that we banded in prior years – but a nice 3-4 hours with some cool species.

We will be open 6 days a week from now through Oct 13. Our closed days these first two weeks are Friday, 9/6 and then Monday, 9/9. I will continue to post our schedule, as well as birds caught, on this page.

Meredith

Meredith McBurney

Biologist/Bander

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

303-329-8091

Celebrating 25 Years of Bird and Habitat Conservation

[cobirds] CURLEW SANDPIPER found at Jackson Lake by Ira Sanders Fri afternoon!

At about 2:30 Ira Sanders called me to report an adult Curlew Sandpiper in the NW corner

of Jackson Reservoir, Lake whatever you call it, in Morgan County. Directions are on the CFO County Birding Website. Park in the westerly of the two State Wildlife Areas on the north shore.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET CRIPPLING VIEWS OR CRACKING GOOD PHOTOS BY

APPROACHING THIS BIRD TOO CLOSELY. MANY OF US CANNOT GET THERE UNTIL SATURDAY.

It's age was based on it's reddish color as it molts out of alternate plumage. Doug Kibbe

was there and confirmed the bird. Congrats to Ira for finding this mega-rarity, one of only a few

seen in Colorado.

For more details, go up there and ask anyone you see with a telescope.

Joe Roller,

Denver

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[cobirds] Re: Mad dogs, Englishmen and NE CO yesterday

David Dowell

Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] Re: Solitary Sandpiper at Pawnee Buttes

On Monday, August 19, 2013 8:53:22 AM UTC-6, Amber Carver wrote:
> We took a trip up to the Pawnee Grassland this weekend. We saw a Solitary Sandpiper in a mud puddle on the road near the buttes. I know there have been many sightings of them this year on the front range, but not so many out on the plains.
>
>
>
> There was lots of other bird activity, but nothing exciting... unless you get excited by dozens of Swainson's Hawks.
>
>
> -Amber Carver
> Littleton

Where exactly did you see all those SWHA's? Were they in kettle's? We have about a dozen birds that are ready for release and we are in search of kettles.
Thanks.

Michael Tincher
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

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[cobirds] Mad dogs, Englishmen and NE CO yesterday

Mad dogs, Englishmen and birders, apparently, since I see that Ira and Glenn were both out at Jackson yesterday. I had my museum group out for a turn around NECO, and if it had not been on the schedule, I would not have been out there. I guess that makes me either wimpier or less dedicated.....anyway, since we got aced out of Prewitt we started at Brush SWA, which was pretty good. Nothing rare, and warblers were notably absent, but we picked up Red-headed Woodpecker, lots of pewees, flocks of spizellas (mostly chippers- they were pretty flighty we never got good enough looks to pick out others), a late juvenile Bullock's Oriole, kingfishers and lots of other regulars.

A stop at Riverside Park in Fort Morgan (with its nice shady covered picnic shelter) yielded a Cooper's Hawk and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. Then, with some trepidation, we headed over to Jackson. Our visit just goes to show that not only were we somewhat foolhardy (my car thermometer registered 101 as we exited the vehicles around 2:00), but how the birds can turn over. We checked all of the north shore of Jackson thoroughly, and neither Ira's pectorals nor Glenn's buffies were anywhere to be found. The lone ibis was still there, as were lots of Baird's, a couple of semi-sands, a few Stilt Sandpipers, Wilson's Phals, both yellowlegs, some avocets and lots of Killdeer. Other than the Killdeer, the only plovers were two black-bellieds, one of which was a little further along in its molt and had an interesting looking checkerboard pattern on all its dark parts.

A stop at Andrick (the one pond that is right on the road on the west side) was quite productive, with two Pectoral Sandpipers, four Long-billed Dowitchers, two Black-necked Stilts, a few yellowlegs, a handful of peeps and lots ducks disguised as female mallards. These were mostly shovelers, though there were a few Gadwall and Green-winged Teal mixed in.

It turned out to be a great day, even though I will probably have to burn my birding clothes......

Norm Lewis

Lakewood, CO

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RE: [cobirds] Goshawk Eating Cottontail

Hi John et al,
Thanks for your post. I think goshawks probably have the highest % of mammals in their diet of any accipiter. I did some reading and, interestingly, a study in NY found that their two most common food items were red squirrels and crows. Guess what the two most common predators of goshawk eggs in the nest are in that part of the goshawk's range? Yes, red squirrels and crows. I guess one way to deal with your procreation problems is try and make sure they never make it to your doorstep.

Cheers,
Dave

From: cougar@gojade.org
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Goshawk Eating Cottontail
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:07:48 -0600

Yesterday on a hike in the mountains, I flushed a Goshawk off a kill site. Upon investigation, the prey was a cottontail rabbit, and was a fresh-kill. I normally think of Accipiters as bird hunters, but goes to show they take a variety of prey. We left the site for two hours and returned, but no bird on it. Evidently he had had his fill.

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

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[cobirds] Goshawk Eating Cottontail

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, August 30, 2013 *

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: August 30, 2013

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 30, 2013, sponsored

by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the

star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone

number, detailed directions including county, and dates for each sighting.

It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.

Highlight species include (* indicates new information on this species in this report):

TRUMPETER SWAM (Garfield)

REDDISH EGRET (Bent)

Snowy Plover (Alamosa)

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (*Morgan, Washington)

Short-billed Dowitcher (Morgan)

Caspian Tern (Bent)

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

Black Phoebe (Montrose)

Eastern Phoebe (Fremont)

Great Crested Flycatcher (Morgan, Washington)

Bell's Vireo (Logan)

BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Washington)

Purple Martin (Mesa)

Nashville Warbler (Moffat)

Northern Waterthrush (Boulder, Larimer, Moffat)

Indigo Bunting (Jefferson, Moffat)

ALAMOSA COUNTY:

BENT COUNTY:

--An ad Caspian Tern was reported by Duane Nelson on a tiny island off shore from Lake Hasty swim beach on August 26.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Floyd on the north shore of Waneka Lake on August 22.

FREMONT COUNTY:

--2 Eastern Phoebes were reported by Moss at Florence River Park on August 21.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

LARIMER COUNTY:

--At least one Northern Waterthrush was reported by Biggerstaff on the Poudre River near the Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins on August 23.

--A possible immature male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was reported by Jim Nelson in Estes Park

on Lower Broadview Road 30 feet west of intersection with Mary's Lake Road.

LOGAN COUNTY:

MOFFAT COUNTY:

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Luke at Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig on August 20.

--On August 24, Luke reported 2+ Nashville Warblers and a juv male Indigo Bunting at Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig. On August 26, Luke reported 5 Nashville Warblers at Loudy-Simpson Park.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

MORGAN COUNTY:

--A couple of Great Crested Flycatchers were reported by Dowell in the campground groves at Jackson SP on August 21.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

--A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was reported by Walbek by the inlet canal at Prewitt on August 23.

--A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported by Walbek at Prewitt on August 23.

DFO FIELD TRIPS:

--The DFO Field trip for Saturday, August 31 will be to Lair o' the Bear Park led by Nina Routh (303-987-8687).

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

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Thursday 29 August 2013

[cobirds] BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS Jackson Reservoir, Morgan County

Glenn Walbek found two first year BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at Jackson
Reservoir late Thursday morning. The two birds were together on the north
side of the reservoir. Morgan County Road 4 enters the north end (a SWA, no
fee required). Park in the parking lot at the end of Road 4 and walk out
onto the sandflats. Head east. The birds were near the shore around a
rocky (vs sandy) area.

Joey Kellner
Littleton, Colorado

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[cobirds] Jackson Lake SP and SWA - Morgan Co

Birders,

Today I took a trip to Jackson Lake SP and SWA and Andrick SWA (No passes/license/permit required for these SWA's). Most of the shorebirds were on the west side of Jackson from the State Park and in the SW corner. The water is going down fast.

At Andrick:

Greater Yellowlegs

Pectoral Sandpiper

Shovelers (a lot)

Teal - Green-winged and Cinnamon

At Jackson Lake SP:

Hundreds of Shorebirds on the east side:

Bairds - Hundreds

Stilt Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Black-bellied Plover - 4

Semi Plover - 1

Least Sandpiper

Semi Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Wilson's Phalarope

Spotted Sandpiper

Forester's Tern - 1

At Jackson SWA northwest corner of the lake:

WF Ibis - 1

Avocets

Baird's

A flock of Pectoral Sandpipers (>8) imitating Rock Sandpipers in a bunch of rocks that extend to the water from the north shore

Black Tern - 2

Eared Grebe - 3

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

Re: [cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.

Interesting,

I noticed what I suspected was a dazed HOFI from a window collision this evening. The bird was alive, and I was able to handle it and move it to a safe location in the yard, If I find a corpse tomorrow Nick, I'll contact you.

Peter Burke

Boulder, CO

On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 8:50 PM, Nick Komar <quetzal65@comcast.net> wrote:

Hi Tom and Mary,

Indeed West Nile virus is present this summer, and still killing birds. There are other possible causes as well. Anyone with a dead bird in good condition can contact me offline to discuss having it tested for West Nile virus infection. If you are in or near a front range city between Denver and Fort Collins, there is a good chance that I can arrange to get the specimen from you.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 29, 2013, at 8:29 PM, Mary France <mkf1945@comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Tom and Mary France live in SE Fort Collins and have just discovered our 5th dead House Finch in our yard today - 3 males, 2 females, none appeared to be juveniles.
> I wondered if this has occurred elsewhere and what might be causing it. I did notice a couple acting ill - puffy feathers, not moving much. We've never had this happen before. Could it be West Nile? Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom and Mary France
> Fort Collins, CO
>
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http://www.linkedin.com/pub/peter-burke/5/788/a62

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Re: [cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.

Hi Tom and Mary,

Indeed West Nile virus is present this summer, and still killing birds. There are other possible causes as well. Anyone with a dead bird in good condition can contact me offline to discuss having it tested for West Nile virus infection. If you are in or near a front range city between Denver and Fort Collins, there is a good chance that I can arrange to get the specimen from you.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 29, 2013, at 8:29 PM, Mary France <mkf1945@comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Tom and Mary France live in SE Fort Collins and have just discovered our 5th dead House Finch in our yard today - 3 males, 2 females, none appeared to be juveniles.
> I wondered if this has occurred elsewhere and what might be causing it. I did notice a couple acting ill - puffy feathers, not moving much. We've never had this happen before. Could it be West Nile? Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom and Mary France
> Fort Collins, CO
>
> --
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[cobirds] Immature Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Estes Park, Larimer Co. 8/29/13

We are having another nice visit in the Estes Park area in Larimer County. This morning on my early walk down to get a newspaper, I found what I concluded to be an immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

I saw this hummingbird at about 7:25 on Lower Broadview Road just 30 feet west of Lower Broadview's intersection with Mary's Lake Road close to where Mary's Lake Road crosses the Big Thompson River on the west end of Estes Park. I observed the bird for about a minute, clearly, in the bright, early morning sun, perched on top of a bush near the river at a distance of no more than 15 feet through 8x42 binoculars. The back, nape of the neck, and top of the head were a bright, shiny, metallic golden color. The folded wings were dark. Underneath, the breast and belly were whitish, suffused with gray, with no buffy coloring. The throat had fine streaking with some scattered darker feathers near the base of the throat where the bottom border of a gorget could be developing. With the angle of the sun, no iridescence was visible in these darker feathers, so I could not see whether these feathers were red, as in Ruby-throated, or purple, as in Black-chinned. When the bird took flight, the tail feathers had white tips with no sign of rufous coloring in the tail. These field marks ruled out Broad-tailed, Calliope, and Rufous Hummingbirds. I decided this was an immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, rather than a Black-chinned Hummingbird, based on the bright, shiny metallic gold color of the back. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America description of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird notes that "some immature males have a golden cast on upperparts, unlike Black-chinned Hummingbird." I have seen a few immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds with this same metallic golden appearance at my feeders at home in Maryland during fall migration.

A nice find, but I need to start carrying my camera when I go for the newspaper.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, Maryland.

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Re: [cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.

Our neighborhood has been sprayed for mosquitoes and perhaps this is the cause.

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 29, 2013, at 8:29 PM, Mary France <mkf1945@comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Tom and Mary France live in SE Fort Collins and have just discovered our 5th dead House Finch in our yard today - 3 males, 2 females, none appeared to be juveniles.
> I wondered if this has occurred elsewhere and what might be causing it. I did notice a couple acting ill - puffy feathers, not moving much. We've never had this happen before. Could it be West Nile? Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom and Mary France
> Fort Collins, CO
>
> --
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[cobirds] Dead House Finches, Larimer Co.

Hi,

Tom and Mary France live in SE Fort Collins and have just
discovered our 5th dead House Finch in our yard today - 3 males, 2
females, none appeared to be juveniles.
I wondered if this has occurred elsewhere and what might be causing it.
I did notice a couple acting ill - puffy feathers, not moving much.
We've never had this happen before. Could it be West Nile? Any ideas?

Thanks,

Tom and Mary France
Fort Collins, CO

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[cobirds] NOT a calliope hummingbird - JEFFCO

Okay, maybe this won't get posted as it isn't a bird, but I thought it was worth a try. At dusk tonight, what I thought was a small hummingbird buzzed my wife and me repeatedly at our house in west Littleton and then proceeded to feed on our hyssop, exactly like the hummingbirds have been doing. Only after putting the binoculars on it did we realize it was an insect! Thank goodness for Google, which promptly helped us identify it as a white-lined sphinx moth.

I don't know how I've missed seeing one of these in Colorado after many years, but the impressive similarity to a hummingbird really resonated with us!

Bryan and Kristin Arnold

Littleton, JEFFCO, 5,500'

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[cobirds] Backyard Milestone, El Paso Cty

Hey, Cobirders!

Jeanne called me to the window at 3:15 this afternoon and there was a Lark Sparrow in our grass. We have finally cracked the 100 species level for our yard.

Good spot, Jeanne!

Mel Goff

Colorado Springs

[cobirds] Clark's nutcracker, 5700' in Larimer County (plus other migrants)

heard one from my yard this morning, only second time in 10+ yrs I've seen them in the immediate vicinity. must be food shortages somewhere.

Arvind Panjabi
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
5700' feet, Larimer County, CO
On the north slope of Milner Mtn
Mountain mahogany shrubland and grassland

[cobirds] Common Black-Hawk - NOT!

I apologize for not scrutinizing Andrea Robinsong's photo more closely before announcing on CoBirds that there had been a Common Black-Hawk in Delta County on Aug 22. The bird in the photo was a Golden Eagle. This is not the first mistake I have made in my life!

Good Birding!

--
Jason Beason
Paonia - Delta Co.

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[cobirds] Wild Turkeys in Larimer County

Yesterday, I saw a wild turkey hen with at least 7 poults between the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead and the Glacier Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. That is the highest elevation I have ever encountered turkeys in the Park.

Bruce Gill

Fort Collins

RE: [cobirds] Clark's Nutcracker in El Paso County

I saw 2 Clark's Nutcrackers at Kettle Lakes on the Air Force Academy this past weekend - about the same elevation. It was my first sighting of them in that location.

Gloria Nikolai
Colorado Springs

> From: garykoehn@gmail.com
> Subject: [cobirds] Clark's Nutcracker in El Paso County
> Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 08:40:46 -0600
> To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
>
> I have been impressed by the number of Clark's Nutcrackers I have been seeing in my neighborhood this past week in Cedar Heights, a development just west of Manitou Springs, El Paso County, elevation about 6500 feet. I saw 20 to 30 CLNU on a half hour walk just this morning. I have not seen this bird here for the past 10 years. I can't help but think that the Waldo Canyon burn scar, which is just over the ridge from us, has something to do with it. It also looks like we have a good crop of Pinyon cones this year.
>
> Gary Koehn
> Colorado Springs
>
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[cobirds] Clark's Nutcracker in El Paso County

I have been impressed by the number of Clark's Nutcrackers I have been seeing in my neighborhood this past week in Cedar Heights, a development just west of Manitou Springs, El Paso County, elevation about 6500 feet. I saw 20 to 30 CLNU on a half hour walk just this morning. I have not seen this bird here for the past 10 years. I can't help but think that the Waldo Canyon burn scar, which is just over the ridge from us, has something to do with it. It also looks like we have a good crop of Pinyon cones this year.

Gary Koehn
Colorado Springs

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, August 29, 2013

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
Date: August 29, 2013
email: rba AT cfobirds.org
phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, August 29, 2013, sponsored
by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the
star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone
number, detailed directions including county, and dates for each sighting.
It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.

Highlight species include (* indicates new information on this species in this report):

TRUMPETER SWAM (Garfield)
REDDISH EGRET (*Bent)
COMMON BLACK HAWK (Delta)
Snowy Plover (Alamosa)
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (Morgan, Washington)
Short-billed Dowitcher (Morgan)
Caspian Tern (Bent)
Black Phoebe (Montrose)
Eastern Phoebe (Fremont)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Morgan, Washington)
Bell's Vireo (Logan)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Washington)
Purple Martin (Mesa)
Nashville Warbler (Moffat)
Northern Waterthrush (Boulder, Larimer, Moffat)
Indigo Bunting (Jefferson, Moffat)

ALAMOSA COUNTY:
--On August 26, Rawinski reported 14 species of shorebirds at Blanca Wetlands including a Snowy Plover. Pond #16 continues to be a hotspot. It is a mile walk south of the first gate on the right. Bring a scope.

BENT COUNTY:
--A sub-adult white-morph REDDISH EGRET was reported by Duane Nelson at Lake Hasty below the dam at John Martin Reservoir on August 20. It was partial the the shallow water on either side of the isthmus that divides the north and south halves of the lake. The REDDISH EGRET was seen on August 21 by numerous birders at Lake Hasty as reported by Duane Nelson. Nelson reported on August 22 that the REDDISH EGRET flew from Lake Hasty to a private ranch with a lake. Nelson reports that the REDDISH EGRET remains at private Verhoeff Reservoir. It may be visible from US 50 just east of CR 26.5 but before the lone tree on the south side of the Hwy. If you want more information or help contact Duane at dnelson1 AT centurytel.net On August 28, Duane Nelson reported that the REDDISH EGRET is still around. He is able to help those who want to see it on Thursday and Friday.
--An ad Caspian Tern was reported by Duane Nelson on a tiny island off shore from Lake Hasty swim beach on August 26.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Floyd on the north shore of Waneka Lake on August 22.

DELTA COUNTY:
--A COMMON BLACK HAWK was reported by Robinsong on J55 Rd between Hotchkiss and Paonia S of the transfer station on August 22.

FREMONT COUNTY:
--2 Eastern Phoebes were reported by Moss at Florence River Park on August 21.

GARFIELD COUNTY:
--A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Boyd on the Mamm Creek Ponds near I-70 near Rifle on August 27. Take exit 94 from I-70. Take the northern frontage road west. Swan had been on the third pond as you travel west about 1.5 miles from exit.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--An Indigo Bunting family (m, 4 young) was reported by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on August 19. The family was along Bear Creek just below the Soda Lakes Road across the street from the Conoco Station at C470 and Morrison Road. On August 24, Kibbe reported (m, 1 young) Indigo Bunting on the east side of Soda Lakes Road.

LARIMER COUNTY:
--At least one Northern Waterthrush was reported by Biggerstaff on the Poudre River near the Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins on August 23.

LOGAN COUNTY:
--Calling Bell's Vireos were reported by Kaempfer at Red Lion below the "Little Jumbo" dam on August 17. On August 21, Lewis reported 3 Bell's Vireos at "Little Jumbo". On August 26, Kaempfer reported multiple Bell's Vireo singing below "Little Jumbo" dam.

MOFFAT COUNTY:
--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Luke at Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig on August 20.
--On August 24, Luke reported 2+ Nashville Warblers and a juv male Indigo Bunting at Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig. On August 26, Luke reported 5 Nashville Warblers at Loudy-Simpson Park.

MONTROSE COUNTY:
--A Black Phoebe was reported by Horn near Uravan on V19 Road on August 21. V19 turns off of Hwy 141 where the Hwy crosses the San Miguel River. V19 crosses Tabeguache Creek on a small bridge and the phobe was sitting on an old piece of fence just upstream.

MORGAN COUNTY:
--A couple of Great Crested Flycatchers were reported by Dowell in the campground groves at Jackson SP on August 21.
--A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and Short-billed Dowitcher were reported by Dowell along the NW shore at Jackson on August 21. Best viewing was from the north end SWA. On August 24, Kaempfer reported BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER in NW corner at Jackson. On August 25, Fink reported that the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER continues in the NW corner at Jackson.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:
--A Great Crested Flycatcher was reported by Kaempfer at the inlet canal at Prewitt on August 16. On August 24, Kaempfer again reported a Great Crested Flycatcher at the inlet canal at Prewitt. On August 26, Kellner reported a Great Crested Flycatcher below the dam at Prewitt.

--A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was reported by Walbek by the inlet canal at Prewitt on August 23.
--A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported by Walbek at Prewitt on August 23.

DFO FIELD TRIPS:
--The DFO Field trip for Saturday, August 31 will be to Lair o' the Bear Park led by Nina Routh (303-987-8687).
Lair o' the Bear is located west of Morrison about halfway between Idledale and Kittredge. Meet at 0800 at the far west end of Lair o' the Bear parking lot. Bear Creek runs through the park surrounded by mountain meadows and forested hillsides. Approximately 2.5 mile hike to see who is around at the end of the summer.
Please RSVP with leader. Limited group size; Preregistered participants only. Bird until about noon and for those who want lunch at Bear Creek Restaurant in Kittredge with view of the hummingbird feeders.

Good Birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder

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