Of course, the adult male HERMIT WARBLER, found by Duane Nelson today at Tempel Grove (Bent) was the highlight of the day, probably the entire season (year?). After finding this bird and confirming the bird looked "pure" (i.e. no Townsend's in the closet), Duane instantly started making phone calls. Three of us (Jane Stulp, Janeal Thompson, and I) were lucky enough to be within a 10-mile drive and in a position to respond. I will let Duane tell the rest of the story, should he so desire. I will just say that the bird escaped our gaze some time in early afternoon and was not seen again by any of us, despite considerable effort. It was foraging in catkins in tall cottonwoods about 40-60 feet up (i.e. check every "Yellow-rump"). It is amazing to me Duane got onto this bird in the first place.
Other than THE bird, Tempel Grove was fairly quiet in terms of obvious new arrivals or birds on the move. We had our FOY Bullock's Oriole (for most of us, anyway), perhaps 15 Yellow-rumps, an Orange-crowned, a few Hermit Thrushes, and that's about it.
[REMEMBER BIRDING AT TEMPEL GROVE, WHILE ON THE "COLORADO BIRDING TRAIL" IS RESTRICTED TO THE DITCH ROAD ON EITHER SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 35. DUE TO LIABILITY ISSUES, BIRDERS ARE ASKED NOT TO GO INTO ANY OTHER AREAS. ALSO, PLEASE PARK IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS TO ANYTHING (HAY BALE PILES, GAS TANKS, EQUIPMENT, DRIVEWAYS, ETC.) THAT ARE PART OF THE ACTIVE FARM OPERATION. THANK YOU.]
Highlights of the Lamar Community College Woods (Prowers) were 2 active nests of Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two male Northern Cardinals (with at least one female no doubt nearby), lots of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, an adult light-phase Broad-winged Hawk, a heard only hummingbird near blooming golden currant (probably a Black-chinned), a few Orange-crowned Warblers, and at least 3 Hermit Thrushes.
Thurston Reservoir (Prowers) had hundreds of Wilson's Phalaropes, a few Black-necked Stilts, about 15 Long-billed Dowitchers, a few Baird's Sandpipers, a pair of Snowy Plovers, a Semipalmated Plover, about 15 White-faced Ibis, 15+ Lesser Yellowlegs, and one Greater Yellowlegs.
Fairmount Cemetery (Lamar, Prowers) had a beautiful male (softly singing if one was close enough to hear it) Townsend's Warbler about midway along the e-w juniper row that parallels the northernmost entry road. Also at Fairmount I heard the buzz of my first bunting but could never see it. A Townsend's Solitaire made this a Double-Hermit, Double-Townsend's Day.
It was over 80 degrees today but the winds were fairly calm. Party is supposed to be over in regards to the wind tomorrow starting about noon for the next few (hopefully not several) days.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Other than THE bird, Tempel Grove was fairly quiet in terms of obvious new arrivals or birds on the move. We had our FOY Bullock's Oriole (for most of us, anyway), perhaps 15 Yellow-rumps, an Orange-crowned, a few Hermit Thrushes, and that's about it.
[REMEMBER BIRDING AT TEMPEL GROVE, WHILE ON THE "COLORADO BIRDING TRAIL" IS RESTRICTED TO THE DITCH ROAD ON EITHER SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 35. DUE TO LIABILITY ISSUES, BIRDERS ARE ASKED NOT TO GO INTO ANY OTHER AREAS. ALSO, PLEASE PARK IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS TO ANYTHING (HAY BALE PILES, GAS TANKS, EQUIPMENT, DRIVEWAYS, ETC.) THAT ARE PART OF THE ACTIVE FARM OPERATION. THANK YOU.]
Highlights of the Lamar Community College Woods (Prowers) were 2 active nests of Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two male Northern Cardinals (with at least one female no doubt nearby), lots of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, an adult light-phase Broad-winged Hawk, a heard only hummingbird near blooming golden currant (probably a Black-chinned), a few Orange-crowned Warblers, and at least 3 Hermit Thrushes.
Thurston Reservoir (Prowers) had hundreds of Wilson's Phalaropes, a few Black-necked Stilts, about 15 Long-billed Dowitchers, a few Baird's Sandpipers, a pair of Snowy Plovers, a Semipalmated Plover, about 15 White-faced Ibis, 15+ Lesser Yellowlegs, and one Greater Yellowlegs.
Fairmount Cemetery (Lamar, Prowers) had a beautiful male (softly singing if one was close enough to hear it) Townsend's Warbler about midway along the e-w juniper row that parallels the northernmost entry road. Also at Fairmount I heard the buzz of my first bunting but could never see it. A Townsend's Solitaire made this a Double-Hermit, Double-Townsend's Day.
It was over 80 degrees today but the winds were fairly calm. Party is supposed to be over in regards to the wind tomorrow starting about noon for the next few (hopefully not several) days.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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