[cobirds] Logan County highlights, 6/1/16

Hi folks,

I've been scheming to head back up to Tamarack Ranch for several weeks now to do some sound recording, and today I finally had time to do it. I hadn't been up there in almost 7 years! I also tacked on a fairly short visit to Red Lion SWA and Julesberg Reservoir before heading back.

I enjoyed most of the same birds recently reported by Austin Hess and Brian Johnson, but with a couple alterations. I spent about 3 1/2 hours birding the East side before making a 1 hr trip to the West side.

Northern Cardinal - yes, at least 2 singing males (one recorded well) if not more (East)

Great Crested Flycatcher - yes, a pair calling repeatedly early in the a.m. (East)

Field Sparrow - yes, one singing commonly around Area 5 (East) and recorded well

Grasshopper Sparrow - yes, several singing in the grass and sagelands (recorded)

Red-headed Woodpecker - yes, lost count. Recorded some continuous chatter by Area 5.

Red-bellied Woodpecker - yes, many heard

Bewick's Wren - no.

Northern Parula - no, but I didn't search for it. If it was there it was silent.

Red-eyed Vireo - yes (East). It was mostly silent but it did utter a single strophe once which clued me in to its presence.

Bell's Vireo - yes, at least 4 (West). Best point-blank looks I've ever had at a pair, and great recordings. I was thrilled to find one at the exact same spot where I had my lifer Bell's at Tamarack 11 years ago with Nick Komar!

Baltimore Oriole - yes, several.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - no. A bit surprised I didn't find one, but oh well.

My big rarity highlight today at Tamarack was a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH scooting along in the upper branches of some cottonwoods with a couple Swainson's Thrushes (east side, around Area 7), providing for a helpful on-the-spot comparison.

At Red Lion, I stopped at the dam for Jumbo and made my way down to the small grove beneath the dam. I'd never been there before, and although it was getting on 11:30am by that point, it was still active birdwise. Mostly expected species like Yellow Warbler and Orchard Oriole (I saw more Orchards today than I ever have in my life, including a flock of about 12 along the Logan-Sedgwick county line road!), but I did have a quick visit from a Hairy Woodpecker and a Veery. While walking toward the duck blind I apparently spooked a family of Soras which called sharply to each other (while I recorded them) until I gave them peace and vacated the area.

Lastly, on Julesberg Res itself there were about 10 Black Terns dipping and darting about. Oodles of Eared Grebes (meaning ~30-40) way way way up on the north end of the drink, just resolvable in the scope.

And really lastly, I passed an Eastern Phoebe doing the usual phoebe things on the CO 55 bridge crossing the S Platte on my way back the freeway.

Would have loved to have kept going, but I needed to get back home and get ready for the next work week.

Good birding, everyone!

-------

Eric DeFonso
Westminster, CO

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