[cobirds] Jumbo to Jackson Reservoirs (Thursday)

Greetings,

Sorry for the delayed post. Only so many days in an hour, or is it hours in a day, or both.

I started at Tamarack Ranch, the western portion thereof (see CFO County Birding website).

BELL'S VIREOS were still singing there, as was a FIELD SPARROW. The hybrid density there continues to amaze me. I identified 2 Spotted and 4 SPOTTED X EASTERN TOWHEES. Two more didn't give me a good enough look to ID, but they sounded odd. Other e. CO highlights included a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

At Jumbo Reservoir, the only rarity were two LESSER GOLDFINCHES (Sedgwick side) but there were shorebirds in the NW corner (Logan County)

25 Killdeer

4 Greater Yellowlegs

1 Willet

9 Lesser Yellowlegs

2 Semipalmated Sandpipers

2 Least Sandpiper

168 Baird's Sandpipers

4 Stilt Sandpipers

Also, for the reservoir as a whole, I tallied 30 Orchard Orioles.

At N Sterling Reservoir, there were very very shorebirds, the only one of interest being a LB Curlew. However, just e. of the reservoir, on Co Rd 46, there was a singing Sage Thrasher.

I reached Prewitt Reservoir just in time for the wind to whip up. Nonetheless, the shorebirds were approachable and the mud walkable, so I was able to work the immense numbers well

450 Killdeer

6 American Avocet

7 Spotted Sandpiper

1 Solitary Sandpiper

8 Greater Yellowlegs

30 Lesser Yellowlegs

2 Long-billed Curlew

2 Marbled Godwits

1 Sanderling

45 Semipalmated Sandpipers

8 Western Sandpipers

27 Least Sandpipers

1212 Baird's Sandpipers (I know, a weird number, resulting from various tallies)

2 Pectoral Sandpipers

40 Stilt Sandpipers

2 LB Dowitchers

55 Wilson's Phalaropes

At Jackson Reservoir, the shorebirds had largely departed. However, there were a goodly number of Franklin's Gulls (1404), but no Laughers. 

I did encounter a fairly amazing event at Jackson. Several fields (mostly on County Rd BB e. of County Rd 5, and County Rd 5 n. of BB) were recently harvested. Gulls abounded, but the weedy edges had FLOCKS OF ORIOLES. Truly. Clearly migrating, and almost entirely females/young of the year. In 45 minutes (or less) I found 42 Bullock's, 16 Orchard, and 1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE (adult male). Also, there were several Blue Grosbeaks in the mix. In one field, there were 250+ Brewer's Blackbirds, an excellent count for the NE this time of year, and a group of 8, presumptively migratory, UPLAND SANDPIPERS. If it weren't so late in the day, I'd have spent much more time working these fields and their edges. It was weird to flush up 6 orioles and have them perch on wires like kingbirds.

Good Birding

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

--
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+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.