[cobirds] SE Colorado Yesterday

Greetings,

Sorry again for a post a day late, but a post at midnight yesterday would've likely done few folks much good.

Yesterday I started at Flagler SWA in Kit Carson Co, then went to Needgronde and Neenoshe Reservoirs in Kiowa Co, and finished the day at Kinny SWA, s. of Hugo, in Lincoln Co.

I will start at the end. Yesterday, at Kinny, there was a cooperative ALDER FLYCATCHER near the dam (e. side) calling in the tiny grove of trees there. Photos to be posted sometime fairly soon. Also at Kinny was a LEAST FLYCATCHER at the grove of trees just as you reach the reservoir. No sign of the Eastern x Western Kingbird. The dragon and damsel show at Kinny in the evening was pretty spectacular as well.

South of Kinny (taking the road going south to Kinny from Hugo) at Lincoln CR GG, go west a short ways, and you'll see a pond on the s. side of GG. There was a SB DOWITCHER (along with a couple LB Dowitchers and a Stilt Sand) present yesterday afternoon there. 

Back to the beginning of the day, Flagler SWA was fun as usual. The reservoir's shore is exposed somewhat and there was a nice flock of shorebirds with the most unusual being a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. The landbirding was fun, with a nice assortment of common stuff plus the occasional surprise, which included a RED-EYED VIREO, a LEAST FLYCATCHER, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE (no Bullock's- they appear to have finally largely left) and both SAVANNAH and BREWER'S SPARROWS (one each) -- both of which are rare (or at least rather uncommon) so far e. in July per eBird and a couple other resources. 

Heading s. from Sievers towards Kit Carson, about 1 mile or so s. of I-70, there is a small tank on the w. side of the road that leeks water. There was a SAGE THRASHER here... a bit far e. for mid-summer.

Farther south: A pond along the US highway just n. of Neenoshe (w. side of road) had 116 LB CURLEW. Neenoshe itself was filled with shorebirds, low diversity, high numbers, nada rare. The most impressive counts were 283 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS (counted twice with same result, which is partly luck, to be sure), 990 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 100+ STILT SANDPIPERS. Neegronde Res had 88 BLACK TERNS, 8 SNOWY PLOVERS, and a scattering of other expected birds (only 1 Mountain Plover and 3 LB Curlews; amazing how these birds pick one spot or the other).

Good Birding,

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

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