Thanks very much for the many replies I got about my "mystery bird" (and the comments about the Cassin's/Purple finches, which people said were almost certainly Cassin's). The overwhelming consensus was that my mystery bird is a female Lark Bunting. :)
Good birding,
Holly Reinhard
Hayden, CO (formerly Corvallis, OR)
On Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 4:50 PM, Holly Reinhard <holly.reinhard@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello birders,
I would like to extend a great thanks to those of you on the Western Slope Birding Network email listserve who replied to my RFI for where to go shorebirding in this part of Colorado. I just returned from a two-day trip, in which I visited Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, Walden Reservoir, and State Forest State Park. Here are some highlights:
State Forest State Park, Moose Visitor Center near Gould has at least one female PINE GROSBEAK coming to its feeders now. I had heard this was a place to pick up P. Grosbeaks, but when I visited there in early June, the Grosbeaks were not there. Well, looks like at least one is back, possibly two.
Also at the Visitor Center:
- 1 male Black-headed Grosbeak
as well as the "usual" goodies. (DE Juncos, Pine Siskin, Red-winged Blackbird, Cassin's/Purple Finches (I have a hard time telling those two apart!))
and a Hairy Woodpecker came and drank nectar from one of the hummingbird feeders!
Walden Reservoir:
- a fair amount of Wilson's Phalaropes
- Western Grebe
- Eared Grebes (probably at least 8), and 3 fluffy chicks. They were great fun to watch.
- Am. White Pelicans
- Pied-billed Grebe
- MANY ducks (hard to ID as to species because of their eclipse plumage)
- Killdeer
- American Avocet
Arapaho NWR Driving Tour proved very productive today, and especially yesterday evening. Notable birds included:
- Willet
- American Avocets
- some "peeps"
- a fair amount of Wilson's Phalaropes here as well
- some raptors, whose identities have yet to be determined.
- a very interesting passerine (at least it was to me), whose photos can be found in the public link below.
https://plus.google.com/photos/111932006950378506189/albums/5776659622922639985
I photographed this bird today at Arapaho NWR. As you can see in the photos, its bill is thick, like a Lark Sparrow's, and it has similar facial markings to a Lark Sparrow. However, its "shoulders" were white when it flew, and it had white on its outer tail feathers. I am wondering if it could be a young Lark Bunting? However, in Sibley, male non-breeding Lark Bunting has a distinct lack of any "warmth". This bird I photographed had an almost rufous-y crown.
Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Good birding,
Holly Reinhard
Hayden, CO (formerly Corvallis, OR)
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