In retrospect, maybe I should have stayed home, as the best two species at Crow Valley Campground at Briggsdale (Weld) I also had today in my east Fort Collins (Larimer) apartment courtyard: Evening Grosbeak and Red-naped Sapsucker. Either there is one crazed Evening Grosbeak zooming around the northern Colorado plains, or I have seen 6 individuals in the last few weeks between Estes Park and Crow Valley (once at Lake Estes, twice at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, once in a spruce next to 612 Stover in Fort Collins, and twice at Crow Valley). If it is the latter, something is going on with this species (probably a combination of western spruce budworm population buildups in the mountains AND typical early-autumn dispersal/scouting-for-winter-food-resource-flights.
Both sapsuckers were females in Siberian Elms.
Besides the grosbeak and sapsucker, Crow Valley Campground was fairly quiet. Thinking back, only the grosbeak was vocal, so it was really quiet. There were several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a few Hermit Thrushes, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, a few Wilson's Warblers, one Mac Warbler (female), at least 10 Red-breasted Nuthatches, an interior White-breasted Nuthatch, a few passover Barn Swallows, an eastern Hairy Woodpecker, a late Dusky Flycatcher, flyover Pine Siskins, a female Spotted Towhee, a Lincoln's Sparrow, only a few White-crowned Sparrows, only one junco, a lingering family of Northern Mockingbirds, and one immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. Altogether 39 species, after having 52 each of the last two visits over the last two weeks. No White-throated Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, or Palm Warblers. With a potential 4-6 more weeks of decent camping weather (and landbird migration), inexplicably the water everywhere in the campground except for maybe the host's site is turned off. In essence, the place is very dry and not all that conducive to holding birds, should they chose to land there.
In contrast, Crom Lake (Weld CR 31 just w of Pierce) had high water, a few coots, a Western Grebe, a few Redheads, and a procrastinating flock of Barn Swallows.
The Lewis's Woodpecker persists at Roselawn Cemetery in east Fort Collins (exactly 1 mile west of I-25 on the north side of Mulberry, accessed off the frontage road between the Amish Showroom and the Sundance Saloon). The bird continues to feast on Russian-Olives atop a telephone pole near two big olive trees and due west of the extreme nw corner of the cemetery property.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Both sapsuckers were females in Siberian Elms.
Besides the grosbeak and sapsucker, Crow Valley Campground was fairly quiet. Thinking back, only the grosbeak was vocal, so it was really quiet. There were several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a few Hermit Thrushes, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, a few Wilson's Warblers, one Mac Warbler (female), at least 10 Red-breasted Nuthatches, an interior White-breasted Nuthatch, a few passover Barn Swallows, an eastern Hairy Woodpecker, a late Dusky Flycatcher, flyover Pine Siskins, a female Spotted Towhee, a Lincoln's Sparrow, only a few White-crowned Sparrows, only one junco, a lingering family of Northern Mockingbirds, and one immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. Altogether 39 species, after having 52 each of the last two visits over the last two weeks. No White-throated Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, or Palm Warblers. With a potential 4-6 more weeks of decent camping weather (and landbird migration), inexplicably the water everywhere in the campground except for maybe the host's site is turned off. In essence, the place is very dry and not all that conducive to holding birds, should they chose to land there.
In contrast, Crom Lake (Weld CR 31 just w of Pierce) had high water, a few coots, a Western Grebe, a few Redheads, and a procrastinating flock of Barn Swallows.
The Lewis's Woodpecker persists at Roselawn Cemetery in east Fort Collins (exactly 1 mile west of I-25 on the north side of Mulberry, accessed off the frontage road between the Amish Showroom and the Sundance Saloon). The bird continues to feast on Russian-Olives atop a telephone pole near two big olive trees and due west of the extreme nw corner of the cemetery property.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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