I have been out of commission due to a computer failure of major magnitude. Have access to one down here.
Lamar was pretty birdy today, despite the heat and wind. Highlights:
Fairmount Cemetery:
PINE WARBLER (1 drab, molting female with just a touch of yellow on the breast, mostly in pines and honey locusts, giving call note sporadically)
Townsend's Warbler (at least 3, mostly in junipers, flushing prey to the ground, pursuing, flying back up into trees)
Western Scrub-Jay (1)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (2)
Wilson's Warbler (several)
Least Flycatcher (few)
Western Wood-Pewees (10+)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1 or 2)
[Thanks to Pete Janzen, Norm Erthal, and Dr. Steve for the posts/heads-ups about Pine Warblers. Yes, something is going on at present regarding a movement of this easily overlooked species.]
Lamar Community College Woods:
Great Crested Flycatcher (1) north end, north of trail that goes into the woods in cottonwoods
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (1 first fall female)
American Redstart (1f)
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1 Audubon's, FOS at low elevation for me)
Willow Flycatcher (1)
Northern Cardinal (4, including male feeding fledgling of the second local brood this summer)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (begging fledgling, female, male)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Cooper's Hawk (1a, 1i, suspect local breeding)
Virginia Creeper didn't do well at LCC this year and is mostly dried up and looking like a fire waiting to happen (see north end). But the plants which survived and did well are climbing on things like cottonwood trunks and are full of berries (especially at the south end of the woods south of the gate). Lots of birds are eating the berries including Brown Thrashers, Gray Catbirds, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, and a Yellow-breasted Chat.
The true spectacle in the wooded areas of Lamar at present is the tremendous number of GREEN LACEWINGS, which I believe are fueling many a migrant thru the drought-stricken plains of eastern CO. I particularly noticed Wilson's Warblers and Townsend's Warblers getting them, but suspect the great majority of passerines associating with trees are utilizing these delicate prey items. Junipers seem to have lots, and I suppose the answer to their numbers is a heavy aphid population on a number of host plants earlier in the summer. And obviously they do well in hot weather.
And I have to say, the Giant Ragweed pollen is impressive at present as well.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Lamar was pretty birdy today, despite the heat and wind. Highlights:
Fairmount Cemetery:
PINE WARBLER (1 drab, molting female with just a touch of yellow on the breast, mostly in pines and honey locusts, giving call note sporadically)
Townsend's Warbler (at least 3, mostly in junipers, flushing prey to the ground, pursuing, flying back up into trees)
Western Scrub-Jay (1)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (2)
Wilson's Warbler (several)
Least Flycatcher (few)
Western Wood-Pewees (10+)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1 or 2)
[Thanks to Pete Janzen, Norm Erthal, and Dr. Steve for the posts/heads-ups about Pine Warblers. Yes, something is going on at present regarding a movement of this easily overlooked species.]
Lamar Community College Woods:
Great Crested Flycatcher (1) north end, north of trail that goes into the woods in cottonwoods
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (1 first fall female)
American Redstart (1f)
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1 Audubon's, FOS at low elevation for me)
Willow Flycatcher (1)
Northern Cardinal (4, including male feeding fledgling of the second local brood this summer)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (begging fledgling, female, male)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Cooper's Hawk (1a, 1i, suspect local breeding)
Virginia Creeper didn't do well at LCC this year and is mostly dried up and looking like a fire waiting to happen (see north end). But the plants which survived and did well are climbing on things like cottonwood trunks and are full of berries (especially at the south end of the woods south of the gate). Lots of birds are eating the berries including Brown Thrashers, Gray Catbirds, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, and a Yellow-breasted Chat.
The true spectacle in the wooded areas of Lamar at present is the tremendous number of GREEN LACEWINGS, which I believe are fueling many a migrant thru the drought-stricken plains of eastern CO. I particularly noticed Wilson's Warblers and Townsend's Warblers getting them, but suspect the great majority of passerines associating with trees are utilizing these delicate prey items. Junipers seem to have lots, and I suppose the answer to their numbers is a heavy aphid population on a number of host plants earlier in the summer. And obviously they do well in hot weather.
And I have to say, the Giant Ragweed pollen is impressive at present as well.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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