[cobirds] foothills west of fort collins

We got about 20" of snow here yesterday, about 3 miles west of Fort Collins.  Didn't bring in many new species, except for about 6-7 spanking Cassin's Finches.  This was the most I've seen all "winter" and only the second time at that (last one was a single bird 2 weeks ago with the other big storm).  I wonder if these are just local altitudinal migrants?  Have they been present/common at higher elevations this winter?  Or further south? 

Aside from these I had about 50 pine siskins, also about 10 goldfinches of both species.  Also about 20 juncos, including gray-headed, white-winged, oregon, pick-sided.  2 white crown sparrows wer evident at a distance but ai didn't have my binos to see which kind.  A yellow-rumped warbler was also seen/heard in the yard.  A Spotted Towhee has been present since 4/15.  A male Broad-tailed Hummingbird has been present since 4/20, and a female since at least yesterday.  

Having just got back on Tuesday from a week in Mexico City I should report that the city parks down there were full of Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warblers, but not much else in terms of migrants.  A few western Tanagers, warbling vireos, plus a Virginia's warbler and a few dusky and gray flycatchers.  not much migration activity at all, so I suspect it will still be some time before things really start to pick up here.

Cheers,

 

Arvind Panjabi

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
5700' feet, Larimer County, CO
On the north slope of Milner Mtn
Mountain mahogany shrubland and grassland