[cobirds] Elbert County May 25-26

May 25

I focused on the big pine forest block near Elizabeth, and then areas to the south along the west edge of the county down toward Elbert and south of town. Among the things of special interest were Cassin's Finches at 5 stops in the forst NE of Elizabeth, including a female building a nest in a ponderosa pine off CR 146. The species was not noted from several spots where they had been regular since last winter. A male Black-chinned Hummingbird along Forest Trail was good for Elbert, I think. A pair of Bushtits was at Pheasant Run (no pheasants). White-throated Swifts were noted along CR 114 and CR 13 south of Elizabeth, also good for Elbert. A Gray Flycatcher was along CR 106 near CR 13 in an interesting area of juniper woodland. Southeast of the town of Elbert a Prairie Falcon came wailing along a rocky pine hillside, but do they nest in Elbert? Suitable cliffs seem lacking, but I certainly am not sure.. Otherwise a moderate smattering of migrants, good numbers of Yellow Warblers, Plumbeous Vireos fairly common, and some Yellow-breasted Chats. Lots of ponds, but hardly anything in them.

May 26

This day I focused on the central county area generally along and between Highways 86 and 24, and up near Agate. I encountered some very sketchy dirt roads, and barely made it out from one section, where the goal of driving forward was accomplished with my car mostly turned sideways on the road. I'm still not sure how I was doing that...and I don't want to do it again.

There are ponds everywhere, dozens and dozens of them. But not many had birds. The best for birds was the second large pond encountered along Hwy 86 as one heads east of Kiowa, Ball Reservoir at Agate, and a pond along CR 149 north of Matheson. Ducks were thin in most places, with Blue-winged Teal being most frequently encountered. Ball Reservoir had the most variety, including Lesser Scaup and Redheads. Shorebirds were few. A highlight was 3 Stilt Sandpipers along CR 169. A Mountain Plover was NW of Simla. 

Some passerine highlights in no special order: Alder Flycatcher (Middle Bijou Creek at CR 117), Eastern Phoebe (CR 98 at East Bijou), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Big Sandy west of Simla), Black-and-white Warbler, Magnoila Warbler (Agate), Northern Waterthrush, 2 Tennessee Warblers (East Bijou at CR 170), Baltimore Oriole (Big Sandy near Simla), Orchard Oriole (several), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and several Indigo Buntings. Blue Grosbeaks were plentiful. 

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

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