Hi Everyone—
I arrived at Larimer CR 5 around noon today 7/25. A couple of other birders came and went, but it was pretty quiet. Around 1 pm, Nick Komar and crew arrived and explained what they heard and where they heard it. Over the next hour, I heard exactly one song of a Baird’s Sparrow, but did not see any. I decided to stick it out until activity increased. By 4, the Grasshopper Sparrows were singing again. Around 4:30 or so, Georgia Doyle showed up, and we watched and listened together. At 5:30, we heard our first Baird’s Sparrow song, a ways south of where we were standing. We slowly made our way south. Singing became more frequent and regular. Around 6:30, we heard one pretty close, and were able to get a scope on a singing male teed up on a thistle. We could see the more orangey head and dark ear spot. Georgia got some photos that I hope are diagnostic. We were about 1.8 miles north of Buckeye Road, between a cattle guard and a blue tractor (the cattle guard is about 1.5 miles, the tractor about 2.0 miles). The bird was maybe 50 yards west of the road. I thought I heard a second bird sing a couple of times.
Other cool birds on CR 5 included a baby Swainson’s Hawk, baby Loggerhead Shrikes, a family of Burrowing Owls, and three Sage Thrashers. Georgia had a Blue Grosbeak, which is not common there. Grasshopper Sparrows were rife, and several were singing an extended song that started off like a typical Grasshopper Sparrow but then advanced into a warbling jumble almost like a Winter Wren.
If you search tomorrow, start very early, and listen along the entire stretch from 1.5 to 2.0 miles. Late also works, but the light will not be in your favor.
Mark Miller
Longmont, CO
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