[cobirds] Park County foray 7/22

My son Stephen and I went up to Park County yesterday (7/22) intending to visit some high areas early on. It was breezy all day, presenting some challenges for forest birding, but it was lovely. We went up CR 8 to Kite Lake (12,000 ft) west of Alma. There was a fresh dusting of snow on the peaks above 13,800 feet. I wondered why a steady stream of cars was heading up that mountain road even before 7 am and then learned the trailhead at Kite Lake offers relatively easy one-day access to the summit of three Fourteeners. We kept to the side of the flow of trekkers and reveled in the incredible wildflower display, especially from 11,800 feet and higher. We enjoyed the usual alpine tundra birds, with a highlight of 4 Brown-capped Rosy-Finches foraging along the west side of Kite Lake, feeding busily at our feet. Songs from an abundance of Mountain White-crowned Sparrows added texture to the steady breeze. American Robins were quite common above treeline, including a number of juvies, Wilson's Warblers were carrying food in the knee-high carpet of willlows and American Pipits were popping up here and there. A Prairie Falcon cruised by. I scanned for ptarmigans but did not see any. Stops along CR 8 between Alma and the tree line produced encounters with Am. Three-toed Woodpecker and Pine Grosbeak, and I heard a Veery loft a few songs from Buckskin Creek, but the winds kept many birds quiet.

Later we explored some roads west of Highway 9 between Alma and Fairplay. Here there are a number of natural ponds and wetlands, with some being fairly large by Park standards. One wetland near Lakeside Drive and Pond Drive was especially noteworthy. It had several areas of open water (one quite large) and extensive sedge marsh. A Green Heron lifted out of the marsh, flew and dropped back in, for only my third sighting in Park. There were 7 summering Ring-necked Ducks, and a female Ruddy Duck with a brood of new young; it is hard to find anything cuter than a newly hatched Ruddy Duck. Ruddy Duck is a rather local breeder in Park. 4 Soras called in response to my whistled imitation. Also a Pied-billed Grebe and a number of Am. Coot families. A nearby pond along Lakeside had a female Bufflehead. At Pennsylvania Creek near CR 1 I actually *saw* a Veery when it happened to pop up in some willows, still mostly hidden. I've heard them here and there, now and again, but actually seeing one in the mountains was a rare treat for me. Exploring this area also produced a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a soaring Nor. Goshawk, and a Pine Grosbeak.

The pond along Hwy 285 northeast of Fairplay had 11 adult Lesser Scaup, including a female with 9 small young (another local Park breeding species), and 3 Ring-necked Ducks. California Gulls there were, I think a sign of seasonal dispersal. 

Como had three Lark Sparrows, my 1st in Park this season.

At the pond along CR 34 (4.3 miles in from Hwy 285) the nesting Eared Grebes were busy with what seems to be a successful effort. There were many small young being fed and riding around on the adults. Also present were a family of Green-winged Teal (another sparse Park breeder), 8 Cinnamon Teal and five male Ruddy Ducks. There were dozens and dozens of Mountain Bluebirds along CR 34, including many young of the year.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO 

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