[cobirds] Larimer/Weld County wanderings

All,

I pounded the pavement early today and kept it going until 6pm.  I visited in Weld County: Crom Lake, Crow Valley and the birding loop on CR 96, Lower Latham, Beebe Draw, Stewart's Pond and Windsor Lake.  In Larimer I ventured to Boyd Lake SP, Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, Watson Lake, McMurray Natural Area, and Grandview Cemetery.  I was hoping to set my new big day record.  Alas, I fell short.  I ended the day with 123 species, which is still awesome and there were highlights.  The weather certainly didn't help with regard to bird song.  It got hot quick and birds hunkered down and shut up.  I had to work hard in the afternoon. I have to say that it has been downright WEIRD in Northern reaches of this state.  Flycatchers are usually dripping from the trees by now along with higher numbers of even the most common warblers.  I don't know if the storms last week pushed or kept more species out to the east or what.  It just seems odd.  Maybe next week.  The Cottonwoods were early in leafing out and the elms seem late.  In speaking with other birders this seems to be a common theme...  To the highlights:

Crom Lake

Red-necked Phalarope-3

Semi-palmated Plover-1

Crow Valley

American Redstart-1m 1f associating with each other

Blackpoll Warbler-1 m 1f-Male out in the north forty and female in the west corner in the trees above the creek by the picnic area.  They must have been arguing.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak-1m

Orchard Oriole-1m

Common Nighthawk-female being harassed by the ubiquitous Western Kingbirds

Gray Flycatcher-1

Hammond's Flycatcher-1

MacGillivray's Warbler-2 males

Cedar Waxwing-1 lone individual

Townsend's Solitaire-late for this guy to be around out there

Lewis's Woodpecker-without a doubt the highlight of the day.  Nice find Kathy!

CR96

Grasshopper Sparrow-FOS

Cassin's Sparrow-FOS

McCown's Longspur-4

Sparrows have largely moved on save the Lark Buntings.

Lower Latham/Beebe Draw

Usual suspects

Stewart's Pond

Redhead-about a dozen that seemed late to me.

Mute Swan was not present while I was there

Windsor Lake

Clark's Grebe-1

Forster's Tern-3 still around

Boyd Lake

Marbled Godwit-1 lingering

White-faced Ibis-3 remaining and no Glossy 

No Plovers other than Killdeer

Reservoir Ridge

Bobolink-3 still singing (reported earlier)

Watson Lake

Golden Eaglets!!!

McMurray Natural Area

Broad-winged Hawk-1 in the fielded area to the east of the parking lot as I was leaving.

Downtown FOCO

Chimney Swifts-4 They're back!

Grandview

I couldn't buy a Nuthatch.  Not that my money would have done any good there...

Notable misses: Lincoln's Sparrow (What!?!), Hermit Thrush, Least and Dusky Flycatcher, YB Chat, Ferruginous Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe, Hairy Woodpecker, Great Egret, Ovenbird, WB and RB Nuthatch and so many more...

Bird is the word!

Josh Bruening

Fort Collins

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