[cobirds] 2nd post, sorry: East. Wd Pewee near Lyons last year

Bonjour encore:

I love it that east CO has an Eastern Wood Pewee; I grew up with them in VA. Last year we found one in the ponderosa pines off Picture Rock trail, which I survey (a BBS route for the County, as well as an Eco-steward area for BCNA). It stayed all breeding season, mournfully advertising its availability. I looked for it on my survey yesterday and did not find.

However, interestingly (I am thinking of Hugh Kingery's collection:) yesterday I found Lesser Goldfinches singing fair imitations of the EAWP song (as well as other songs which Hugh has no doubt already added to his notes).

Picture Rock sometimes has surprises, but this year is only surprising in its birdiness, to coin a word. I was (3rd task) trying to count individuals for eBird and having a heck of a time, because the area is popping (Ted F likes to say "birds dripping off the trees"), including many species I never find there because it is too dry: Blue Grosbeaks, Catbird, etc.

Picture Rock is a long trail (about 9 miles to Heil Trailhead on the south end) used mostly by bikers, from Lyons (southwest of town off the Apple Valley/Red Gulch Rd trailhead). It is lovely, even in the first 2 miles while you trudge between the hogback hills filled (very early) with birdsong and the suburban homes below. The trail at that point is truly a kitty litterbox: covered with wild feline scat (I can't tell cougar from bobcat) near every drainage: I found a large elk femur in the grass, and saw remains of a dead turkey farther up on the trail.

If you hike it, gently remind bikers that they must yield to EVERYONE not on a bike; I do this if they do not slow down and prepare to dismount. Mostly, they are all very congenial. However if you start right at dawn, you will hardly meet a soul.

Linda

Linda Andes-Georges
Boulder County (W of Lagerman, N of Haystack, E of Table Mtn)
[Jean-Pierre says: W of Paris, S of Quebec, E of Tahiti]
8417 Stirrup Ln

Longmont CO 80503

Tel. 720 668 5214