[cobirds] Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins (Larimer) on 25August2017

Highlights of yesterday's visit in early afternoon included:

Flock of 23 or so Red Crossbills, mostly juveniles.  They were in green ash eating seeds, drinking water from the ditch just north of the entry bridge, and in cone-laden spruce in the cemetery middle (Section S).  They sounded/looked like Type 2s to me, except for at least one that's flight call was clearly something else (Type 4?).  I received a report yesterday from crossbill-student Cody Porter at U of WY who said there is a general shortage of conifer cones (except lodgepole pine) in the southern WY mountains and that he is seeing crossbills (Reds of types 2,5 and 4), including a young White-winged, in Laramie at their cemetery and that we might expect to see them at low elevation here.  Well, I think Cody should change majors and pursue a job as a TV weatherman.  His prediction came true about an hour after I read his post.  This is the first big flock of crossbills I've seen at Grandview in well over a year.  Crossbills rock.

Clay-colored Sparrow, FOY at GC, was in with a group of perhaps 30 Chipping Sparrows.

Hammond's Flycatcher, FOY at GC and first empid this fall, was working the ditch south of the entry bridge.  Identified on the basis of mostly dark bill, bull-headed apperance, long primary extension (which made the tail look "normal" length or even shortish), teardrop eyering, fairly distinct contrast between gray head and green back (not all that evident in the view shown but in other lighting situations conspicuous), somewhat bushy rear of crown.  This date seems a bit early for Hammond's and it would not be the species I'd expect for the first empid in autumn at this site (i.e. low elevation).

Did NOT detect Pygmy Nuthatches for the first time in the last two weeks or so.  They may still be around.  If silent, they can be tough to detect.

Still a few Broad-tailed Hummingbirds around, probably females and recent fledglings.

Western Wood-Pewee (2)

Great Horned Owl in the champion thornless honeylocust in the middle of the southeastern Section 8.  I usually see an owl in this tree starting about this time of year.  Usually it is joined by a second owl.  The two start out distant.  Then gradually, if there's the right vibe and conversation, they move closer and closer until touching shoulders.  Who knew a shoulder could be an erogenous zone?  Then over the course of autumn they gradually pick trees for daytime roosting that are closer and closer to the historic nest elm in Section H.  Thus, I think today could be considered the start of a courtship/breeding cycle for the cemetery owls.  Local birder Doug Swartz reports seeing two Great Horned Owls already sitting together in his north Fort Collins neighborhood. 

The Cliff Swallows that nested in the ditch tunnel under the intersection of Laporte Avenue and Taft appear to be done with a cycle and dispersed/gone.  A few Barn Swallows persist at that site.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins