Despite perfect detection conditions (rain last night eliminated underfoot crunch, very light wind to start, overcast skies to start), as has been the case of late, CVCG was pretty darn quiet for the middle of September. This should be prime time, with 40-50 species to be expected, if not more. Total for today, counting 4 species seen in Briggsdale town not seen in campground, was 39. My theory is that at least 2 summer hail storms killed a lot of the insects out there, especially those that feed on elm leaves (elm leaf beetle and its predators in particular). Who knows, but just doesn't seem like there are a lot of insects for birds to eat.
Highlights today in campground and nearby Briggsdale between 9:30am and 1pm
Common Nighthawk (1 small, pale individual had me going for a while, thinking it might be Lesser but when it reluctantly flew, white in wing not right for Lesser). Sure wish there was an obvious mark or way to tell these apart on perched individuals seen well. Not sure which race this one, probably "Northern Plains" but possibly "Eastern". Just looked odd somehow.
Cassin's Kingbird - 1 way out north working the fenceline. Saw it capture a darkling beetle and an orange sulphur butterfly.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (at least 6).
Gray Catbird (1)
Brown Thrasher (2)
Bullock's Oriole? (heard only, never could see it, way out north, would be somewhat late for this species)
Red-naped Sapsucker (1m, 1f, 1 of undetermined gender seen flying). Male was in cottonwood s of Picnic Area.
Townsend's Solitaire (2, expected to start showing up on the plains this time of year)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2)
Swainson's Thrush (1)
Lincoln's Sparrow (1)
Mixed sparrows (Cc few, Chipping few, Vesper 3)
no empids
very few warblers (few Wilson's, even fewer Yellow-rumps)
Rock Wren (1) s of Briggsdale HS on fence post.
Bank Swallow (3 on wires with 30 Barn Swallows in the middle of Briggsdale)
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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