[cobirds] A report from Northwestern CO May 24-27

Northwestern CO is seldom highlighted on CoBirds, so I thought I'd share some of the birds of note from a loop I made this week through Garfield, western Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Jackson and Grand counties. Just a few. 

Actually, I was impressed with the general scarcity of migrants and the quietness of bird song in many, many areas, despite the nice weather and late May timing. I guess it fits the pattern, but not having been to some of the areas before it was hard to compare exactly. But hey, I thought, way too often, "Where are the birds?".  Mountain Bluebirds seemed quite sparse everywhere. For example, half a day traveling through Jackson County yielded none at all for us. 

But now on a more positive note... A Purple Martin was over the lake with many swallows at Rifle Gap SP (Garfield) on May 24. I think it was a bit out of place for the county. 

In Rio Blanco a pair of Scott's Orioles was along CR 99 very close to Utah. Black-throated Sparrow also, and it was pretty birdy there early in the morning 5/25. The birding at and near Rangely Camper Park was also productive compared to some areas. Pinyon Jays were at Piceance Creek SWA along CR 5 5/24; these were the only ones we found on the trip.

In Moffat on 5/25 some highlights were a Cassin's Kingbird at the north end of Blue Mountain Road east of Dinosaur, an American Redstart at Maybell Park in Maybell, a Bobolink in a hay field east of Browns Park NWR, and a Black Phoebe along the Green in Browns Park. All wetlands at Browns Park and Oxbow SWA were dry. On 5/26 the walk at Loudy Simpson Park along the Yampa in Craig was very pleasant, with lots of song. A Willow Flycatcher was there. 

In Routt on 5/26 one Willow Flycatcher was singing at the Yampa River Preserve, but birding there seemed light compared my limited prior visits, except for plentiful Yellows and Grey Catbirds. At night I heard a Long-eared Owl calling near there. I love the walk around the Botanic Park at Steamboat, and although there was nothing out of the ordinary, it is consistently a good place, it seems to have nice looks at Evening Grosbeak and Cassin's Finch (look for the feeders near the northwest corner of the garden). A Northern Goshawk was flying over at CR 82 south of Steamboat Lake. That seemed like it would be a great birding road with lots of opportunities over a long distance. 

In Jackson on 5/27 there was an American Bittern at Cowdrey Reservoir, and Walden Reservoir had the usual fun numbers and variety and nesting birds, including 2 Red-necked Phalaropes. Large numbers of Wilson's Phalaropes were at Cowdrey Res and Arapahoe NWR. Arapahoe had low water in some ponds (good shorebird habitat if there were any beyond the breeders), and I found some ponds with many waterfowl etc., while others were dead.  I looked for the Bank Swallows I had seen nesting at bluffs along the North Platte at Road 6W but there were none. A Veery singing from the willows was a plus, though.

David Suddjian

Littleton CO

"Step into the daylight,

and let it go"

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