The Fountain Creek CBC in El Paso County took place on December 14th, 2023 - it was a successful count even in the face of some challenging driving and viewing conditions. We had snow, very dense fog, and some difficult or impassable roads that affected some effort and finding.
We had 5306 birds and 81 species plus 4 count week species. While our long-term average is higher, out of the past four years, we had the 2nd highest number of species (we had 90 in 2020), and the 2nd lowest number of birds (we had 4806 in 2021 when we had 70mph winds affecting effort and findability of birds).
Some interesting count observations:
1. Greater White-Fronted Goose count week bird on 12/12 in FCRP.
2. Blue-winged Teal reported by our team in FCRP on count day is a new count species. They noted it had been reported at the park a week or two earlier.
3. Yellow-throated Warbler in FCRP was found on count day and numerous times in count week, new species for the count.
4. Tennessee Warbler in FCRP was found during count week only by multiple birders, new to the count.
5. Winter Wren was found in FCRP during count week.
6. One area had a 'strange' Spotted/Eastern Towhee - maybe a hybrid.
7. New High Count for Mourning Doves at 58 birds, more than the number of Eurasian Collared Doves!
8. New High Count for American Pipits at 24, mostly in southern FCRP (Fountain Creek Regional Park) along the creek.
9. New High Count for Pine Siskins at 128, mostly in Clear Spring Ranch.
10. New High Count for Western Meadowlark at 260, the biggest groups on private property.
11. Some birds we found that we don't always get or are more rare (but not new) - Bewick's Wren (1), Marsh Wren (2), Lapland Longspur (1), Canyon Towhee (2), Swamp Sparrow (11), Scaled Quail (7), Harlan's Hawk (2), Prairie Falcon (1), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), Lewis's Woodpecker (2), Curve-billed Thrasher (4), Brown-headed Cowbird (1), Great-tailed Grackle (2), Eastern Bluebird (9), Intergrade Northern Flicker (1).
12. Our other count-week-only bird was Wood Duck - not rare, but hiding well on count day.
Diana Beatty
Fountain Creek CBC coordinator
El Paso County
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