[cobirds] Mississippi Kites and others at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Adams Co.

Hello all,

Today at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Adams Co., I saw at least five Mississippi Kites. The first one was seen at 9:20 AM, perched in a dead tree in the first cottonwood grove immediately east of the Havana Pond Trail parking lot, and was viewed closely from the Greenway Trail which goes east from the Havana Pond Trail and parallel to the road on the south side. The bird was still there at 9:44, when I left and walked south to the Havana Pond. As I returned along the trail, at about 10:40-10:45, there were 3 kites soaring over the grassland west of the Havana Pond Trail between the locust grove and the parking lot; the first bird was simultaneously seen perched in the original location. I walked east on the Greenway Trail and found the first bird still on the same perch, and a second bird was perched in a nearby dead tree. Both birds were still perched when I left at 11 AM. The perched birds were very tame, and never moved even as people passed by on the trail, some looking at and photographing the birds and others ignoring them. At about 11:10, as I prepared to leave the parking lot, I saw four kites in flight to the south, and one other bird perched. Thus there was a minimum of five birds. Mississippi Kites are known to nest colonially in the Great Plains (Birds of the World); perhaps a nesting colony is being established at the refuge. It would certainly be worthwhile to keep a watch over the next several weeks.

Other interesting sightings included a Great Egret at Havana Pond, single Red-headed Woodpeckers at Upper Derby and along the Wildlife Drive, and Common Nighthawk at Upper Derby. 

It was greatly surprising that I did not find any Lark Buntings or Grasshopper Sparrows along the Wildlife Drive, although I was carefully looking and listening for them. This was surprising in light of the numbers reported by Ted Floyd on 25 May. Perhaps it was the time of day (mid-afternoon), although it was only about 70^oF, and there was much singing by Western Meadowlarks and Lark Sparrows. The Lark Buntings are very hard to miss when present, and my hearing is good enough that I have no trouble hearing Grasshopper Sparrows when they sing. There were two Lark Buntings and a Cassin's Sparrow along the Bluestem Loop Trail, but again no Grasshopper Sparrows. Perhaps the birds are still just moving through?

eBird checklists:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S243673783

https://ebird.org/checklist/S243675814

Bob Andrews

Yekepa, Liberia, West Africa

Currently in Centennial, Arapahoe Co.