Birders:
Despite a start with new snow on the ground, I had an enjoyable morning of banding Wed at Clear Springs Ranch (CSR)*.
I warmed up quickly and there was little wind!
The list:
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow (GWCS) - 4, + 3 recaps
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1
Song Sparrow – 1, + 1 recap
Species 3
Birds processed – 10
Other sightings:
In between net runs, I was lucky to observe closely a flock of 30 White-crowned Sparrow. 22 had bands; 12 on left leg (which means they were banded in 2011, 2009, or earlier odd numbered year); 10 on right leg, which means banded in 2010, 2008 or earlier even numbered year. Of the 12 left leg banded birds, 6 were After Second Year, and 6 were Second Year (SY) birds, some of whose crowns were starting to molt into the first formative (adult) plumage. Two of my three recap GWCS were SY birds molting in new adult crowns. I took some pix of each to show how the molt was progressing.
A huge flock of Wild Turkey, more than 24, with 3 or 4 gobblers strutting around like peacocks.
A flyover of six ibis.
Flyovers of at least 30 Ring-billed Gull.
The wild plums (Prunus americana) were starting to bloom, and the Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) were leafing out.
A pair of kestrels and a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks appeared to be staking out territories.
List of birds seen:
American Crow
American Kestrel
American Robin
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Common Grackle
Eurasian Collared-Dove
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Greater Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Wild Turkey
20 species
Good birding to you.
Dave
David M Elwonger
Master Bird Bander and Naturalist
Who roosts at 8500' near Woodland Park CO
*Clear Springs Ranch is an area about 10 miles south of Colorado Springs, at I-25 exit
123, that is managed by Colorado Springs Utilities. Signs direct to parking area.
It is open (walk-in only) to the general public.
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