[cobirds] CFO Convention: "Advanced Team"

Maggie Boswell, Todd Deininger and Tom Wilberding loaded up in my car for a weekend of birding in preparation for the CFO Convention in Trinidad http://cfobirds.org/convention/2012/index.htm   in four weeks.

 

We set off mid-morning on Friday and drove to Trinidad (less than 4 hours from Boulder) and upon arrival got in touch with Tim Crisler of Trinidad who is helping us with trip arrangements.  The five of us drove out to Mesa de Maya, about an hour east of town and host to three trips during the convention. 

 

We visited Cow Canyon which was already full of lots of breeding birds including Rock Wrens, Say’s and Eastern Phoebes and Canyon Towhees.  This is a mini version of Baca County’s Cottonwood Canyon, although with less water and fewer cottonwoods and oaks.

 

Nest we went on to ascend the top of the Mesa—we made it, but it was a bit of a challenge and we may not attempt it during the convention.  The Mesa top was mainly grassland rimmed with trees, primarily pinyon-juniper with a few ponderosa pines, along the escarpment.

 

Saturday we birded Trinidad Lake State Park pretty intensively finding lots of waterfowl including a pair of breeding-plumaged Common Loons on the lake itself.  Long’s Canyon, in the SW corner of the State Park, is a gem.  Although the wet lands of the area were pretty dry, the riparian area was really rewarding with a sharp male Hooded Warbler being the real treat.

 

In Trinidad we found good habitat along the river walk with lots of Yellow-rumps and Orange-crowned Warblers present.  We took a break to visit the Mitchell Museum, where the Convention banquet will be hosted, and to have lunch at the tasty Bella Luna in downtown.

 

Then on to Kim and Cottonwood Canyon which were great to explore.  Cottonwood had at least 4 Eastern Phoebes plus Ladderback Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Bewick’s Wren.  From there we headed north toward Las Animas finding Burrowing Owl, Long-billed Curlew and lots of Loggerhead Shrikes along the road.  Going east to Ft. Lyon, we had up to three Black Rails calling continuously along road JJ even though it was only 5:30 at night.

 

Today we headed out for Adobe Creek/Blue Lake first off.  On Road 10 heading into the SWA we had a Mountain Plover at 10 yards along the road plus a couple more Long-billed Curlews.  At the lake itself we had Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling among the 8 or 9 shorebird species.  Then on to Cheraw where there were a handful of Snowy Plovers along with a Semi-palmated Plover, Western Sandpiper and other peeps.  A Peregrine Falcon ruled the roost from the east side.  On north to Meredith (not much other than people) and Henry (a few Ibis and 3 Bonapartes Gulls) before the long ride home.

 

Bill Kaempfer

Boulder