Hi all,
Kathy Mimm-Dunning, Glenn Walbek, Loch Kilpatrick & I did a tour of Southern & Southeastern Colorado on Thursday, May 24. A highlight was Hepatic Tanager on County Road 310 near Walsenburg, Huerfano Co, where we began our day. It was initially a bit skulky, but eventually perching up and singing, giving excellent views for all. This is, of course, was one of the birds found at the recent CFO convention. Other birds of note along the same road included a male Indigo Bunting seen well by all, a fairly cooperative Gray Flycatcher, and great looks at Ash-throated Flycatchers & Cassin's Kingbirds. Great birdy road! Most of us saw a Ladder-backed Woodpecker (poorly seen by me), which was missed by one who didn't believe in its existence. We also had an identifiable Chihuahuan Raven, a millennium species for me--not that I seriously have been pursuing that list.
From there, we headed toward Aguilar, Las Animas, Co, then took a series of back roads back up into Huerfano Co. We had wonderful looks at one of at least three Grace's Warblers. Again, I believe these were found at the CFO convention. I'm afraid I lost more than a little popularity with at least some of my companions when I said it was nice, but not as attractive a species as Yellow-throated Warbler. This caused the first comment (of more to come) about my walking back home! Other birds of interest included great looks at Plumbeous Vireos (a definitely under-rated bird!), Black-headed Grosbeaks, Mountain & Western Bluebirds, and much better looks than before at Gray Flycatchers.
We returned to Las Animas County and headed east, then north. We initially passed through some grassland with lots of Lark Buntings, a species I never tire of seeing. I always think Colorado showed exquisite taste in picking it for a state bird, even if it doesn't spend the whole year in the state. I'm sorry to have to report my companions, while not actually disparaging them, showed less enthusiasm. We had several more identifiable Chihuahuan Ravens, both here and later. Eventually we got into some nice canyon habitat and found a couple of Juniper Titmice (state bird for me) and three more Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, the final one seen by all.
For those interested in a more complete species list, Glenn has posted all these to eBird. (Minus the first Ladder-backed Woodpecker.)
We returned to the Denver metro area via Otero & Pueblo Counties. A few more personal highlights (definitely not all shared by my companions) included adding Eurasian Collared-Dove to at least 3 new Colorado county lists: Pueblo, Las Animas & Huerfano (I think this is where Kathy told Glenn he had weird friends); great looks at Mississippi Kites in La Junta (Otero), thanks to Glenn's efforts in response to my expressed desire to see this species in Colorado; a White-winged Dove in Rocky Ford (Otero). It looks as though I added 13 species to my Colorado list--this is probably better than I've done in a single day since 1999 on my first birding visit to your great state. Already looking forward to the next one. To my surprise, especially after the oft-repeated "you're walking home" comments, my companions expressed willingness to take me out again, on another visit, at the end of the day. I'd like to thank them for their response to my often quirky comments and their hospitality for taking me along. Awesome day!
Cheers,
Rob Parsons
Winnipeg, MB
CANADA
parsons8@mymts.net
but temporarily in Arapahoe County for a few more hours
Kathy Mimm-Dunning, Glenn Walbek, Loch Kilpatrick & I did a tour of Southern & Southeastern Colorado on Thursday, May 24. A highlight was Hepatic Tanager on County Road 310 near Walsenburg, Huerfano Co, where we began our day. It was initially a bit skulky, but eventually perching up and singing, giving excellent views for all. This is, of course, was one of the birds found at the recent CFO convention. Other birds of note along the same road included a male Indigo Bunting seen well by all, a fairly cooperative Gray Flycatcher, and great looks at Ash-throated Flycatchers & Cassin's Kingbirds. Great birdy road! Most of us saw a Ladder-backed Woodpecker (poorly seen by me), which was missed by one who didn't believe in its existence. We also had an identifiable Chihuahuan Raven, a millennium species for me--not that I seriously have been pursuing that list.
From there, we headed toward Aguilar, Las Animas, Co, then took a series of back roads back up into Huerfano Co. We had wonderful looks at one of at least three Grace's Warblers. Again, I believe these were found at the CFO convention. I'm afraid I lost more than a little popularity with at least some of my companions when I said it was nice, but not as attractive a species as Yellow-throated Warbler. This caused the first comment (of more to come) about my walking back home! Other birds of interest included great looks at Plumbeous Vireos (a definitely under-rated bird!), Black-headed Grosbeaks, Mountain & Western Bluebirds, and much better looks than before at Gray Flycatchers.
We returned to Las Animas County and headed east, then north. We initially passed through some grassland with lots of Lark Buntings, a species I never tire of seeing. I always think Colorado showed exquisite taste in picking it for a state bird, even if it doesn't spend the whole year in the state. I'm sorry to have to report my companions, while not actually disparaging them, showed less enthusiasm. We had several more identifiable Chihuahuan Ravens, both here and later. Eventually we got into some nice canyon habitat and found a couple of Juniper Titmice (state bird for me) and three more Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, the final one seen by all.
For those interested in a more complete species list, Glenn has posted all these to eBird. (Minus the first Ladder-backed Woodpecker.)
We returned to the Denver metro area via Otero & Pueblo Counties. A few more personal highlights (definitely not all shared by my companions) included adding Eurasian Collared-Dove to at least 3 new Colorado county lists: Pueblo, Las Animas & Huerfano (I think this is where Kathy told Glenn he had weird friends); great looks at Mississippi Kites in La Junta (Otero), thanks to Glenn's efforts in response to my expressed desire to see this species in Colorado; a White-winged Dove in Rocky Ford (Otero). It looks as though I added 13 species to my Colorado list--this is probably better than I've done in a single day since 1999 on my first birding visit to your great state. Already looking forward to the next one. To my surprise, especially after the oft-repeated "you're walking home" comments, my companions expressed willingness to take me out again, on another visit, at the end of the day. I'd like to thank them for their response to my often quirky comments and their hospitality for taking me along. Awesome day!
Cheers,
Rob Parsons
Winnipeg, MB
CANADA
parsons8@mymts.net
but temporarily in Arapahoe County for a few more hours
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