Date: 7/8/26 11:19 am From: 'Linda Andes-Georges' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] E. Bluebird mystery in several chapters; setting prairie shortgrass ecosystem (Bldr Cnty)
Hello to all the bluebird lovers. I need specialized help solving this puzzlement (calling bluebird monitors like Carol McC!):
On June 24 I began to be aware of bluebird singing and ID'd it as Eastern thanks to learning the song years ago from Christian Nunes. I was excited: We have never had a bluebird of ANY kind here-- didn't even have them on our yardlist. This one was (trumpets!) species #128.
June 25 I realized that although the bird was singing all over the general area, he was favoring our yard. Jean-Pierre got some decent photos, I got an adquate recording. We were increasingly intrigued.
June 26 In the morning I happened to notice the little singer had a female companion. She inspected a swallow nestbox very briefly (less than a minute); then exited and flew away. Not to be seen again (by now I was paying close attention to all this) for 2 days. However when I inspected the nestbox that evening, there was already one small blue egg inside!
June 27 highly motivated, I was keeping a sharp lookout from this day on. No female but the male was singing up a storm (beautiful song).
June 28 another extremely brief sighting of a female.
June 29 early a.m. I checked the nestbox. There were now 2 eggs. But no more female this day, that I could see. Male singing a bit less.
June 30 ditto
July 1 ditto; male really ranging further abroad and not singing much in the yard
July 2 -3 ditto; by now I was thinking that the "ghost" female was a very immature or exhausted (from a previous brood) mom
July 4 hardly glimpsed the male at all
July 5 ditto
July 6 the male sat on nearby fence a while; no views of female
July 7 checked the nestbox in the evening; there were now 3 matching eggs, all somewhat warm.
July 8 observing nestbox obsessively. No views of male or female before 1 pm when I became busy.
?????
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Date: 7/5/26 7:16 am From: Mary Kay Waddington <waddingtonmk...> Subject: [cobirds] Western Warbling Vireo Custer County
About a month ago I wrote bemoaning the fact that Merlin was not recognizing Western Warbling Vireos in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos.
Well I finally figured it out. Updated my Merlin and now it's finally recognizing that the forest is full of Western Warbling Vireos!
So anyone out there who has been experiencing Warbling Vireo issues (or any other Merlin issue) -- go to your app store and update!
Mary Kay Waddington
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Date: 7/1/26 5:47 pm From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: [cobirds] Next BIRD BOMBS July 9 Summer Hummer Celebration!
Hi CoBirders,
Register now for DFO's *BIRD BOMBS: Summer Hummer Celebration!* <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_79vkpUjfTquYhSsgQKwAeQ?ampDeviceId=5585655f-94c1-4415-ae#/registration>, set to explode on *Thurday July 9*. This free webinar is just in time for the arrival of Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds, as Colorado's Hummer Summr heats up. Identification of our hummers is a perennial challenge we look forward to each summer. BIRD BOMBS will offer a helpful look at identification of challenges with Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope and Blac-chinned hummers.
*Denver Field Ornitholgists also offers a series of field trips to observe four species of summer hummers.* Check out the trips with the Summer Hummer icon on our *DFO Field Trip Calendar* <https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/UpcomingTrips.aspx>. And more hummer opportunties will be added. All DFO field trips have free registration and are open to all.
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Date: 7/1/26 5:43 pm From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: [cobirds] Habitat Blast: Alpine Living available to view
The video of DFO's June 25th *BIRD BOMBS Habitat Blast: Alpine Living <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSgh2DG2IK8>* is available for viewing. Learn about the bird communities of Colorado's subalpine forest and alpine zones.
David suddjian Littleton, CO
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The bobolinks have returned for another year to the open space south and east of the junction of South Boulder and Cherryvale Roads in Boulder County. Several males were present this afternoon (June 28) at 5:05 p.m. offering good views in flight and perched near the road. As always, beware of the roadside vegetation - poison ivy is abundant in this area. But friendlier flora can also be found as Utes Lady Tresses bloom here later in the summer.
Bob Fiehweg and Robin Byers Boulder
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Date: 6/28/26 3:06 pm From: 'Linda Andes-Georges' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] frozen thrush specimen; and Eastern Bluebird
Hi folks --
If anyone makes regular trips to the Denver Museum NS and would be willing to ferry a frozen little corpse to the staff there, I'd appreciate it. (The C.U. Museum is closed for the summer). I don't drive to Denver any more. I have a beautiful little Swainson's Thrush (frozen) to "donate." It's seems to be always the mountain birds that make the fatal mistake of seeing only the blue sky in a glass window, despite our strings of beads and bird profiles as warnings.
On a happier note, after 22 years we finally have a bluebird in the yard; it's an Eastern, not a Mountain. It keeps checking out one of the old swallow nestboxes but this afternoon is singing up the hill as though no female has yet appeared. It seems very late. Possible early nest failure, or deceased mate?? Or 2nd brood?
Linda
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This is a common foraging behavior for Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (and
perhaps others) -- feeding on insects over ponds and streams. I've observed
females doing this most often. They are really good at it and in certain
conditions they do a lot of it, so it seems to work well as a foraging
strategy. It is, as you say, remarkable to watch.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
On Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 8:44 PM 'Ron Bolton' via Colorado Birds <
<cobirds...> wrote:
> I was streamside at the St Vrain River, which was running quite strongly.
> I observed a hummingbird perhaps hawking for insects on the wing over the
> stream surface.
> Intuitively this seems like an inefficient way to get calories. But it was
> remarkable to observe.
>
> Comments?
> Ron Bolton
> Berthoud.
>
>
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I was streamside at the St Vrain River, which was running quite strongly. I observed a hummingbird perhaps hawking for insects on the wing over the stream surface. Intuitively this seems like an inefficient way to get calories. But it was remarkable to observe.
Comments? Ron Bolton Berthoud.
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Date: 6/26/26 5:25 pm From: Diana Beatty <otowi33.33...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] BBS route summary in SE El Paso County
Marty,
My BBS starts in Rush and goes south in Lincoln County to about the Crowley
line.
Like yours, it had few Lark Buntings this year after great numbers last
year. And this year I saw new Prairie Dog colonies and record numbers of
Burrowing Owls.
I did have a few Grasshopper Sparrows. I had more Lark Sparrows and House
Sparrows than usual.
Diana Beatty
El Paso County
******
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said
*Gandalf*, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for
them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is
given us.”
On Fri, Jun 26, 2026, 5:44 PM Marty <wolfmartinc...> wrote:
> Greetings, Cobirders,
>
> I ran my Breeding Bird Survey route in the very SE corner of El Paso
> County (well east of Chico Basin) last Friday (6/19) for the 13th year, and
> wanted to share its status & results a bit for those interested.
>
> I suspect the area has gotten some precipitation since then, but it was
> quite dry the 18th & 19th--tho not the driest I've seen it in mid/late
> June. One rancher I spoke with said they'd have to sell off cattle before
> long if rains don't come so they can plant feed crops, since they couldn't
> afford to continue buying feed. Also, of course, the air was quite
> hazy/smoky from the UT/NM fires--it was difficult to make out Pikes Peak,
> Cheyenne Mtn, & Rampart Range, which normally is not the case.
>
> This route generally has a half-dozen or so plowed or newly planted fields
> along it, interspersed with the short-grass prairie (& grazing
> cattle--including some open range), but not a single field had even been
> plowed this year... hence not a single Mountain Plover detected. There have
> been 5 other years with no plovers on count day, but as many as 12 and 13
> spotted in other years (2021 & 2025). I know folks were seeing them out
> there early this spring (possibly further west, along/off of
> Hanover?)--maybe it was greener there/then, or any in the area of my route
> decided to move along to breed in better pastures.
>
> Numbers of Horned Lark, Cassin Sparrow, and Lark Bunting were below
> average for my tenure since 2013; not a single Grasshopper or Brewer
> Sparrow. At 22, the number of species was my lowest (but tied the previous
> surveyor's species count in 2011. [2025 had my highest species count at
> 36]). The total individuals observed this year was my 3rd lowest at 404 (my
> highest was in 2018, at 539).
>
> On the brighter side, numbers of Scaled Quail, Burrowing Owl, and
> Loggerhead Shrike were above average--9, 15, and 10, respectively (as were
> House Sparrow & House Finch). Also, on the 18th while scouting I had two
> Canyon Towhee, an unexpected new species for the route.
>
> Interestingly, when I was at the first Stop on the 18th to scout things
> out, an Xcel employee pulled up in one of their pickups, asking if I was
> OK, and when he saw my binoculars & camera and heard I was doing my annual
> June bird survey he expressed concern for my safety. He said Xcel was
> underway with layout & construction (& also doing bird & wildlife surveys
> for Environmental Impact analyses) for that #5 segment of their Colorado's
> Power Pathway (transmission lines especially for future solar and wind
> power)--but said that many local folks weren't too happy about it--and they
> might assume I was with Xcel. He said their crews actually have security
> travelling with them for protection.
>
> Here are some pics from the 2 days (first 4 from scouting on the 18th;
> next 4 from count day the 19th).
>
> [image: IMG_3000ce.jpg]
> [image: IMG_2994ce.jpg]
> [image: IMG_3001be.jpg]
>
> ...looking west past the parched prairie toward the Peak--not as clear as
> normal.
> [image: IMG_3009be.jpg]
>
> Count day--
> [image: IMG_3032e.jpg]
>
> ...there's the Peak...?
> [image: IMG_3035e.jpg]
> [image: IMG_3044e.jpg]
> 5 owls in this shot (6 were present):
> [image: IMG_3048ce.jpg]
>
> Curious to hear from other BBS-ers.
>
> Marty Wolf,
> NW CO Spgs
>
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Date: 6/26/26 4:44 pm From: Marty <wolfmartinc...> Subject: [cobirds] BBS route summary in SE El Paso County
Greetings, Cobirders,
I ran my Breeding Bird Survey route in the very SE corner of El Paso County (well east of Chico Basin) last Friday (6/19) for the 13th year, and wanted to share its status & results a bit for those interested.
I suspect the area has gotten some precipitation since then, but it was quite dry the 18th & 19th--tho not the driest I've seen it in mid/late June. One rancher I spoke with said they'd have to sell off cattle before long if rains don't come so they can plant feed crops, since they couldn't afford to continue buying feed. Also, of course, the air was quite hazy/smoky from the UT/NM fires--it was difficult to make out Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mtn, & Rampart Range, which normally is not the case.
This route generally has a half-dozen or so plowed or newly planted fields along it, interspersed with the short-grass prairie (& grazing cattle--including some open range), but not a single field had even been plowed this year... hence not a single Mountain Plover detected. There have been 5 other years with no plovers on count day, but as many as 12 and 13 spotted in other years (2021 & 2025). I know folks were seeing them out there early this spring (possibly further west, along/off of Hanover?)--maybe it was greener there/then, or any in the area of my route decided to move along to breed in better pastures.
Numbers of Horned Lark, Cassin Sparrow, and Lark Bunting were below average for my tenure since 2013; not a single Grasshopper or Brewer Sparrow. At 22, the number of species was my lowest (but tied the previous surveyor's species count in 2011. [2025 had my highest species count at 36]). The total individuals observed this year was my 3rd lowest at 404 (my highest was in 2018, at 539).
On the brighter side, numbers of Scaled Quail, Burrowing Owl, and Loggerhead Shrike were above average--9, 15, and 10, respectively (as were House Sparrow & House Finch). Also, on the 18th while scouting I had two Canyon Towhee, an unexpected new species for the route.
Interestingly, when I was at the first Stop on the 18th to scout things out, an Xcel employee pulled up in one of their pickups, asking if I was OK, and when he saw my binoculars & camera and heard I was doing my annual June bird survey he expressed concern for my safety. He said Xcel was underway with layout & construction (& also doing bird & wildlife surveys for Environmental Impact analyses) for that #5 segment of their Colorado's Power Pathway (transmission lines especially for future solar and wind power)--but said that many local folks weren't too happy about it--and they might assume I was with Xcel. He said their crews actually have security travelling with them for protection.
Here are some pics from the 2 days (first 4 from scouting on the 18th; next 4 from count day the 19th).
...looking west past the parched prairie toward the Peak--not as clear as normal. [image: IMG_3009be.jpg]
Count day-- [image: IMG_3032e.jpg]
...there's the Peak...? [image: IMG_3035e.jpg] [image: IMG_3044e.jpg] 5 owls in this shot (6 were present): [image: IMG_3048ce.jpg]
Curious to hear from other BBS-ers.
Marty Wolf, NW CO Spgs
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Date: 6/26/26 6:40 am From: 'Linda' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Digest for - 4 updates in 1 topic
Great "haul!" I can almost smell the mountain air.
Linda
> On Jun 26, 2026, at 07:13, <cobirds...> wrote:
>
> <cobirds...> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/topics> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> Google Groups <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> > Topic digest <>
> View all topics <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/topics> > Wild Basin - RMNP <x-msg://2/#group_thread_0> - 4 Updates
> Wild Basin - RMNP <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/252a455fbb82e617?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > John Tumasonis <snakemonev...>: Jun 25 09:53AM -0700
>
> All:
> Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain
> National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in
> June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to
> 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but
> you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy
> with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if
> going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow
> marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole
> pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main
> trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging
> through marshes.
>
> Pardon my spelling and grammar.
>
> Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow
> marshes\
>
> Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
>
> Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm
> calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest
> site.
>
> Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
>
> MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
>
> Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
>
> Wilson's Warbler - 11
>
> Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead)
> snag
>
> Northern Flicker - 2
>
> Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
>
> Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped
> sapsucker
>
> Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being
> attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
>
> Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
>
> Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
>
> Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
>
> Brown Creeper - 1
>
> White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
>
> Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
>
> Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
>
> American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
>
> Townsend's Solitaire -2
>
> Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
>
> American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
>
> Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
>
> Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
>
> Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
>
> Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
>
> Fox Sparrow - 2 singing - in marshes
>
> Violet Green Swallow - 16
>
> Pine Siskin - 15 - flyovers, calling
>
> Mountain Chickadee - 6
>
> Black Capped Chickadee - 4
>
> Gray Headed Junco - 15 - nesting, foraging, songs, calls
>
> Chipping Sparrow - 2
>
> Warbling Vireo - 15
>
> Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were dozens
> of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western Tanagers, all
> flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
>
>
> Mammals:
> Moose - 2
> Pine Squirrel - 6
> Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel - 2
> Chipmunk spp: 2
> Mule Deer - 1
>
> Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine,
> Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold,
> Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow,
> Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry,
> Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner,
> Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes,
> Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and
> dozens of others.
>
> John T (Tumasonis)
> "I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
> Buzz Schaumberg <egseagle171...>: Jun 25 05:03PM
>
> Love it!
>
>
> Sent from the all new Aol app for iOS
> Buzz Schaumberg
>
> On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:53 AM, John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> wrote:
>
> All: Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging through marshes.
> Pardon my spelling and grammar.
> Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow marshes\
> Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
> Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest site.
> Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
> MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
> Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
> Wilson's Warbler - 11
> Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead) snag
> Northern Flicker - 2
> Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
> Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped sapsucker
> Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
> Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
> Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
> Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
> Brown Creeper - 1
> White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
> Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
> Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
> American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
> Townsend's Solitaire -2
> Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
> American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
> Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
> Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
> Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
> Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
> Fox Sparrow - 2 singing - in marshes
> Violet Green Swallow - 16
> Pine Siskin - 15 - flyovers, calling
> Mountain Chickadee - 6
> Black Capped Chickadee - 4
> Gray Headed Junco - 15 - nesting, foraging, songs, calls
> Chipping Sparrow - 2
> Warbling Vireo - 15
> Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were dozens of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western Tanagers, all flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
>
> Mammals: Moose - 2Pine Squirrel - 6Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel - 2Chipmunk spp: 2Mule Deer - 1
> Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine, Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold, Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow, Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry, Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner, Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes, Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and dozens of others.
> John T (Tumasonis)"I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
>
> --
> --
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> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<91339802-0595-4ec5-9814-34d92afec775n...> > Jon Webb <cordillerasales...>: Jun 25 12:06PM -0600
>
> Hey John, great list… thanks for posting. Surprised no Kinglets!?
>
> Jon Webb
> Lyons, CO
>
>
>
>
>
> John Tumasonis <snakemonev...>: Jun 25 12:34PM -0700
>
> Ack! Of course there were kinglets - 18 of them. And 4 red winged
> blackbirds. And 4 cedar waxwings. And 1 hermit thrush. - I lost my
> notebook, and then I lost my mind. :) !
>
> John T
>
> On Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 12:06:27 PM UTC-6 Jon Webb wrote:
>
> Back to top <x-msg://2/#digest_top>
> You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/join>.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:cobirds+<unsubscribe...>.
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Ack! Of course there were kinglets - 18 of them. And 4 red winged
blackbirds. And 4 cedar waxwings. And 1 hermit thrush. - I lost my
notebook, and then I lost my mind. :) !
John T
On Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 12:06:27 PM UTC-6 Jon Webb wrote:
> Hey John, great list… thanks for posting. Surprised no Kinglets!?
>
> Jon Webb
> Lyons, CO
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 25, 2026, at 11:03 AM, 'Buzz Schaumberg' via Colorado Birds <
> <cob......> wrote:
>
> Love it!
>
>
> Sent from the all new Aol app for iOS
> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661> > Buzz Schaumberg
>
> On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:53 AM, John Tumasonis <snake......>
> wrote:
>
> All:
> Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain
> National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in
> June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to
> 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but
> you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy
> with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if
> going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow
> marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole
> pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main
> trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging
> through marshes.
>
> Pardon my spelling and grammar.
>
> Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow
> marshes\
>
> Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
>
> Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm
> calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest
> site.
>
> Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
>
> MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
>
> Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
>
> Wilson's Warbler - 11
>
> Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead)
> snag
>
> Northern Flicker - 2
>
> Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
>
> Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped
> sapsucker
>
> Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being
> attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
>
> Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
>
> Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
>
> Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
>
> Brown Creeper - 1
>
> White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
>
> Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
>
> Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
>
> American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
>
> Townsend's Solitaire -2
>
> Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
>
> American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
>
> Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
>
> Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
>
> Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
>
> Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
>
> Fox Sparrow - 2 singing - in marshes
>
> Violet Green Swallow - 16
>
> Pine Siskin - 15 - flyovers, calling
>
> Mountain Chickadee - 6
>
> Black Capped Chickadee - 4
>
> Gray Headed Junco - 15 - nesting, foraging, songs, calls
>
> Chipping Sparrow - 2
>
> Warbling Vireo - 15
>
> Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were
> dozens of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western
> Tanagers, all flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
>
>
> Mammals:
> Moose - 2
> Pine Squirrel - 6
> Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel - 2
> Chipmunk spp: 2
> Mule Deer - 1
>
> Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine,
> Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold,
> Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow,
> Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry,
> Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner,
> Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes,
> Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and
> dozens of others.
>
> John T (Tumasonis)
> "I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cob......>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include
> bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to cobirds+<u......>
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>
>
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> bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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Date: 6/25/26 11:06 am From: Jon Webb <cordillerasales...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Wild Basin - RMNP
Hey John, great list… thanks for posting. Surprised no Kinglets!?
Jon Webb
Lyons, CO
> On Jun 25, 2026, at 11:03 AM, 'Buzz Schaumberg' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> wrote:
>
> Love it!
>
>
> Sent from the all new Aol app for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661> > Buzz Schaumberg
>
> On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:53 AM, John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> wrote:
>
> All:
> Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging through marshes.
>
> Pardon my spelling and grammar.
>
> Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow marshes\
>
> Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
>
> Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest site.
>
> Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
>
> MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
>
> Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
>
> Wilson's Warbler - 11
>
> Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead) snag
>
> Northern Flicker - 2
>
> Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
>
> Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped sapsucker
>
> Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
>
> Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
>
> Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
>
> Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
>
> Brown Creeper - 1
>
> White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
>
> Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
>
> Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
>
> American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
>
> Townsend's Solitaire -2
>
> Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
>
> American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
>
> Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
>
> Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
>
> Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
>
> Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
>
> Fox Sparrow - 2 singing - in marshes
>
> Violet Green Swallow - 16
>
> Pine Siskin - 15 - flyovers, calling
>
> Mountain Chickadee - 6
>
> Black Capped Chickadee - 4
>
> Gray Headed Junco - 15 - nesting, foraging, songs, calls
>
> Chipping Sparrow - 2
>
> Warbling Vireo - 15
>
> Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were dozens of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western Tanagers, all flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
>
>
> Mammals:
> Moose - 2
> Pine Squirrel - 6
> Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel - 2
> Chipmunk spp: 2
> Mule Deer - 1
>
> Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine, Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold, Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow, Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry, Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner, Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes, Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and dozens of others.
>
> John T (Tumasonis)
> "I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ > ---
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:cobirds+<unsubscribe...>.
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>
> --
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Date: 6/25/26 10:03 am From: 'Buzz Schaumberg' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Wild Basin - RMNP
Love it!
Sent from the all new Aol app for iOS
Buzz Schaumberg
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:53 AM, John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> wrote:
All: Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging through marshes.
Pardon my spelling and grammar.
Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow marshes\
Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest site.
Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
Wilson's Warbler - 11
Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead) snag
Northern Flicker - 2
Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped sapsucker
Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
Brown Creeper - 1
White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
Townsend's Solitaire -2
Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
Fox Sparrow - 2 singing - in marshes
Violet Green Swallow - 16
Pine Siskin - 15 - flyovers, calling
Mountain Chickadee - 6
Black Capped Chickadee - 4
Gray Headed Junco - 15 - nesting, foraging, songs, calls
Chipping Sparrow - 2
Warbling Vireo - 15
Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were dozens of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western Tanagers, all flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
Mammals: Moose - 2Pine Squirrel - 6Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel - 2Chipmunk spp: 2Mule Deer - 1
Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine, Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold, Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow, Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry, Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner, Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes, Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and dozens of others.
John T (Tumasonis)"I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
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Date: 6/25/26 9:54 am From: John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> Subject: [cobirds] Wild Basin - RMNP
All: Some birding and wildflowers at Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, over the last couple weeks. Compiled from three visits in June. Note: requires a Timed Entry Permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you get there before 9 a.m. you don't need a timed permit, but you will still need your "regular" pass, or pay at gate. The road is bumpy with some potholes, but a a passenger car can make it to the trailhead if going slowly. I broke this down into three sections: the "willow marshes" from Copeland Lake to the Winter Gate; the Ponderosa \ Lodgepole pine forests from the Winter Gate to the main trailhead; and the main trailhead up past Calypso Cascades. Got my boots and feet muddy trudging through marshes.
Pardon my spelling and grammar.
Great Blue Heron - 2 - one at Copeland Lake, the other in the willow marshes\
Spotted Sandpiper - 4 - at two separate ponds.
Wilson's Snipe - 8 - willow marshes; several winnowing displays, alarm calls, and one doing the "broken wing trick" to lure me away from a nest site.
Mallard - 2 at Copeland Lake
MacGillivray's Warbler - 6
Audubon's Warbler - 21 males and females
Wilson's Warbler - 11
Williamson's Sapsucker - 1 male, foraging on a huge ponderosa pine (dead) snag
Northern Flicker - 2
Red Napped Sapsucker - 1 male
Three Toed Woodpecker - 1 male chased off a Douglas fir by a red napped sapsucker
Dusky Flycatcher - 8 - in willow thickets and marsh habitats - one being attacked by a broad tailed hummingbird
Cordilleran Flycatcher - only 1 at the entrance station
Hammond's Flycatcher - 4 in mixed evergreen habitat
Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 14
Brown Creeper - 1
White Breasted Nuthatch - 2
Red Breasted Nuthatch - 6
Pygmy Nuthatch - 6
American Robin - 40+ - the predominant species
Townsend's Solitaire -2
Clark's Nutcracker - 2 flyovers, calling
American Dipper - 4 - at footbridge crossing and at Copeland Falls
Black Headed Grosbeak - 4 - males and females; one nest site found
Western Tanager - 10 - males and females collecting insects
Lincoln's Sparrow - 12 - songs, chases; in willow marshes
Song Sparrow - 12 singing, foraging in willow marshes
Note: At the winter parking area and road-creek crossing there were dozens of robins, warbling vireos, Audubon's warblers, and Western Tanagers, all flycatching insects over the creek and surrounding forests.
Flowers were scant, but many species: Stonecrop, Blue Columbine, Baneberry, Sulphurflower, Heart Leaf Arnica, Globeflower, Marsh Marigold, Shooting Star, Elephantshead, Spotted Coralroot, Geyer's Onion, Yarrow, Mouse-Ear, Dandelion, Boulder Raspberry, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry, Ninebark, Chokecherry, Cinquifoil spp; Wild Geranium, Goldenbanner, Mountain Lupine, Groundsel spp; Mountain Violet, Pussytoes, Pearlyeverlasting, Mountain Ash, Red Elderberry, Blue Clementis, and dozens of others.
John T (Tumasonis) "I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
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Date: 6/24/26 4:19 pm From: Robert Righter <rorighter...> Subject: [cobirds] Birding while using AI
While bird watching in the Pacific North West I’m always impressed by how few song birds are detected. The habitats are stunningly lush and beautiful. Recently while in the Trinidad-Humboldt region of Northern California I asked ChatGPT what is going on with the birds? Paraphrasing ChatGPT replied …During the last ice age much of the Pacific Northwest was smothered by glaciers that over time would retreat then then advance, thus forcing plants and animals to be pushed further south. When the ice age finally melted for good some bird species returned but there was now less geologic time for birds to diversify. Further hindering diversification where the impeding Cascade Mountains. Also conifers became the dominating habitat for the region which was good for some types of birds but discouraging for most.
Wow, how was that for an enriching answer for a complicated question!!
Any one else using AI while birding ?
Bob Righter
Denver CO
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Date: 6/23/26 3:39 pm From: Patrick O'Driscoll <patodrisk...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Swan goose or hybrid
Ginger --
I'm not an expert on this, but from the photos I've seen online of Swan
Geese, their bills appear longer and a bit more swan-like than this one's.
Hybridization with Graylag or some form of domestic/barnyard goose seems
likely.
Since 2009, Denver City Park has had a resident Graylag hybrid (actually
two of them until one died several years ago) that an eBird reviewer
advised me some years ago was likely a Graylag X Swan Goose hybrid.
I've been checklisting it as such on eBird ever since that reviewer note.
That bird -- known to City Parkers as "Gandalf" (brother to the
now-deceased "Randolph") -- is a lot like this one, except he has a
prominent bill as orange as the feet, not darker like this one.
Also, his bill is large but not as elongated ast the Swan Goose photos I've
seen online.
For what it's worth and comparisons, here's Gandalf last
February in City Park's Duck Lake:
[image: 2026 - FEB7 - DUCKLAKE - GANDALF GRAYLAG X SWAN GOOSE.JPG]
Patrick O'Driscoll
Denver
On Tue, Jun 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM '<ginger-o...>' via Colorado Birds <
<cobirds...> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I saw this bird on the Platte River near 88th, hanging out with a bunch of
> Canada geese. Merlin says Swan Goose but a friend thought maybe a
> Graylag/Swan Goose hybrid. Any thoughts? Sorry for the photo quality. I
> only had my phone with me.
>
> Ginger
>
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Date: 6/23/26 3:13 pm From: '<ginger-o...>' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Swan goose or hybrid
Hi Everyone,
I saw this bird on the Platte River near 88th, hanging out with a bunch of Canada geese. Merlin says Swan Goose but a friend thought maybe a Graylag/Swan Goose hybrid. Any thoughts? Sorry for the photo quality. I only had my phone with me.
Ginger
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Date: 6/22/26 8:39 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests
Over the past week I have had the good fortune to find two Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests.
The first one is in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins. I noticed a female making repeated visits to a little cement vehicle bridge over the New Mercer Ditch near the entrance to the Cemetery Shop (which is 150 yards south of the rock Cemetery Office at the west terminus of Mountain Avenue). Barn Swallows nest under this bridge. Maybe the hummer was after feathers swallows use for nest liner, but it's more likely the attraction for the hummer was spider webs. Each of the 15 or so visits I witnessed involved a hover next to the bridge, then a dash into the dark underside of the bridge over the ditch water for 10-15 seconds, and then a quick exit out the opposite side from where it entered. The exit flight was always in the same direction. In the past almost all of the 30+ nests I have found at Grandview Cemetery have been on the lower branches of big Colorado blue spruce trees. I checked the nearest spruce along the vector the hummer went after bridge visits. Nothing. Then I went across a broad open area to more spruce trees on the same vector and found the nest. It was what I would call half-built on 6/18 (left photo below). The cup had enough definition for her to sit in it, spin around and shape, and it was somewhat decorated on the outside with spruce bark flakes and bits of lichens. The foundation of the nest appeared to be mostly what I think is bright white spider webbing (with a few American elm seeds embedded by the wind prior to the hummingbird's procurement). Also, a few dandelion seeds were recognizable.
On 6/21 the nest was basically complete, with much greater depth and exterior decorating (below right). You can tell by the web debris on her beak she is still "knitting" the interior of the cup into a final configuration she likes. I do not know if she had laid eggs on 6/21, but if not, that act is imminent. If this nest is like others, she will liven up her two weeks of what must be boring incubation with continued additions to the nest exterior of a tile here and a bit of color there. This has always seemed to me a futile attempt to improve on perfection. And once the eggs hatch, mamma's labors intensify considerably. She must feed the two nestlings, feed herself, defend/shield her progeny from heat, rain, sprinklers, incoming golf balls, fox squirrels, Blue Jays, etc. Egg hatch also marks the onset of nest deterioration. During their approximately two week-long nestling period, the young will grow, thrash around, completely fill the expandable nest to the exclusion of Mom (about half way thru the nestling period she will have to perch next to the nest to feed them). On fledging day, most nests are reduced to throw rugs with no chance for refurbishing and reuse next year.
[cid:<image001.jpg...>] [cid:<image002.jpg...>]
The second nest discovered lately is in lower Rist Canyon west of Fort Collins. It is in an area I have been visiting for over 50 years to collect insects for the Gillette Museum at Colorado State University. On 6/17 I walked past a 5-foot tall Douglas-fir that will be part of the next forest on a north-facing slope at present mostly devoid of big trees due to bark beetle outbreaks in both pine and Douglas-fir and the High Park Fire of 2012. Out of the little tree burst a female hummingbird. I knew what that probably meant and, sure enough, there was a nest with two eggs a mere 3 feet off the ground (left photo below). Today, the female was on the nest (below right). Note the plum-colored gorget feathers on this female, which the hummingbird books say is rare in female broadtails. The exterior of every hummingbird nest is unique and the Rist Canyon nest has a lot more lichens and gray bark bits than the Grandview Cemetery nest.
[cid:<image003.jpg...>] [cid:<image004.jpg...>]
Both genders of hummingbirds are awesome, but for different reasons. The males are gaudy, engage in exotic flight maneuvers, make a lot of noise and beg to have their pictures taken. But the females have always commanded my respect. After being impregnated, they do it all: build the nest, then all the other chores mentioned above, and even do post-fledging feeding/life training of the kids. Here's to female hummingbirds!
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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Date: 6/20/26 8:51 am From: Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Possibly injured Kestrel Brighton Adams County
Help is already on the way! No need for more replies. Thanks! Susan Rosine Brighton
On Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 9:38 AM Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> wrote:
> A small business owner in downtown Brighton sent me a photo of a kestrel > looking through their window. She thinks it's injured. I don't really want > to try and handle a kestrel myself. > Thoughts on getting someone out here to take it where it needs to go? > > Susan Rosine > Brighton >
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Date: 6/20/26 8:39 am From: Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> Subject: [cobirds] Possibly injured Kestrel Brighton Adams County
A small business owner in downtown Brighton sent me a photo of a kestrel looking through their window. She thinks it's injured. I don't really want to try and handle a kestrel myself. Thoughts on getting someone out here to take it where it needs to go?
Susan Rosine Brighton
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Things are becoming quite entertaining these days. The male breeding the female and the female trying to breed the male. Silly newlyweds! The nest is right in the center of the platform. There is still a lot of open spaces surrounding it. Lots of vocalizations and once where people walking down the road didn't bother them, now they are hyper vigilant when someone walks by.
They have added some interesting "decor" to the outside of the platform.[cid:f3303eb9-5b28-4a1b-8803-7bcafc4708d8]
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Date: 6/18/26 12:32 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Crom Lake (Weld) on 6/18/26
FYI, the water level at Crom Lake west of Pierce in Weld County has risen in recent days and formerly exposed shore, especially along the north side, is gone. So is the Hudsonian Godwit, as far as I could tell this morning at 7:30AM. Two avocets, one Black-necked Stilts and about 10 Wilson's Phalaropes, all of which probably tried to breed at Crom, remain. Of course, still lots of Killdeer, most of them up on the dirt of CR31. The local breeder Spotted Sandpipers might have been lurking in the submerged vegetation around the edge.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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Date: 6/17/26 10:47 am From: 'Ted Cooper' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Food for thought
David, what an amazing, instructive post. All those photos of reptiles and insects made me very hungry for breakfast.
Ted Cooper
> On Jun 16, 2026, at 5:25 PM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> wrote:
>
> I made a trip from Fort Collins up to Larimer CR5 (just e of the Rawhide Power Plant), then headed east to check my shrike monitoring areas in the western portion of the Pawnee National Grasslands. I stopped at Crom Lake west of Pierce on the way home.
>
> Larimer CR5 from the Buckeye Road (CR82) north to CR92 was decidedly lackluster. No shrikes, no longspurs, very few grasshoppers, one Golden Eagle.
>
> The western Pawnee Grasslands rarely disappoints in terms of shrikes and their interesting habit of impaling prey. On this trip the fence barb display was comprised of:
> 31 Western Earless Lizards in various conditions from whole and alive to old shriveled pieces
>
> <image002.jpg>
> Prairie earless lizard male in bright breeding coloration, still alive and wondering what the hell just happened, why is King Kong taking my picture.
>
> 3 greater shorthorned lizards
> 1 prairie hognose snake (about 12 inches long, beheaded)
>
> <image005.jpg> <image006.jpg>
>
> Prairie (aka “Western”) Hognose Snake showing dorsal pattern at left, distinctive black underside at right. Total length was about 16 inches, indicating a young one. The shrike had a reason for killing it. I wonder how many other animals, including humans, kill them because of their rattlesnake-similar dorsal pattern?
>
> 0 many-lined skinks
> 3 unidentifiable pieces of birds one of which was possibly a Lark Bunting
> 1 bird gizzard
> 0 mammals
> 2 redshank grasshoppers (more about this later)
> 0 other grasshoppers
> 0 beetles (although one impaled pellet contained beetle exoskeleton fragments)
> 5 camel crickets (a few fresh, the rest fragments, the identifiable ones being Great Plains camel crickets (Daihinia brevipes))
> 1 black field cricket (Gryllus sp.)
> 1 white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar
>
> <image004.png><image015.png><image017.png><image019.png><image020.png> <image007.jpg> <image008.jpg>
> Shrike-impaled white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar at left. Upper red arrow points to spiracle (white oval with black rim). Lower red arrow points to caudal spine which gives most sphinx moth caterpillars their name of “hornworm”. For those who don’t believe the green blob in the left photo is really a white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar, the right photo shows an intact one for comparison. The dual white arrows at left point to spiracles, while the right one indicates the caudal spine.
>
> I shrike nest, that had 6 eggs on 5/26, had at least 5 nestlings on 6/15 (there might be a 6th youngster in there but I didn’t want to take more than 5 seconds to snap a pic) on 6/15. Note the difference in head size between the lower left bird and the upper bird.
>
> <image024.jpg>
>
> I saw or heard 0 raptors, 0 sage thrashers, 0 longspurs, 0 Common Nighthawks, 1 Burrowing Owl, only 2 Brewer’s Sparrows, 1 Cassin’s Sparrow, goodly number of Lark Buntings, Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks.
>
> My take is that although the prairie is starting to green up a bit, small mammals are down, grasshoppers are down. Few rodents means few hawks. Few grasshoppers and beetles (especially darkling, scarab and ground) means reptiles are essentially the only prey shrikes out there have this spring-early summer.
>
> I saw this Horned Lark making a run to its nest near the roadside. The two prey items it is beak are a male robber fly and an unidentified larva. Red arrow shows similarity between what the bird has and the abdomen tip of a live robber fly. Thus, one insectivore falls prey to another. As Kurt Vonnegut aptly put it, “And so it goes.”
>
> <image022.png> <image018.jpg> <image026.jpg>
>
> Lastly, at Crom Lake west of Piece I was surprised to see a male Hudsonian Godwit in breeding plumage. Too far away for decent photographs but I did put a few identifiable ones on my partial eBird checklist. In reading of their movements, he should have been in Alaska many weeks ago. I would love to know what shorebirds and ibis get out of Crom Lake’s mud and water but suspect the take includes midge larvae and gastropod snails in the genus Physa.
>
> Dave Leatherman
> Fort Collins
>
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Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I push “Send” is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the person who does this to us………………
The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not “Prairie”) Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one, it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or Ault). Next time you’re in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny Town Hall. I paid for it.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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Date: 6/16/26 5:22 pm From: Charlie Chase <charlesachase3...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] food for thought corrections
One of my very first encounters with flashing lighted vehicles stopping me
was in Nunn on the way to Pawnee with Ron Ryder on our way to Pawnee in
1976. For those of you who have ridden with Ron, you will be likely as
stunned as I was that he was being pulled over for anything. The deputy
came up and said "Sorry to pull you over Dr. Ryder but my mom wanted me to
tell you about the shrike in her barn". Of course... APB on Ron Ryder!!
Charlie Chase
Denver
On Tue, Jun 16, 2026 at 6:02 PM DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...>
wrote:
> All,
>
> Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the
> right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I
> push “Send” is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the
> person who does this to us………………
>
>
>
> The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not “Prairie”)
> Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard
> and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with
> common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one,
> it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
>
>
>
> And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or
> Ault). Next time you’re in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny
> Town Hall. I paid for it.
>
>
>
> Dave Leatherman
>
> Fort Collins
>
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Date: 6/16/26 5:02 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] food for thought corrections
All,
Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I push "Send" is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the person who does this to us..................
The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not "Prairie") Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one, it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or Ault). Next time you're in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny Town Hall. I paid for it.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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Date: 6/16/26 4:26 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Food for thought
I made a trip from Fort Collins up to Larimer CR5 (just e of the Rawhide Power Plant), then headed east to check my shrike monitoring areas in the western portion of the Pawnee National Grasslands. I stopped at Crom Lake west of Pierce on the way home.
Larimer CR5 from the Buckeye Road (CR82) north to CR92 was decidedly lackluster. No shrikes, no longspurs, very few grasshoppers, one Golden Eagle.
The western Pawnee Grasslands rarely disappoints in terms of shrikes and their interesting habit of impaling prey. On this trip the fence barb display was comprised of:
31 Western Earless Lizards in various conditions from whole and alive to old shriveled pieces
[cid:<image002.jpg...>]
Prairie earless lizard male in bright breeding coloration, still alive and wondering what the hell just happened, why is King Kong taking my picture.
Prairie (aka "Western") Hognose Snake showing dorsal pattern at left, distinctive black underside at right. Total length was about 16 inches, indicating a young one. The shrike had a reason for killing it. I wonder how many other animals, including humans, kill them because of their rattlesnake-similar dorsal pattern?
0 many-lined skinks
3 unidentifiable pieces of birds one of which was possibly a Lark Bunting
1 bird gizzard
0 mammals
2 redshank grasshoppers (more about this later)
0 other grasshoppers
0 beetles (although one impaled pellet contained beetle exoskeleton fragments)
5 camel crickets (a few fresh, the rest fragments, the identifiable ones being Great Plains camel crickets (Daihinia brevipes))
1 black field cricket (Gryllus sp.)
1 white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar
[cid:<image004.png...>][cid:<image015.png...>][cid:<image017.png...>][cid:<image019.png...>][cid:<image020.png...>] [cid:<image007.jpg...>] [cid:<image008.jpg...>]
Shrike-impaled white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar at left. Upper red arrow points to spiracle (white oval with black rim). Lower red arrow points to caudal spine which gives most sphinx moth caterpillars their name of "hornworm". For those who don't believe the green blob in the left photo is really a white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar, the right photo shows an intact one for comparison. The dual white arrows at left point to spiracles, while the right one indicates the caudal spine.
I shrike nest, that had 6 eggs on 5/26, had at least 5 nestlings on 6/15 (there might be a 6th youngster in there but I didn't want to take more than 5 seconds to snap a pic) on 6/15. Note the difference in head size between the lower left bird and the upper bird.
[cid:<image024.jpg...>]
I saw or heard 0 raptors, 0 sage thrashers, 0 longspurs, 0 Common Nighthawks, 1 Burrowing Owl, only 2 Brewer's Sparrows, 1 Cassin's Sparrow, goodly number of Lark Buntings, Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks.
My take is that although the prairie is starting to green up a bit, small mammals are down, grasshoppers are down. Few rodents means few hawks. Few grasshoppers and beetles (especially darkling, scarab and ground) means reptiles are essentially the only prey shrikes out there have this spring-early summer.
I saw this Horned Lark making a run to its nest near the roadside. The two prey items it is beak are a male robber fly and an unidentified larva. Red arrow shows similarity between what the bird has and the abdomen tip of a live robber fly. Thus, one insectivore falls prey to another. As Kurt Vonnegut aptly put it, "And so it goes."
Lastly, at Crom Lake west of Piece I was surprised to see a male Hudsonian Godwit in breeding plumage. Too far away for decent photographs but I did put a few identifiable ones on my partial eBird checklist. In reading of their movements, he should have been in Alaska many weeks ago. I would love to know what shorebirds and ibis get out of Crom Lake's mud and water but suspect the take includes midge larvae and gastropod snails in the genus Physa.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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Date: 6/15/26 1:04 pm From: Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyhockfarms...> Subject: [cobirds] Osprey Update and a question
The Osprey pair are settling in and continually adding to their nest. It is mid-June now, and guess who is starting to sit on eggs? They have been actively breeding for the past few days. I see the female sitting in the nest more often now instead of perching on the edge of the box. The male is now always close by. If he isn't on the perch or the edge of the box, he is in the trees nearby.
Isn't this awfully late for them trying to raise a family? Up to now, I've just been assuming that they are newly bonded and playing house. Looks like it is getting more serious. They are also more vocal, constantly calling to each other.
What should I make of all of this?
Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead, Weld county, CO
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Date: 6/15/26 11:12 am From: Doug Ward <dougward...> Subject: [cobirds] Cassin's Kingbirds - Rio Blanco Co.
They're Baaack! Yesterday morning (Sun, 14 Jun'26) while running our Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) east of Rangely (Rio Blanco Co., CO) we found at least two (2) CASSIN'S KINGBIRDs in the same spot where we first found them way back in 2021! What I find very interesting about this extralimital repeat is that we hadn't had them there the past two (2) years, only to find them in the same spot as they nested in 2023 (unfortunately they won't show up in the official BBS results as we found them outside the allotted time on our way back out). We figured they had given up their Mission after failing to attract more settlers, but the optimism of pioneers apparently carried on. If these are indeed the same individual birds, they would be at least six (6) years old as we found them as adults during our first year covering this route (Angora BBS) back in June 2021. While certainly plausible, it is also possible at least one is an offspring given the site fidelity - the armchair ornithologist in me wishes would have had them banded to know for sure. In any case, this is a fascinating occurrence for a rare species in northwestern Colorado. If you'd like specific details on the location, please let me know separately.
Good BBSing,
Doug
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Date: 6/14/26 3:29 pm From: Ted Floyd <tedfloyd73...> Subject: [cobirds] SparrowFest at The Arsenal + more on recording in the wind
Hey, all.
With Pete Christiansen, Jason Zolle, Jeff Percell, and Michael Ward, I
enjoyed a nice day yesterday, Sat., June 13, of eBirding and iNatting at
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Adams Co. The weather was
pleasant: temps a bit below the seasonal average, with some clouds rolling
in by mid-day, and winds kicking up after sunrise. More on the wind in a
bit.
The highlight was an excellent showing by several passerellid species. We
detected 37 *Cassin sparrows,* 80 *grasshopper sparrows,* and 87 *lark
buntings.* And those were, of course, just trailside and roadside
detections; Lord knows how many are out there altogether. An eclecticism of
other avian highlights included: a male *black-chinned hummingbird,*
seemingly on territory; a *Virginia rail,* singing the male-song in the
middle of the day; a *western cattle-egret* strutting along the shore of
Lower Derby Rez; two *Mississippi kites* swooping and sailing over
Lower/Little Havana; just one *burrowing owl* (I think they're mostly down
in the their holes right now, tending young and out of sight); a c*ordilleran
flycatcher* giving the "position note" in Upper Derby woods; one
audio-supported presumptive *eastern warbling-vireo* and four unsupported,
and unsupportable, warbling-vireos (more on this below); a *sage thrasher,*
in ideal breeding habitat (sandsage + saltbush) at Big Blue Stem; and three
*dickcissels*, one at Big Blue Stem, two singing along the wildlife drive.
In the one-that-got-away category: a brief apparition from a scolopacid
that likely was a white-rumped sandpiper. And as to non-avians, at least
four prairie racerunners, *Aspidoscelis* *sexlineatus viridis*, in a New
Mexico locust grove.
The Cassin sparrow show at The Arsenal is impressive. Check out this eBird
output, indicating some combination of: (a) legitimate species biology; and
(b) the pernicious positive feedback loop of observers going to places
where birds have previously been reported. As Andrew Floyd casually
inquired, on seeing this result: "Did *you* contribute to this bias?" Lol,
guilty as charged: We ticked the species at 10 "daughter" hotspots at the
"mother" hotspot for The Arsenal. Anyhow:
[image: CaSp output.png]
Okay, recording birds in the wind. Nathan Pieplow recently recommended
recording from our wind-baffled trousers pockets. I remember an incident,
eons ago, on a windy winter morning in Boulder when Bob Zilly yanked off
one of my mittens, wrapped it around my recorder, and *voilà*, the peak
meter, indicating wind noise, dropped to near-zero. That's cool. But if you
want the ultimate wind baffle, try a *CAR. *🚘 Here's one of yesterday's
Cassin sparrows, out on the windswept wildlife drive at The Arsenal:
[image: C01 CaSp.png]
You can tell from the almost perfectly straight flatline on the waveform
function (bottom panel). Srsly, if recording from within a pocket or mitten
does the trick, doing it in a car, as above, takes things to a whole new
level of acoustic purity.
Here's a grasshopper sparrow, atop windy Rattlesnake Hill yesterday at The
Arsenal:
[image: C02 GrSp.png]
Something poignant for peeps, like me, with deleterious alleles for the
LOXHD1 and TRIOBP genes (tl; dr— you got age-related high-frequency hearing
loss), is the strong signal at the 0.77-sec. mark. First, a plea for
birders to examine not just the popular sound spectrogram output (top
panel), but also the richly informative waveform function, or oscillogram,
output (bottom panel). Look at all those millipascals reaching the
defective cochleae of my inner ear at around 0.77 sec.; given that the
powerful signal has a carrier frequency just under 6 kHz, I can still
totally hear that sound, and I've disciplined myself in recent summers to
be consciously attuned to it. Which means I typically get on a singing
grasshopper sparrow 300–500 ms before the kids do. Even if it's the *only*
part of the song I can hear on a grasshopper sparrow singing at any
distance. 😬
Next up. There are *Brewer* *sparrows* out there! Not nearly as many, this
summer, as there are Cassin and grasshopper sparrows. To find a Brewer
sparrow at The Arsenal, try the sandsage–saltbush admixtures, as, for
example, at Big Blue Stem. Here's one singing in the wind:
[image: C03 BrSp.png]
Although the recording is acoustically noisy, with "white noise" (actually,
*gray* noise in all such outputs) throughout, it's not all that bad, for
the perhaps counterintuitive reason that the bird was singing out in the
open. Open environments are, on the whole, acoustically simple, having the
useful effect of driving wind noise down into the lowest registers. That's
suboptimal if you're trying to hear (and record) owls, pigeons, and
subwoofers, but not so bad for sparrows, katydids, and dog whistles.
More challenging, and where the Pieplow–Zilly Theorem really comes into
play, is in acoustically complex environments like the decently dense grove
at Upper Derby. Here's a presumptive eastern warbling-vireo yesterday at
Upper Derby:
[image: C04 EaWV.png]
Lots of "white" (gray) noise in that one, even though, subjectively, it
didn't seem bad, as we were "out of the wind." So we were, in terms of
broadband activation of our epidermal mechanoreceptors. But the wind's
sound energy (those pesky millipascals) don't magically go away.
Hello?—First Law of Thermodynamics? The wind is still there, but it's
distributed everywhere in the environment, manifested as this sort of dull
reverb that we don't consciously pick up on but that nevertheless
diminishes our sensitivity to discrete sounds in the environment. (*Cf*.
the well-known problem of struggling to discern sibilant phonemes at
cocktail parties.)
Two other things:
1. Nathan issues a plea for longer(ish) cuts of birdsong, and that's
especially advisable, I would say, in the case of variable vireos. Ed
Pandolfino has a paper in *Western Birds*, a while ago, on the songs of
Cassin and plumbeous vireos, and he makes the point that it's actually
*impossible* to identify—or, at least, credibly attempt to identify,
haha—those two species from audio cuts less than about a minute in
duration. Sorry, this cut from The Arsenal is only 15 seconds, presented
here as COBirds-suitable imagery, rather than Pandolfino-compliant output.
Father Ed: Forgive me.
2. You've all been waiting for the other shoe to drop. 👠 Yeah, we all need
to provide such support for our species-level warbling-vireo IDs in
Colorado. Pete, Jason, Jeff, Michael, and I actually heard five (*n*=5)
candidate eastern warbling-vireos yesterday at The Arsenal, but we got
spectrogram-supported audio on just this one. Therefore, we eBirded one
eastern and four "spuhs" (eBird taxon "Eastern/Western Warbling Vireo") for
our visit yesterday at The Arsenal. There's no shame in that! Indeed, it
signals that you are a competent, science-based birder. Just do it. Or, I
suppose, don't do it.
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder Co.
P. s. Two more things on warbling-vireos. I cannot help myself.
First, for peeps keeping tabs on the presumptive easterns at Walden Ponds,
Boulder Co., catastrophe struck back on Wed., June 10! Check out this audio
and, especially, the comments appertaining thereunto:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/659462219
Second, while we're all excitedly adding presumptive eastern
warbling-vireos to our county lists, let's not overlook the coolness of
presumptive western warbling-vireos. They can get amped up ("a vireo on
speed") like easterns, they are super-variable, and they'll sometimes sneak
in a terminal "squirt!" note in the song. For the ultimate surround-sound
experience with presumptive western warbling-vireos, ride the gondola at
Telluride, San Miguel Co. For the poor man's experience, try Gregory Canyon
in Boulder Co., full of songsters like this one, singing up a storm back on
Mon., June 8:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/659334751
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Date: 6/13/26 3:59 pm From: william kossack <wskossack...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] How to record audio in windy conditions
I use a good shotgun microphone and a digital recorder. However, years
ago i birded with randy Little in new jersey. Randy did all the original
sound recordings for the Peterson field guides using a large parabolic dish
microphone
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 4:54 PM Mary Keithler <mkeithler...> wrote:
> Hi Nathan,
>
> Thanks for the timely recording tips and the heads up on the Merlin
> updates we can look forward to. Sounds very handy.
>
> Mary
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 13, 2026, at 4:11 PM, Nathan Pieplow <npieplow...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi everybody,
>
> In recent days I've seen several examples of a classic Colorado birding
> problem: people try to record audio of a bird, but there's simply too much
> wind, and the recording ends up being unusable, or nearly so.
>
> If you find yourself in this situation, I recommend that you start up
> Merlin and then *put your phone in your pocket.* The fabric then acts as
> a makeshift windscreen. It usually doesn't dramatically affect the levels
> from the bird sound, but it can greatly cut down on wind noise.
>
> In a few weeks, we will all have the ability to send recordings from
> Merlin directly to eBird on our phones. This will also come with the
> ability to trim recordings in Merlin. If you do the phone-in-the-pocket
> trick, it will be important to trim away the not-in-pocket parts of the
> recording to ensure the best levels on the resulting online audio.
>
> While I'm at it, I'll exhort everyone to please *keep your recorder
> running* longer than you might be tempted to. I've been asked to identify
> a bunch of ten-second and twenty-second recordings of Warbling Vireos
> recently, and it's not always possible. *The longer your recordings, the
> better,* especially for things like Warbling Vireos or any kind of
> rarity. Longer recordings are easier to ID and can be used in a wider
> variety of scientific research.
>
> Thanks, and good birding!
>
> Nathan Pieplow
> Boulder
>
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Date: 6/13/26 3:11 pm From: Nathan Pieplow <npieplow...> Subject: [cobirds] How to record audio in windy conditions
Hi everybody,
In recent days I've seen several examples of a classic Colorado birding problem: people try to record audio of a bird, but there's simply too much wind, and the recording ends up being unusable, or nearly so.
If you find yourself in this situation, I recommend that you start up Merlin and then *put your phone in your pocket.* The fabric then acts as a makeshift windscreen. It usually doesn't dramatically affect the levels from the bird sound, but it can greatly cut down on wind noise.
In a few weeks, we will all have the ability to send recordings from Merlin directly to eBird on our phones. This will also come with the ability to trim recordings in Merlin. If you do the phone-in-the-pocket trick, it will be important to trim away the not-in-pocket parts of the recording to ensure the best levels on the resulting online audio.
While I'm at it, I'll exhort everyone to please *keep your recorder running* longer than you might be tempted to. I've been asked to identify a bunch of ten-second and twenty-second recordings of Warbling Vireos recently, and it's not always possible. *The longer your recordings, the better,* especially for things like Warbling Vireos or any kind of rarity. Longer recordings are easier to ID and can be used in a wider variety of scientific research.
Thanks, and good birding!
Nathan Pieplow Boulder
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On Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 11:04 AM Hondochica z <hondochica...> wrote:
> Thanks to Merlin I found a Hooded Warbler this morning in Teller County.
> Had a great look. Might go back for a photo. Male singing. Butterbutts
> chasing him around.
>
> Found in the riparian habitat at 304 Kingston rd; was closer to the
> driveway gate than the road junction; off Lower Twin Rocks road between
> Divide and Teller 1.
>
> Do Not Trespass: the property owner has cameras.
>
> Good luck!
>
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Thanks to Merlin I found a Hooded Warbler this morning in Teller County. Had a great look. Might go back for a photo. Male singing. Butterbutts chasing him around.
Found in the riparian habitat at 304 Kingston rd; was closer to the driveway gate than the road junction; off Lower Twin Rocks road between Divide and Teller 1.
Do Not Trespass: the property owner has cameras.
Good luck!
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Date: 6/10/26 10:00 am From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Need identification help for bird seen on Manitou Lake near Deckers
Hi,
That is not a duck, but a shorebird - an American Avocet. Probably only
infrequently found at that location, so a nice find.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM Amanda Dodson <amandaksdodson...>
wrote:
> I saw a duck I'd never seen before on Manitou Lake yesterday. It was
> smaller, maybe crow sized. Black and white wings with an orangey-tan wash
> over the head. Its eye ring and the skin around its bill was nearly pale
> blue in hue. Its beak was dark and very long, like a snipe.
>
> I never observed it diving or feeding, though I did see it do quick bobs
> of its head often. There was only one.
>
> Any ideas? Merlin came up with no matches, and I haven't been able to find
> anything in the CO field guides. The snipe has a similar beak but the
> markings and coloring are quite different.
>
> Apologies for the bad cell phone photo.
>
> [image: 1000012459.jpg]
> [image: 1000012460.jpg]
>
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Date: 6/10/26 9:58 am From: Amanda Dodson <amandaksdodson...> Subject: [cobirds] Need identification help for bird seen on Manitou Lake near Deckers
I saw a duck I'd never seen before on Manitou Lake yesterday. It was smaller, maybe crow sized. Black and white wings with an orangey-tan wash over the head. Its eye ring and the skin around its bill was nearly pale blue in hue. Its beak was dark and very long, like a snipe.
I never observed it diving or feeding, though I did see it do quick bobs of its head often. There was only one.
Any ideas? Merlin came up with no matches, and I haven't been able to find anything in the CO field guides. The snipe has a similar beak but the markings and coloring are quite different.
Apologies for the bad cell phone photo.
[image: 1000012459.jpg] [image: 1000012460.jpg]
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Date: 6/10/26 9:12 am From: John Rawinski <johnrawinski0...> Subject: [cobirds] Chama Basin Hotspot
I am proposing the Chama Basin Trailhead as a birding hotspot. It is in Archuleta County and It is a fantastic place for Swainsons Thrush, Fox Sparrow, Lincolns Sparrow, Dipper and Sora. It is on Rio GRande National Forest lands so camping permitted in dispersed campsites. Yesterday it even produced a rare to these parts White-eyed Vireo. San Luis Valley only has 6 observations of the white-eyed vireo so far as I know. Check it out sometime. My friend Jake and I ended the morning with 37 species. Fully exciting morning.
John Rawinski Monte Vista, CO
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Date: 6/9/26 3:25 pm From: Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyhockfarms...> Subject: [cobirds] Fw: Ospreys and cliff swallows
It is mid June now and the ospreys are still working on building their nest. At times, the female is actually in the nest like she is sitting on eggs, but I don't think she actually is.
Cliff swallows have taken over the underside of the pier at Highland Lake. I have no idea how many there are, but it looks to be well over 100 maybe more. This is the first time I've been able to see Cliff swallow Nests Up this close. Looks like our mosquito population is going to take a hit this year. I do have a few barn swallows in my outbuildings, But not in the numbers, I'm used to seeing.
Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County
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