May 29, 2013
Richard Stevens:
Finally home after an interesting seven days on the Colorado Eastern Plains. Spring migration is not over, however perhaps waning. Weather on the Plains has been interesting. Sunny skies at times while we also experienced high winds, hail and even observed a funnel cloud!
Birding has been superb! We found a few quite interesting birds (see previous posts). The Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo will probably make July's "Colorado Field Notes" cover (June's cover is already set with a fine photo by Dick Vogel of a Gray Flycatcher).
Between clear weather patterns, we had time to help Roger Danka who broke his leg while doing chores on his ranch. Bryan Ehlmann, Jacob Washburn, Ray Simmons and I pitched in, took over some of those chores. Our conclusion: ranching is not for any of us; it is difficult work (ranchers have my respect).
About an hour before sunrise, Roger's resident Eastern Screech-Owl called and woke me up. The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird came to Roger's feeders just after sunrise! Photos are fair but not great.
Before we left the northeast corner of the state, we took an hour and searched one last time for an Eastern Wood-Pewee in Julesburg (Sedgwick County). Perhaps the 20+ mph winds, gusts to 39 mph seen this week blew the little bird, who knows where?
We did not find it or the Northern Cardinal that wanders the town. The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak first encountered on Monday was relocated. He was farther north today (north of West 5th Street, west of Spruce Street).
Our two-car caravan turned south. Sand Draw Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) was skipped as time constraints required a rapid trip today. Massive dark clouds loomed off to the west of Highway 385. The bulk of our birding needed to be done before late afternoon.
We stopped at quite a few birding locations in Holyoke (Phillips). The Fishing Pond, Sewage Ponds and Civic Center offered little in bird sightings.
The City Park on the other hand was quite birdy. We came across a few gems, which included an adult male Blackburnian Warbler, two Townsend's Warblers and a ragged looking male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
The highlight of the day came at the Holyoke Cemetery. An Empidonax Flycatcher was singing. It sounded like and looked much like an Alder Flycatcher!
As we turned west toward Haxtun the weather started to change. Winds were steady at 25 mph with gusts to 42 mph. The only positive (if there was one) was that it was not raining, hailing or producing tornados.
Haxtun City Park appeared to be a refuge for a number of birds. Here we found a Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart and Townsend's Warbler among dozens of birds. A Lazuli Bunting was also seen.
Our trek led south to Yuma (nothing at the Cemetery). Here our caravan broke up, Jacob and Ray headed to Wray, while Bryan and I went west to Akron (Washington) and the infamous Golf Course. Unfortunately, we found no uncommon birds at the place, which seemed to attract fantastical birds this spring.
Heading back south to Anton just to see if there were anything of interest (there was not), then we turned west toward Denver. We timed our journey to arrive at the Last Chance Rest area (Washington) in the late afternoon, which seemed to be the time when the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher appeared.
Unfortunately, it did not show up for us. High winds blew through Last Chance and we found no uncommon birds to add to our trip list.
It will be (was) great to sleep in my own bed tonight!
Richard Stevens:
Finally home after an interesting seven days on the Colorado Eastern Plains. Spring migration is not over, however perhaps waning. Weather on the Plains has been interesting. Sunny skies at times while we also experienced high winds, hail and even observed a funnel cloud!
Birding has been superb! We found a few quite interesting birds (see previous posts). The Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo will probably make July's "Colorado Field Notes" cover (June's cover is already set with a fine photo by Dick Vogel of a Gray Flycatcher).
Between clear weather patterns, we had time to help Roger Danka who broke his leg while doing chores on his ranch. Bryan Ehlmann, Jacob Washburn, Ray Simmons and I pitched in, took over some of those chores. Our conclusion: ranching is not for any of us; it is difficult work (ranchers have my respect).
About an hour before sunrise, Roger's resident Eastern Screech-Owl called and woke me up. The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird came to Roger's feeders just after sunrise! Photos are fair but not great.
Before we left the northeast corner of the state, we took an hour and searched one last time for an Eastern Wood-Pewee in Julesburg (Sedgwick County). Perhaps the 20+ mph winds, gusts to 39 mph seen this week blew the little bird, who knows where?
We did not find it or the Northern Cardinal that wanders the town. The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak first encountered on Monday was relocated. He was farther north today (north of West 5th Street, west of Spruce Street).
Our two-car caravan turned south. Sand Draw Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) was skipped as time constraints required a rapid trip today. Massive dark clouds loomed off to the west of Highway 385. The bulk of our birding needed to be done before late afternoon.
We stopped at quite a few birding locations in Holyoke (Phillips). The Fishing Pond, Sewage Ponds and Civic Center offered little in bird sightings.
The City Park on the other hand was quite birdy. We came across a few gems, which included an adult male Blackburnian Warbler, two Townsend's Warblers and a ragged looking male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
The highlight of the day came at the Holyoke Cemetery. An Empidonax Flycatcher was singing. It sounded like and looked much like an Alder Flycatcher!
As we turned west toward Haxtun the weather started to change. Winds were steady at 25 mph with gusts to 42 mph. The only positive (if there was one) was that it was not raining, hailing or producing tornados.
Haxtun City Park appeared to be a refuge for a number of birds. Here we found a Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart and Townsend's Warbler among dozens of birds. A Lazuli Bunting was also seen.
Our trek led south to Yuma (nothing at the Cemetery). Here our caravan broke up, Jacob and Ray headed to Wray, while Bryan and I went west to Akron (Washington) and the infamous Golf Course. Unfortunately, we found no uncommon birds at the place, which seemed to attract fantastical birds this spring.
Heading back south to Anton just to see if there were anything of interest (there was not), then we turned west toward Denver. We timed our journey to arrive at the Last Chance Rest area (Washington) in the late afternoon, which seemed to be the time when the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher appeared.
Unfortunately, it did not show up for us. High winds blew through Last Chance and we found no uncommon birds to add to our trip list.
It will be (was) great to sleep in my own bed tonight!
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