Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Walk-In-Areas in Phillips County

October 6
 
Richard Stevens:

High winds continued on our last day checking Walk-In-Areas for this week.  We had commitments back in Denver for the weekend.  Winds today were 15-16 mph with gusts to 26 mph.

Without a doubt, our highlight today was seeing a juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a friend's yard in Holyoke!  She had first observed it on 10/4.  We received the text message yesterday and spent the night in Holyoke anxiously waiting for sunrise.  The young male came to the feeders around 9:00 am.  (Note: it was last seen on 10/7).

Frenchman Creek cuts across Phillips County.  Unfortunately, it had little water at our stops.  The only Walk-In-Areas east of Holyoke along the creek were CR 53/CR 18; CR 57/CR 15 and CR 59/CR 15.  No uncommon birds appeared at either of them.

We stopped at Holyoke Cemetery, Holyoke Fishing Pond and Holyoke Park for brief 15 minutes each.  Again, nothing uncommon was found.  Although a Broad-winged Hawk at the Cemetery could be considered unusual.

Seven additional Walk-In-Areas were studied as we worked out way toward Denver.

CR 29/CR 28 (Frenchman Creek passes through, Red-bellied Woodpecker)
CR 27/CR 26 (Frenchman Creek passes through, possible Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, still considering ID)
CR 15/CR 30 (nothing found)
CR 14/CR 32 (Chestnut-collared Longspur, McCown's Longspurs)
CR 3/CR 26 (Frenchman Creek continues west, Red-headed Woodpecker, House Wren)

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