Cobirds:
A quick survey of Brainard Lake, Long Lake and Lake Isabelle area - Roosevelt National Forest. Hot and sunny. Mosquitoes out in force at Lake Isabelle.
Ruby crowned kinglet - 30
Common raven - 2
Red breasted nuthatch - 4
Wilson's warbler - 21
American robin - 14 (several feeding young)
White crowned sparrow - 16
Lincoln's sparrow - 6
Spotted sandpiper - 3
Common merganser - 2
Pine siskin - 23
Hermit thrush - 5
Audubon's warbler - 16
Clark's nutcracker - 4
Mountain chickadee - 8
Gray headed junco - 2
Cordilleran flycatcher - 2
Brown creeper - 1
Hairy woodpecker - 1
Fox sparrow - 2 singing at Lake Isabelle
Gray jay - 1
Ring necked duck - 3
Fox sparrow and Lincoln's sparrow in very low numbers compared to last year. Previous visit a week ago also yeilded pine grosbeak, red crossbill, flicker, wilson's snipe, olive-sided flycatcher, and american crow. Bird species radically shifts when you drop into Ward, with 4 species of swallows, hummingbirds, towhees, doves, and vireos.
Mammals:
Moose (scat)
Pine squirrel - 1 (virtually none)
Golden manteld ground squirrel - 1
Marmot - 4
Pine martin - 1
Flower displays are good, but not excellent - due to lack of moisture. No snow on the trails.
John Tumasonis (John T) Louisville, CO