eastern warbler but don't know which; foothills near Lyons, Bldr Cnty

[Linda Andes-Georges]

Hello folks (copying this to Naturenet just to cover all candidates):

I'm wallowing in field season, doing birdcounts and exploring. I have one
area that is a trail (lovely one called Picture Rock) going south from Lyons
between the Old St Vrain Rd area and Heil Ranch (google Bldr Cnty Open Space
to find it). Today I did a dry run of my BBS points along this corridor and
ran into a warbler with a very familiar song that I thought would be easy to
ID on the Net when I got home.

Alas. It never seems to work out that way. I just ran through ALL the
eastern warbler songs and only the prairie warbler comes close. I did not
get a visual on this bird (for multiple complicated reasons) so all I have
to go on is the song.

If anyone does feel like getting a good workout and having a hunt tomorrow,
do tell me what you find. This bird was singing persistently from near the
treetops in ponderosa pines about 3 miles from the trailhead on 84E (Bison
Rd off Old St Vrain?).

It is one of the "scratchy" songs: hoarsely, lightly, persistently going up
the scale in tiny pulses (at least 5 different pitches); about one song a
minute. It is not antsy but stays hidden in one spot for a while. Don't be
distracted by Virginia's and lazulis if you go; they abound already.

Or do send bird suggestions that occur to you... If I had thought it would
be hard, I certainly would have made more of an effort to see this oiseau.

The sandlilies spangle the sides of the trail in the first mile; and in mile
two one climbs to a nice lookout (often hearing or seeing wild turkeys); in
mile 3 there are several hairpin turns in gnatcatcher/hummer/grosbeak
habitat. Last year I had a pair of RB grosbeaks there in May (today only
black-headed). If you reach a fire road and big gate, you're 25 meters too
far.

This bird will not breed here, but doesn't know that yet. And I'm devoured
by curiosity.

Linda Andes-Georges
Central Boulder County, Longmont CO

PS forgot to mention: this trail is popular with bikers; get there early and
you'll miss them