Yuma county --- Fallout in the Hale area 8/29

[Mark Peterson]

COBirders,

On my way back into Colorado I birded Foster Grove, Hale Crossroads, and Hale Ponds. Here is the same map that Bryan provided but with the green circle in the area of Hale Crossroads (I think):

https://earth.nullschool.net/#2021/08/29/0900Z/wind/isobaric/850hPa/orthographic=-101.84,39.28,1484/loc=-102.141,39.631

As I arrived at Foster Grove, it was 56 degrees and completely overcast. It was not super birdy but it did produce a CASSIN'S VIREO, TENNESSEE WARBLER, and an AMERICAN REDSTART as highlights.

The next stop was Hale Crossroads. This is not a very big area but I spent over three hours at this location. Not only were there several rarities but the local birds also had family groups all over which just added to the experience. The highlights for me were:

24 Red-headed Woodpeckers

3 Olive-sided Flycatchers

1 Alder Flycatcher

6 Great Crested Flycatchers

4 Cassin's Vireos

7 Red-eyed Vireos

9 Baltimore Orioles

3 Ovenbirds

3 Black-and-white Warblers

1 Nashville Warbler

2 Mourning Warblers (1ad, 1 imm.)

6 Common Yellowthroat

16 American Redstarts

9 Yellow Warblers

2 Chestnut-sided Warblers

2 Townsend's Warblers

1 Black-throated Green Warbler

1 Canada Warbler

8 Wilson's Warbler

It was amazing in there and I wonder what all I missed.

The last stop was at Hale Ponds, I only really worked the area near the southwestern-most pond and right the by the river. I probably should have worked the river more but I as running out of time. Highlights were:

2 Olive-sided Flycatchers

4 Great Crested Flycatchers

3 Cassin's Vireos

3 Red-eyed Vireos

1 Black-and-white Warbler

4 Common Yellowthroats

13 American Redstarts

1 Blackburnian Warbler

3 Yellow Warblers

3 Wilson's Warblers

Very fun day on the eastern edge of the state!

Mark Peterson

Colorado Springs