Brown/Long-billed Thrasher at Union Res. (Weld)

[Bill Prather]

The thrasher has been found in the ditch on the south side of Union Reservoir Park in Weld County just east of Longmont.  The ditch runs from Weld County Road 26 north toward the reservoir and the thrasher has been seen several times in the northern part of this deep ditch.It spends a lot of time under the thick cover and is only infrequently seen. The habitat in the ditch is far better than anything else in the area so I doubt it will be moving soon.  The back color seems a little bright for Long-billed but maybe a little dark for brown.  The breast background color and streaks seem more like long-billed but the face does not seem to be particularly gray.  The undertail coverts seem mostly white with possibly some streaks that are hard to see because they are fluffed up due to the cold. The eye seems more yellow like brown and the bill has a little pale area at the base but not particularly yellow.  The best indication for long-billed is that it seems to have very rounded wings with almost no visible primary extension.  It has been suggested that the wings are fluffed up also and that is hiding the primary extension.  So kind of a mixed bag, we hope someone else can get some better photos.  The park is mostly closed for the winter with just a small parking area open. I don't know if the entrance fee is being enforced but there is a self-pay station there, I think the fee is $5 a day.Bill and Inez Prather, Longmont