RFI: South Denver Broad-Tailed Hummingbird & Lark Bunting

[Josh Adams]

Hello all,

I will be visiting Denver on business Monday and Tuesday of this week. Looking at eBird data it appears there are a couple lifers that are relatively easy to find that I can target in my free time, specifically Lark Bunting and Broad-Tailed Hummingbird. I'll be staying and working near Cherry Creek Reservoir so if anyone knows any places that are reliable for these species and within a reasonably short drive of that area I'd love to hear about it. 

Thanks,

Josh Adams

Lynnwood, WA

[Polly Reetz]

We saw broad-tailed and rufous hummingbirds at Cherry Creek State Park last week - at the 12-Mile Group picnic area and wetlands trailhead on the southeast side of the park (ask at the entrance station).   Lark buntings might be around there but we didn't see any.  They are prairie birds; try the Plains Conservation Center on the east side of Aurora, CO.   Usually we see them on the Pawnee National Grasslands but they probably have started their move south and might be at the Center now.  Other folks might have good suggestions.

Polly Reetz

[Tom Behnfield]

Josh,

If you haven't gotten your Broad-Tailed Hummingbird, I have them in my backyard in Lakewood which is southwest of Denver, and pretty much straight West of Cherry Creek State Park. 30 Minutes from CC Reservoir.

Feel free to email or call.

Happy Birding!

Tom Behnfield
Lakewood, CO
behn...@q.com
303-910-6858
www.flickr.com/photos/behnfield

[Josh Adams]

Hello all,

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who offered me advice. I found plenty of Lark Buntings out on East Yale Street, about thirty minutes east of Cherry Creek. Several males, still more or less in their breeding plumage were a unexpected bonus. Other good birds included several Common Nighthawks perched on fence posts just feet from the road and an apparent Cassin's Kingbird. 

This morning I walked around a small park near my hotel and had a brief look at a likely female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird. Early in the evening I went to another location and got much better looks at several males. 

After that I drove out near the airport to look for Burrowing Owls, which is not a lifer, but is a bird I don't get to see nearly as much as I'd like to. After much searching I located a single, distant bird along Quincy St. I made a second pass and noticed an entire group had exited their burrow and were perched in plain site.I made a third attempt and was amazed to find several other groups including one of at least twenty individuals in one small area. My total count on the third pass was 32 individual birds. Quite a treat.

Thanks again for your hospitality,

Josh Adams

Lynnwood, WA