Purple Finch in Bent County - update

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

After a one day absence, the female-type Purple Finch I reported from my
Las Animas feeders on November 16th returned at 10:40 this morning. It
is hanging around my neighborhood, and may be either ridiculously easy
or impossible to relocate. Birders are welcome to try, provided I know
in advance. Yesterday, while looking, I photographed a female
Ladder-backed Woodpecker near my feeders, but it did not visit them, or
my water feature. This species is rare but regular in the private canyon
country in southern Bent County but very rare away from native junipers,
cholla or scattered cottonwood trees along desert arroyos. It was the
eighth woodpecker species I've had in my yard. I got to observe
Ladder-backed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers at the same time from my
window, surely a rare bird combo in Colorado.

We had hurricane force winds on November 17th, which caused quite a bit
of damage, but brought no measurable precipitation. The story is
apparently different north, south, east and west of here. The Purple
Finch was regular during the wind event, but no one in their right mind
would have braved the elements to get here.

I still have three Canyon Towhees and one Curve-billed Thrasher
regularly in my yard.

Respectfully,

Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO