Fremont County Yesterday

[Dan Stringer]

Yesterday 3-21-17 I went with Michael Keissig down to Fremont County, it was interesting and productive. Highlights at Brush Hollow Reservoir (both east and west entrance) were Pinyon Jay, Canyon Towhee, Western Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds, Scaled Quail, and Juniper Titmouse. Highlights in Canon City, in addition to meeting Rich Miller, were Canyon Wren, Eastern Phoebe, Black Phoebe (also several Say's Phoebe), a close flyover Cooper's Hawk, and previously reported Western Screech-Owl. Did not find Rufous-crowned Sparrow. We searched extensively for Sapsuckers without seeing any, with several years data on my trips to the area I seem to find more sapsuckers in January and February than in spring/summer/fall. In Penrose we saw Wild Turkeys, Blue-winged Teal, an occupied Great Blue Heron Rookery, and a fine-looking Lincoln's Sparrow. On I-25 north of Colorado Springs, three Sandhill Cranes were going in one direction and then another, acting like they weren't sure which way to go (or perhaps finding the right wind current). Over 50 species on a day where I expected maybe 30 or so.

Dan Stringer

Larkspur, CO