Spring Notes - Broomfield, Longmont, etc.

[John Tumasonis]

All:

          A few observations from the last few days:

Marsh Wren - at Plaster Reservoir, in Broomfield

Marsh Wren - at Catfish Pond, in Westminster (south of Big Dry Creek Park) 

Mountain and Western Bluebirds:  about 40 along the St. Vrain River bikeway and Left Hand Creek bikeway in Longmont.  Most congregations were near where the river goes under Martin Street.   Many of the Western Bluebirds were in full breeding plumage.  Brilliant!

Say's Phoebe - several stayed through the winter in Broomfield, December thru February.  Very surprising.   Numbers are rising now, as migration increases.  

American Thrush (American Robin) - are coming through in droves now.  A lot are concentrating at prairie dog towns.   I'm guessing that the prairie dogs are digging up dirt that has insect larvae and adult insects, and throwing the dirt out into the fields. 

Great Blue Heron:  are now building nests in rookeries - Metzger Farms in Westminster is  active.  

Bald Eagle - nests are active at Stearns Lake and near Ken Mitchell Lake (Brighton, CO) 

Horned Grebe - at least 25 were on Ken Mitchell Lake (Brighton CO) a few days ago - both in breeding and winter plumage.  Good comparisons. 

Other creatures:  

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Wandering Garter Snake) - surprisingly, out sunning itself on a bike path (Brighton CO) a few days ago.  This snake species is much more adapted to cooler temperatures, and is one of the first to come out of hibernaculums in spring.  

Colorado Chorus Frog - already calling - Brighton CO 

Mourning Cloak butterflies are out already, in Boulder Mt. Park. 

Happy Spring,   John T (Tumasonis),  Broomfield CO

"I'm not a real birder.  I only pretend to be one on COBirds."