Clear Springs Ranch, El Paso Co, Saturday

[Steven Brown]

Hi COBirders,

This a banding report for Saturday at Clear Springs Ranch, at Exit 123 S of Fountain, along Fountain Creek.

13 new birds today.
Orange-crowned Warbler (male)
Hermit Thrush
Song Sparrow
Am Robin
several Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows
and a Sharp-shinned Hawk (female)

other species seen nearby:
N Rough-winged Swallow nesting in the banks
White-breasted Nuthatch,
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
N Flicker
Mallards and Canada Geese in the flooded fields
Great Blue Herons


While mostly warm, calm, and slightly overcast, it remains pretty slow so far this season. Things are just starting to green-up, so maybe more birds will arrive with the unsettled weather forecast for next week.

A Colo Spgs Utilities worker pointed out that there is a large Great Blue Heron rookery at the north end of the property, visible from the freeway between mile markers 125.5 and 126, along the creek. I drove past there today and saw at least 6 birds on nests, with a lot of other nests in trees nearby.

Happy Migration,
Steve Brown
Colorado Springs