More Jackson Lake (Morgan) and a few Weld Co. Stops

[Cathy Sheeter]

Yes Jackson Lake SP has been getting a lot of attention from birders, and rightly so! This place is still hopping. I went there yesterday AM and with a turn of good fortune it was overcast and fairly cool until almost 11! I didn't work the shore birds as much as many and mostly concentrated on land birding the campground areas. There were lots of the usual suspects with over 100 Yellow and Wilson's WA each. In addition I found one Black And White WA (possibly two in same set of tree, but never saw more than one at a time), two Ovenbirds, a smattering of Orange-Crowned and Yellow-Rumped WA too. A Bell's Vireo and female Western Tanager put in an appearance, and I watched a pair of Brown Thrashers repeatedly chase a Juvenile Red-Headed Woodpecker through the campground.

Oh and I nearly stepped on a female hummingbird that was perched on or nearly on the ground. I think we both were quite startled! She made a surprpisingly loud snapping noise several times, like an electrical transponder, which I have never heard before (not the typical BTHU buzz). She was in the trees before I could get an ID.

On my way home I made a few Weld County Stops and cruised past Weld CR 59 ponds, which were totally inactive. Headed to Loloff Res., where I ran into Dave Leatherman and a party. They had located two Sabine's Gulls - an adult still nearly in Alternate plumage and an Immature bird. From there I cruised by Lower Latham along the WCR 48 side and the marshy areas are still a bit muddy, but were essentially devoid of shore birds.

Good Birding!

Cathy Sheeter
Ft. Lupton

[Cathy Sheeter]

Oh... Forgot some of the other Warblers I had included one Magnolia, one MacGillivray's, and one Townsend's. That is what I get for posting before my morning coffee!