Yesterday in Yuma

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All

Yesterday, Nick Moore and I wandered about much of eastern Yuma County. Stalker Lake, per usual, was really the highlight with a Myrtle Warbler and RC Kinglet, both of which were a tad early for NE Colorado, and a Hermit Thrush which was a couple weeks early, Even more interesting, the Hermit Thrush was of the "Pacific Lowlands" group (refer to thine Sibley), which is an uncommon migrant in CO. 

Most other places were pretty slow. We flushed an Ammodramus sparrow (Grasshopper, LeConte's, etc) at Sand Sage SWA. Even Grasshopper is rare at such an early date. 

The other "hotspot" was at Yuma CR 51 and US 385, where there is a shelterbelt extending along YCR 51 to the east. There we had greater than 100 WC Sparrows, including two dark-lored bird, undoubtedly of the eastern subspecies leucophrys, not one of our mountain birds, oriantha. AND, we had a YB SAPSUCKER still partly in juv plumage. Photos to come.

Good Birding

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont CO