Snowbirding in Estes Park, more first of season species, Larimer Co.

[Jim Nelson]

I decided to do my usual late ,afternoon walk at Lake Estes today in the cold snow showers. I wasn't expecting any large birds, and saw none other than Canada Goose, Mallard, American Crow, Common Raven, and Turkey Vulture. The highlights were the many small birds feeding in bare areas along the shore and in sheltered areas. Of particular note were a Green-tailed Towhee and two Hermit Thrush, firsts for the Estes Park area this year in eBird and a White-crowned Sparrow, with only one previous eBird report from March. At one point, the Towhee was feeding right at my feet with one of the Hermit Thrush three feet away.


A real treat was seeing many bright Yellow-rumped Warblers (both Myrtle and Audubon's) feeding in plain view along the shore and among the exposed rocks in the water, accompanied by Western Bluebirds, American Pipit, Vesper Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow.


Worth the freezing fingers, toes, and nose. Of course it was in the 90's today back home in Maryland.


Jim Nelson
Bethesda, Maryland