Northeast Colorado, 5/15

[Nathan Pieplow]

Hi all,

I spent the whole day birding in the northeast, mostly in Phillips and Sedgwick Counties. The most unexpected birds were a green-and-red Summer Tanager at Haxtun City Park and a Snow Goose at Haxtun sewage ponds.  I didn't see many warblers -- only three species, all in the morning before the wind picked up. Migrant sparrows were limited to several flocks of Clay-coloreds and Chippings, plus a flock of Lark Sparrows in the town of Amherst.  The only non-kingbird flycatcher was an Empid saying "whit" in the Holyoke cemetery (Least or Dusky; only caught a glimpse).  The only vireo was a Warbling at the end of the day in Sterling.  Lazuli Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and all sorts of orioles (Baltimore, Bullock's, hybrids, and Orchards) were all seen at multiple locations.

The Mississippi Kites are back in Holyoke.

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder