Pine Warbler (JeffCo), longspurs (Arapahoe)

[David Suddjian]

I followed up on the report of the Pine Warbler at Denver West. I'd never been there before, and sort of expected a hunt for a needle in a pine grove. But as it turned out the Pine Warbler appeared within 6 minutes of my arrival! (First noted about 9:30 am) It was in trees along Cole Blvd to the west of Building 6, esp around a light pole with the number 08 over 48. This is several 100 yards west of where it was reported yesterday, but I assume it is the same bird. That area west of Building 6 and a circuit to Building 7 and in Lena Gulch area had great activity with approx 300 Am. Robins, 70 Cedar Waxwings, an adult Nor. Goshawk, Merlin, 4 Brown Creepers, 14 Red-breasted Nuts, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Mourning Dove, and fly overs of three each of Red Crossbills (Type 2) and Cassin's Finches. The greatest activity was west of Building 6, though.

Later I went east to South Prince Road north of Deer Trail, Arapahoe Co., following up on reports longspurs. Between County Road 18 and Stanford I found large numbers of Horned Larks, with approx 120 Lapland Longspurs, 4 Chestnut-collared and 1 McCown's. One Snow Bunting flew over with longspurs just north of CR 18.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO