Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins (Larimer) of late

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Gray Flycatcher has been around for the last three days.  Usually in Section 8 in or near the two huge honeylocusts in the center.  I believe this is at least the 3rd individual Gray Flycatcher at GC this spring.  We usually get 1 sometime during the year, but it seems to be an exceptional year for this species all along the Front Range.

Two Broad-tailed Hummingbirds nesting.

Turkey Vulture roost well east of the cemetery about a mile on Mountain Avenue seems to have either been abandoned by the birds or intentionally discouraged by the local human residents.  I suspect the latter, sort of expected it, miss the birds coming and going each day.  It's all up to Waste Management and the other refuse removal companies now.

Residences in the neighborhood to the east of the cemetery have had Western Tanagers and a Lazuli Bunting recently.

Had a Broad-winged Hawk on 5/12.

Two trees really set back by the last bomb cyclone were northern hackberry and American linden.  I am happy to say they are finally showing signs of rallying and that the buds/leaves on hackberry show gall-making psyllid eggs.  That's good for birds, especially next autumn migration.

White-crowned Sparrow of the mountain form (dark-lored, dark reddish beak) today was the first I have seen this spring.

Sounds like Ruby-crowned Kinglets may nest this summer at Grandview.  At least the few males singing away are trying to recruit a mate.  Ditto for Chipping Sparrows.

I saw the male Hairy Woodpecker of the eastern race today and wonder if the mountain race female he copulated with a few weeks ago is incubating eggs and, if so, I wonder what the young will look like?  Can we tell intergrades of these two subspecies for this species?

Species list for the cemetery this year stands at 80, which isn't bad for a place with no water (most of the year) and a challenged understory.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins