Reservoir Ridge NA Trailhead (FtCollins,Larimer) on 5/29

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Late this afternoon I stopped by the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area Trailhead which is in the far northwest part of Fort Collins west of Overland Trail about a mile south of Michaud Lane.  This is the area where Bobolinks have been seen for the last week or so.  Today I would estimate at least 6 males and a couple females still working both sides of the east-west fenceline a couple hundred yards west of the parking lot.  The sound was amazing.  Most of the Bobolink activity is in the hayfield north of the e-w fenceline that parallels the trail, but they occurred in the City-owned weedy fields south of the fence on several occasions.

Other birds in this area today:
Blue Grosbeak (male) briefly perched on a fence post next to a post occupied by a male Bobolink (the song "Blue On Black" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd came to mind)

Grasshopper Sparrow (1 heard on the City property south of the e-w fenceline)
Vesper Sparrow (multiples seen and heard)
Lark Sparrow (multiples seen and heard)
Western Kingbird (couple)
Eastern Kingbird (1)

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins