CFO field trip & field workshop, Boulder Co., Mar. 28

[Ted Floyd]

Hello, Birders. Here's a recap of the CFO field trip & field workshop this sunny Saturday morning, Mar. 28, at Walden Ponds, Boulder County. Twenty-one birders participated, with the majority making it for the early installment in the semi-darkness.

The highlight for the early-risers was surround-sound Wood Ducks, both drakes and hens. Also at least 3 Great Horned Owls.

During the daylight hours, we saw 15 species of ducks, including Cinnamon Teal, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, and Hooded Merganser. Other highlights among 50+ bird species were Virginia Rail (audio: http://tinyurl.com/ViRa-2015-03-28), Greater Yellowlegs, Merlin, Say's Phoebe, and Great-tailed Grackle. The Merlin was most excellent, a female "Prairie" (subspecies richardsoni) powering low across Cottonwood Marsh shortly after sunrise. And the western chorus frogs (audio: http://tinyurl.com/WeCF-2015-03-28) were deafening.

Oh, and did you know that zygodactyl Hairy Woodpeckers frequently exhibit an anisodactyl aspect? See for yourself: http://tinyurl.com/HaWo-2015-03-28

There's always something learn on CFO outings... :-)

Thanks to everybody for a fun outing afield. eBird checklist here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22560334

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado