A new bird for Greenlee Preserve, Boulder County, July 15

[Ted Floyd]

Hello, Birders.

Ah. Mid-July. The most dynamic and exciting time of the year, in my opinion.

A nice bird for Andrew and me this rainy Tuesday afternoon, July 15, was a Dickcissel at Greenlee Preserve, Boulder County. It was a first for me at the site, and the 227th bird species I've eBirded there since Jan. 1, 2007.

The Dickcissel was just passing through, farting its way northward as it flew low across the preserve.

Otherwise, the usual summer birds: noisy Swainson's Hawks out of the nest, chippering Bushtits, forlorn-sounding Say's Phoebes, Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees, a hummingbird spuh, etc.

Oh, I tried this morning for early nocturnal migrants. Didn't hear any, but the night-singing Barn Swallows were going at it until about 3:15 a.m., and a single female Great Horned Owl sang during civil dawn.

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado.