More migrants Westminster, Broomfield, Boulder, etc.

[John Tumasonis]

All:

        A late list of more stuff coming in through Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster, from over the last 9 days.  Here's a photo of a Western Bluebird from NCAR from 5 days ago:  

American White Pelican - most of the larger flocks have dispersed from Front Range area.  

Pied Billed Grebe - are back in many locations

Western Grebe - at Stearns Lake

Double Crested Cormorant - spread over large areas, numbers still increasing

Black Crowned Night Heron - 1 along Platte River near Adams County Fairgrounds (note:  Adams County Fairgrounds is torn to pieces with heavy construction going on - best to park on Henderson Road at the Veterans War Memorial). 

Great Blue Heron - young on nests already, being fed by parents

Snowy Egret - numbers are increasing, but not as many as last year. 

White Ibis - came and went in Arvada, - hope you got to see it. 

Canada Goose - some with goslings already

Cackling Goose - a few strays at East Lake in Thornton

Mallard - present 

Gadwall - still hanging at several lakes and ponds

Green Winged Teal - most are gone but a few on the Platte River, Adams County

Blue Winged Teal - East Lake, Thornton

Northern Shoveler - East Lake, Thornton, a few

Redhead - a few were still at East Lake (Thornton) and Plaster Reservoir (Broomfield)

Ring Necked Duck - still a few at Plaster Reservoir, Broomfield

Lesser Scaup - Brunner Reservoir, Broomfield

Ruddy Duck - at Brunner Reservoir - 3 females

Turkey Vulture - numbers increasing

Osprey - two flyovers at NCAR, and others along Front Range

Northern Harrier - NCAR, Boulder

Golden Eagle - Louisville along Dillion Road

Bald Eagle - all monitored nest sites appear to have young (note:  road going into the bald eagle's nest near Stearns Lake is completely closed to the public - includes walking or driving).  

Cooper's Hawk - throughout suburban, and open space areas - murdering birds left and right. 

Sharp Shined Hawk - a few seen

Red Tailed Hawks - on nests in Westminster, Broomfield, Boulder, Thornton, etc. etc. 

Swainson's Hawks - numbers increasing - most seen in Broomfield and Westminster

American Kestrel - present

Wild Turkey - lots at East Lake #2 in Thornton - local people told me that they are being fed by several households (not good!). 

Virginia Rail - Plaster Reservoir and East Lake

American Coot - East Lake and Plaster Reservoir

Black Bellied Plover - fair looks at Baseline Reservoir - a scope is needed

Piping Plover - at Baseline Reservoir - (a thanks to Peter Gent)

Killdeer - present in many locations

American Avocet - scattered along lakes and ponds - large flocks moved through about 2 weeks ago.  

Lesser Yellowlegs - Stearns Lake, and Baseline Reservoir

Greater Yellowlegs - Stearns Lake 

Spotted Sandpiper - Stearns Lake

Least Sandpiper - 4 at Stearns Lake 5 days ago (note:  Water levels have risen at Stearns covering the shorebird habitat.  Water levels from one day to the next change depending on how much water is being let out.)

Long Billed Dowitcher - 18 or 19 at Stearns Lake 5 days ago, but all gone now.  I was not able to ID short billed dowitcher. 

Franklin's Gull - about 100+ resting on sandbars and islands about 6 days ago at Baseline Reservoir. 

Ring Billed Gull - still a few hanging on at lakes and ponds

Rock Dove - present

Eurasian Collared Dove - present

Mourning Dove - present

Great Horned Owl - most young are off nests now

Northern Pygmy Owl - heard along Bear Creek Trail in Boulder, below NCAR

Broad Tailed Hummingbird - throughout numerous neighborhoods, males already doing display flights. 

Black Chinned Hummingbird - Longmont, Broomfield

Belted Kingfisher - present 

Acorn Woodpecker - finally went to see it; still present in Longmont

Northern Flicker - everywhere.  Saw and photo'd several hybrid mixes 

Downy Woodpecker - present

Eastern Phoebe - two seen and heard:  one in Louisville at Coal Creek Lane and West Cherry St.  Another one at Golden Ponds area where bike path goes under Hover Road. 

Say's Phoebe - many locations; nesting

Western Kingbird - numbers increasing; Broomfield, Westminster, Thornton

Loggerhead Shrike - Stearns Lake - 1

Yellow Throated Vireo - heard only, at west Wanaka Lake area near the marsh and wood deck. Possible Cassin's Vireo in the area also.  

Blue Jay - present

Stellar's Jay - present - gathering nesting materials

Black Billed Magpie - present - many have young in nests 

American Crow - present

Common Raven - Boulder, Broomfield

Horned Lark - heard at Stearns Lake

American Tree Swallow - a few at East Lake, Thornton - 7 days ago

Violet-Green Swallow - at Gregory Canyon, Boulder, and along Boulder Creek

Northern Rough Winged Swallow - Westminster, Boulder

Cliff Swallow - massed flocks already building nests - Westminster, Broomfield, Boulder, Longmont

Barn Swallow - just about everywhere

Bush Tit - present; gathering insects, and nesting materials

Black Capped Chickadee - numbers seem way down from last year

White Breasted Nuthatch - nest sites; males feeding females

Red Breasted Nuthatch - some still down low in Broomfield and Westminster

Pygmy Nuthatch - at NCAR

House Wren - came in within the last few weeks; some areas have lots; other areas seem depleted. 

Marsh Wren - 1 at Stearns Lake

American Dipper - two nest sites in Boulder along the Boulder Creek Bike Path.  Feeding young in nests under bridges. 

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher - Westminster, Boulder, Longmont

Western Bluebird - NCAR

American Robin - everywhere on nests 

European Starling - present - hundreds of nest sites

Orange Crowned Warbler - one along Boulder Creek, about 6 at Wanaka Lake this morning

Audubon's Warbler - spread out over many areas; high concentration along Boulder Creek near the "Confluence" park area behind CU Research Center

Myrtle Warbler - same as above

Black Throated Gray Warbler - one male at Wanaka Lake - singing, visible

Yellow Warbler - one along Boulder Creek

Common Yellowthroat - Broomfield at Brunner Reservoir and Plaster Reservoir

Spotted Towhee - in good numbers this year; Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster

Chipping Sparrow - hundreds coming through in large flocks - Boulder, Broomfield

Song Sparrow - present

White Crowned Sparrow - still present at lower elevations in Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster, and Thornton

Dark Eyed Junco - a few still in Broomfield

Western Meadowlark - numbers way down from last year;  singing

Red Winged Blackbird - present

Yellow Headed Blackbird - at East Lake in Thornton

Common Grackle - everywhere.  They've taken over the world!  

Great Tailed Grackle - at Teller Lake #5 in Boulder 

Brown Headed Cowbird - present, numbers increasing

Brewer's Blackbird - Thornton, Westminster, Broomfield

House Finch - Present.  

American Goldfinch - in large numbers this year. 

House Sparrow - present

.... And a few others I probably missed.  Please excuse spelling and grammatical errors. 

Happy spring birding, 

John T (Tumasonis)

"I'm not a real birder.  I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."