Colorado Birding Challenge Prelim Report/Weld

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The Nunn Guy

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May 10, 2021, 11:00:26 AM5/10/21
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Hi all

The Friends of the Pawnee National Grassland challenge team garnered 106 species for the day. Highlights are:
  • American Redstart (Lone Tree Creek at CR 110) not refound on Sun. AM
  • Red-necked Phalarope, Whimbrel (Crom Lake) Sat. PM and Sun. AM still there
  • 14 Ducks, Geese, and Swan species
  • Mountain Plover (two wading about in Hwy 77/CR 116 playa)
  • 15 Stilts and Avocet, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, Ibises species
  • Marbled Godwit
  • Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Hairy Woodpecker, Townsend's Solitaire (Crow Valley Campground)
  • 5 swallow species
  • Both longspurs
  • Wilson's Warbler (Cozzens Lake)
Cool (and in this next case uncool) trip happenings included my car overheating :-(, horrendous winds 20-25mph (but we managed), two adult Bald Eagles trying to take a American White Pelican riding white caps at Crom Lake. It was awesome to watch the eagles would hover and drop in the fierce winds right above pelican and the pelican managing to defend himself by using his foot to fend off the would be attackers. Attack lasted about 10 minutes(?).

Photos coming soon.

The Nunn Guy

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May 10, 2021, 11:08:27 AM5/10/21
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Hi all

eBird "Weld County" list for our challenge results: https://ebird.org/checklist/S87728105


The Nunn Guy

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May 11, 2021, 12:23:20 PM5/11/21
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Hi all

Uploaded some of our Friends team Colorado Birding Challenge photos.
One observation I did not mention previously is how green the Pawnee NG is and the many playas, depressions, streams, etc. where water is being seen that has not been seen in years! It is beautiful out there. Not to mention we saw some blooming flowers, too, anticipate many more displaying in coming weeks with all this moisture.

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