Sora -- Florissant Fossil Beds N.M. (Teller)

[Michael Turisk]

Although the primary purpose of a Sunday visit to Florissant was to enjoy the impressive wildflower display, I always have eyes and ears trained for birds.  While birding was admittedly  slow, I did hear the distinctive call of a SORA while walking the Boulder Creek Trail which parallels a large, wet and grassy meadow for a portion of its length. 

 

I'm new to Colorado, so am just beginning to understand occurrence and distribution here. I realize Sora is a likely a common bird in appropriate habitat, but thought it rather unusual given the location (and elevation).

Michael Turisk

Woodland Park, CO

[Amber Carver]

I was up there Sunday too and did not find it to be "slow," but perhaps that's because I wasn't expecting to see any birds at all.  I was pleased with the very cooperative Williamson's Sapsuckers (2+ pairs); family of Mountain Bluebirds; White-breasted, Red-breasted, and Pygmy Nuthatches in the same tree; Yellow-rumped Warblers and Pink-sided Juncos singing their hearts out; Broad-tailed Hummingbirds buzzing with gusto; and a Chipping Sparrow in his best breeding duds.  I must add that I had my son with me so I couldn't walk far, and all of these birds were on the short loop within spitting distance of the visitor center.  None of them was terribly unusual, but I enjoyed seeing them nonetheless. I would have loved to see or hear a Sora.  Hopefully someone can go up there soon and confirm.  Thanks for the report.

-Amber

Littleton, CO 

[Amber Carver]

As Nick Komar correctly pointed out, they were Gray-headed, not Pink-sided.  I was just testing you all :-)

-Amber