N Waterthrush (3!), CSR, El Paso Co, Wed.

[Steve Brown]

Hi COBirders,

THREE more NOWA today at Clear Spring Ranch. A great morning all around. It was cool, light breeze, overcast, even some sprinkles, and the birds stayed active past noon for banding.

Tis morning I talked to the farmer who leases the state land for hay fields. The reason I still have a deep field across from me (oats, BTW), is that it didn't get cut two weeks ago, and has stayed too wet since! He says the birds are cleaning out the field. I can attest to how many are taking advantage of the bounty. I've banded over 350 birds coming out of the fields, with only a handful of recaptures from previous days. A lot of birds in a short time, and a real bonus for me.

I had a "fall-out/drop-in" event about 9:00, with the sudden appearance of the NOWAs, 6 Wilson's Warblers, 10 Lazuli Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, FOS brewer's Sparrow, and 5 Savannah Sparrows (as well as lotsa Chipping Sparrows).

So with the news that the field will get cut soon, and with the perfect cool conditions, I stayed open longer than normal today, and didn't take down nets until after 12:00. Another record day, with 108 birds banded. (!!! 30 is a REAL Good day for me). New for me were 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds banded, from a mixed flock of RW Blackbirds, YH Blackbirds, BH Cowbirds, and Com Grackles that probably numbered over 1000, and doing their part to consume the oat field. Yeah, a pretty good day.

Happy Migration,
Steve Brown
Colorado Springs