Longspurs at Cherry Creek Arapahoe

[Larry Modesitt]

Cobirders,

 

After sorting through hundreds of nothing but Vesper Sparrows, I had thrown in my birding towel. When along came Glenn Walbek and Loch Kilpatrick with "You quit too soon. Both McCown's and one Chestnut-collared are there." Sure enough. Opposite the mountain loop were several McCown's. Joe Roller joined me and he spotted the chestnut-collared in the same place. Didn't check much else, tho' saw a willet, some sanderlings and a Wilson's phalarope in a brief look.

Larry Modesitt
Chairman, Board of Directors

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

[Glenn and Laurie]

Folks,

 

There was a fallout of sparrows / longspurs at Cherry Creek today.  Loch, I and others found over 34+ McCown's Longspurs in various stages of plumage, a few Chestnut Collared Longspurs along with hundreds of Vesper Sparrows and a few Lark, Brewer's, Chipping and Savannah's mixed in.  One of the longspurs stood out, very buffy with a pale eyering, faint dark streaking and a median crown stripe.  We photographed the bird that shows some similarity to Smith's Longspur 1st year / non-breeding plumage.  I am not jazzed about the bill in the photographed bird (for Smith's) and we did see some semi-buffy McCown's longspurs with clearly McCown's Longspur tails but the photographed bird looks buffy than any of those.  Those birds also showed gray tones.  Others currently at Cherry Creek are seeing 2 buffy longspurs with tail patterns that resemble Smith's.  I have very little experience with Smith's Longspur so any comments / insight is appreciated.  Also there were 5 Common Terns and I just got word there are 2 Purple Martins there now near the west end. 

 

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO

http://www.pbase.com/gwalbek/2013_birds

[Gary Brower]

Glenn,

Can you be a little more specific?  Are you talking about Cherry  Creek State Park?  And, if so, where in the park?

Thanks,

Gary Brower

Englewood, CO

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