Clear Spgs Ranch, El Paso Co, Fri

[Steven Brown]

Hi COBirders,

Well, it IS May 15, and it IS the peak of migration, and today was my busiest day banding this spring with 30 birds banded, and 8 species of warblers!
N Waterthrush, Yellow, Wilson’s, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray’s, Virginia’s, Com Yellowthroat, YB Chat, (and saw Audubon’s Yellow-rumps). Small birds were again moving through all morning, and there were several different waves of arriving birds, especially with 1/3 of the captures involving Yellow Warblers. Also banded three N Rough-winged Swallows
for the first time, and got to see the rough wing!

Also banded several Gray Catbirds, (and re-caught one banded by me in 2013), Brown Thrasher, Red-winged Blackbirds, Chipping Sparrow. It has been interesting to see such site fidelity in several species banded in previous seasons, migrating South, then returning to the same patch this year - in Yellow Warblers, House Wren, YB Chat, and Gray Catbird. Very cool.

Also observed FOS's W Wood-Pewee and Eastern Kingbird, but did not see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher where I looked.

Good Birding,
Steve Brown
Colo Spgs