Lark Buntings \ Northern Mockingbird \ Broomfield and Westminster CO

[John Tumasonis]

All:

           Another long walk today in rain, mist, and mud, mud, mud.   Route:  From 132nd and Zuni into the Anthem Neighborhood to Anthem Park (Westminster), picked up the Dry Creek Trail going southwest to the Broomfield Waste Water Treatment Plant;  U-Turn back north through Columbine Meadows Park (Broomfield) then northly to Alexx and Michael's Pond.  From 10 am to about 2:30 pm.  

What was seen:

American White Pelican - 4 - flyovers

Double Crested Cormorant - 12 - flying, in ponds and marshes

Great Blue Heron - only 1

Mallard - a few

Canada Goose - a couple

American Kestrel - 1 male

Red Tailed Hawk - 4 - being attacked by grackles, red winged blackbirds and magpies

Swainson's Hawk - 2

Common Pigeon - 4

Eurasian Collared Dove - 12

Mourning Dove - numerous

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Northern Flicker - 12

Downy Woodpecker - 1 female

Eastern Kingbird - 1

Loggerhead Shrike - 1 - by Big Dry Creek Park

Blue Jay - a few

Black Billed Magpie - 14 - one being attacked by a blue jay

American Crow - 4

Barn Swallow - 16 - many nesting now

Cliff Swallow - 50 - under bridges nesting

Northern Rough Winged Swallow - 2

Black Capped Chickadee - 8

Bushtit - 4 - two nesting pairs

House Wren - 4

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher - 4 - close looks, good photo shots

American Robin - 30 - many foraging for worms, taking advantage of the rain and mud

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - 1 - near Big Dry Creek Park (Westminster), close to large prairie dog town to the west and a weedy field.

European Starling - 40

Cedar Waxwing - 6 - foraging in a blooming apple tree

Yellow Warbler - only 1

Audubon's Warbler - 1 female

Chipping Sparrow - only 1

Clay Colored Sparrow - about 10 - two small groups

Song Sparrow - 8

House Sparrow - 4

LARK BUNTING - 9;    4 males and 5 females, near Big Dry Creek Park (Westminster);  in trees, then on ground foraging.  By big prairie dog town to the west.   

Western Meadowlark - 4

Yellow Headed Blackbird - 1

Red Winged Blackbird - 60+

Common Grackle - 40 - pack of 6 attacking a magpie

Brown Headed Cowbird - 10 - both males and females

Bullock's Oriole - 8 - all males, several singing

House Finch - very numerous

American Goldfinch - 10

Big Dry Creek is way up from the rain.  Lots of mud in the underpasses, and the fields are muddy and slick.  

Flowers:  Purple Mustard, Dandelion, Golden Banner, Golden Current, Meadow Salsify, Cranesbill (Storksbill),  Yellow Alyssum, Whitetop, other mustards, etc. etc.  

John T (Tumasonis),  Broomfield CO