New Species on BBS Routes in South-, Central- and North-Eastern Colorado

[KevyG...@aol.com]

    I just finished my BBS Routes in Baca, Kit Carson & Yuma Counties, had a few surprises including two birds I need identification help on.

 

    Baca County south of Springfield was very wet and produced the biggest surprise: an ephemeral lake near County Roads N and 42 that held a Canvasback, an Avocet, 3 Wilson's Phalarope and 5 Blue-winged Teal; all new species for the Edler BBS Route.  Later I saw what I believe to be an Ash-throated Flycatcher at County Roads N and 1/2 mile east of 32, another new species for the route and one I need help ensuring I got it right before I report it.  I did get a couple of pictures of it, not great, but I think good enough to be diagnostic.

 

    Kit Carson County east of Burlington, despite winds in the mid-20-mph range all morning, produced a ton of Lark Buntings along with a few Blue Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles and Brown Thrashers.  The new bird for the Burlington Route was a Hooded Oriole in a small clump of trees (which also produced 2 of the thrashers and 1 of the grosbeaks), on County Road 57 between CR's JJ & KK.  This oriole is the other new species that I need help in identifying, I have a few pictures of it as well.

 

   Yuma County southeast of the town of Yuma failed to produce two of my favorite 'semi-regulars', Greater Prairie Chicken and Upland Sandpiper.  Lark Buntings were rather scarce but it seems to be a banner year up there for Lark Sparrows, they were everywhere.  I was surprised to see 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows on County Road 10 between CR's Y.5 and AA; though they'd been seen on the Abarr Route sometime in the past I hadn't seen any in all the years I've run the route.

 

   On the way home I got good looks at a male Baltimore Oriole in fine breeding plumage, at the bridge on US 36 over the Arickaree 'River' at the east/south end of the town of Cope in Washington County.  He had a singing male Bullock's Oriole for company.

 

   Please, if you would be willing to render an opinion on the ATFL and/or HOOR please let me know and I'll email you my pictures off-line.  Thanks!

 

Kevin Corwin

west Centennial, Arapahoe County