Fort Collins City Park complex, including Grandview Cemetery (Larimer) on 5/18/2020

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

While the big push of neotropical migrants appears to be waning, interesting things still are happening. 

Sheldon Lake at City Park:

Blackpoll Warbler (one adult male in the nw corner this morning)

Orange-crowned Warbler (nw corner)

Mallard (1st ducklings on parade that I've seen, one regular walker said they actually appeared yesterday)

Carp are spawning along the shore, driving the White Pelicans crazy trying to figure out how to get them.

Osprey visits the lake at least once a day to get a carp to take back its nest somewhere off to the n along the Poudre River

Violet-green Swallows must be nesting locally, seen every day.  This is not historically normal.

Red-eared Sliders (the little green pet store turtles turned loose and now grown big) compete with waterfowl like ducks, pelicans, cormorants, geese and a Great Blue Heron for a space on the few available logs).  These are native to the southeastern US, out-compete our native W. Painted Turtle. 

                                                                               

Wood Duck pair has to be nesting somewhere in the park near the tennis courts or adjacent neighborhood

Say's Phoebe pair may be nesting quietly on Club Tico or one of the swimming pool buildings

(Chimney Swift seen above the lake yesterday)

Grandview Cemetery:

Blackpoll Warbler female or immature seen in American Elm just south of entry bridge feeding on European Elm Scales

Black-chinned Hummingbird female sitting on nest (only the 2nd I've known about at this site)

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds getting a late start on nesting but it appears a handful of nests will be active in coming weeks.  Of the nests I know of, the farthest one along is at the base of the Red-tailed Hawk nest tree.  Literature from the Southwest suggests hummers do this as a form of protection from nest predators like squirrels and jays that are reluctant to visit a hawk territory.

(Least Flycatcher confirmed yesterday, not seen today)

Western Wood-Pewee heard once today (possibly a starling mimic, but I don't think so)

Red-tailed Hawk nest in sw corner with at least one visible white nestling

Ruby-crowned Kinglet song is diminishing, I think because some have moved on, some are nesting.  One or two desperados still singing.

Chipping Sparrows usually nest in small numbers but that may not happen this summer

House Finches actively courting/nest building for Round 2

"Common Colorfuls" (Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, W. Tanager and Bh/Rb Grosbeaks) mostly moved on, a few buntings at feeders in the neighborhood

Bushtits (at least 4 pairs) trying to pull off broods, but fox squirrels are making their lives miserable

Major hatch right now of small pale moths.  These are alfalfa webworms.  Caterpillar food plant in the city is probably dandelions. Birds go for them.

  

                                                                               

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

[Karen Drozda]

Thanks, Dave.  fun to read and makes me more observant in my patch at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.

[John Rawinski]

Great report Dave.