Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Weld County

[marimammoser]

I had a couple of hours to spare so I went to the western edge of the Pawnee Grasslands to look for Longspurs.

I found 8-10 Chestnut-collared Longspurs along Weld County Road 114 between county roads 45 and 47 with

at least 5 of these being males. I had the pleasant experience of watching a male on the ground at about 35

feet. I then found a small group of 3-4 Chestnut-collared Longspurs along Weld County Road 49 about 1/2 mile

south of County Road 114. Three of these were also males and I watched another male on the ground at about

70 feet.

I did not find McCown's Longspur, but again I only had a couple of hours. I encountered numerous flocks of

Vesper Sparrows along the route totaling about 50 birds.

Joe Mammoser

Fort Collins