Fountain Creek RP Spring Bird Count -- Bear Creek RP count coming Sat., May 16 (El Paso cnty)

[Stephen Getty]

COBirders,

 

16 intrepid birders faced flooding Fountain Creek, hail, and rain for the annual spring bird count at Fountain Creek Regional Park.

 

Despite the weather, total numbers of birds were a bit above average, and 87 species was a bit better than the 25 year average of 84.6 species, yet below the average for the last 10 years of 98 species. The modest clusters of warblers the past week just weren’t around, including countweek Palm Warbler and Redstart.     

 

Several species were seen for the first time in 20-21 years, and were second ever for the count: ring-necked duck, golden eagle, prairie falcon. Glaring misses were Great-horned owl and black-chinned hummingbird. We barely got 1 white-breasted nuthatch, which is peculiar if you’ve birded the cottonwoods at FCRP.

 

Other good birds were 2 Lark Bunting flocks (n=158), Indigo Bunting, Franklin’s Gull, Ash-throated Flycatcher, N. Mockingbird.

 

Cordially,

Steve Getty

Colorado Springs

 

 

** Birders: Please feel free to join us for the Bear Creek Regional Park spring count this coming Saturday, May 16. Teams will meet at 7:00 AM at the Nature Center. The past couple years, this count has had some excellent eastern warblers.