A Big Day at CSR banding, El Paso Co, Mon

[Steven Brown]

Hey COBirders,

I was hopeful that the mixed forecasts we got might mean we’d get some birds at Clear Spring Ranch today. It did.

While it was wet in COS at dawn, CSR was dusty dry. Low clouds all morning, and a helpful breeze kept birds arriving throughout the morning, new, and many returning birds as well. 55 birds netted today.

I closed at 10:30 as forecasts showed rain was likely after that, and I didn’t want to take a chance getting caught with full nets up, and the possibility of wet birds. It worked out fins.

Highlights today:
FOS Dusky Flycatcher - 2
FOS Magnolia Warbler (SY M)
FOW American Redstart (AD F)
Yellow Warbler -10 (including a wave of 5 in one net at 9:00, and 2 returns)
Com Yellowthroat - 8, (including 2 returns from previous years)
MacGillivray’s Warbler - 3
Wilson’s Warbler - 2
Lincoln’s Sparrow - 8
Mountain White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Lazuli Bunting - 4
Gray Catbird - 5 (including 2 returns)
and netted, but unbanded - Broad-tailed Hummingbird (AD M), and Black-chinned Hummingbird (AD F).


BTW, this also the anniversary of my best/most fun/busiest day banding - May 18, 2008, at Chico Basin Ranch, on a day much like today, only mistier, and breezier, Brian Gibbons and I banded 240 birds, including 140 Swainson’s Thrush. We started at dawn, closed nets at 3:30, and finished banding the last birds about 5:00, with no breaks. It was busy! The haul also included 8 Blackpoll Warblers, a pretty high number for Colorado. Yeah, I really look forward to these May days!

Happy Migration,
Steve Brown
Colo SPgs