Larimer and Weld

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

I ran my shrike route today just to get out of the apartment.  Here are some random observations.

 

Hamilton Reservoir Overlook

Black Tern (estimate 45)

No loons or grebes that I could see

Chipping Sparrows (molt migrants, flying over the parking area n to s)

Vesper Sparrow (1 along res shore below the Overlook)

Rattlesnake warning signs (at least 3)

No rattlesnakes (still have never see one here, although it does look perfect for them)

Shark? (an occasional large dorsal fin appears out of the water from one of the Asian Grass Carp introduced to eat algae, some of which are over 4 feet long and reportedly weigh 100 lbs!)

 

Larimer CR5 from Buckeye Road north to CR92

Lark Buntings (small groups roaming around)

Sage Thrasher (3)

Loggerhead Shrike (1)

 

Weld CR122 from US85 e to CR37

Sage Thrasher (3)

Loggerhead Shrike (1)

 

Weld CR37 from 122 s to 114

Sage Thrasher (2)

Cassin’s Sparrow (1)

Western Kingbird (a few)

Western Wood-Pewee (1 on fence, obvious bird on the move)

Common Nighthawk (10+ cruising low over the saltbush prairie)

Lark Bunting (a few)

Loggerhead Shrike (3)

                Saw four fresh items impaled near where I saw a pair of adult shrikes (thinking about a second brood?);

         

From left to right: pallid-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis pallidipennis); a scarab (Orizabus pyriformis); many-lined skink (Eumeces multivirgatus) and two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivitattus)

 

Crom Lake (west of Pierce on Weld CR31 s of CR90

Very high water, both sides, very few birds, nothing noteworthy

 

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins