Lamar Area (2/6-11) Prowers and Bent
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DAVID A LEATHERMAN
Feb 12, 2016, 2:20:02 AM2/12/16
to COBIRDS
Highlights of my recent visit to the Lamar area are as follows:
Lamar's Willow Creek from Willow Creek Park south thru the LCC Woods to the Woodland Park Subdivision/College Drive (Prowers)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (at least 3, maybe as many as 5)
Northern Cardinal (1 pair, south end of LCC Woods on 2/9)
Bullock's Oriole (f, first reported by Jill White Smith on CFO Facebook on 2/10, seen by me on 2/11, in undeveloped sand dune area with Russian-olives and Plains Cottonwoods between College Drive and Woodland Park Subdivision south of LCC, private, eating Russian-olives in trees and off ground, only the second I have ever seen in CO during the winter period, both in Lamar (first one eating dried up grapes (aka raisins) in residential area on w side of Memorial Drive nw of Fairmount Cemetery, 1Dec1999). Neither grapes or Russian-olive fruits are mentioned in the BNA account for Bullock's Oriole. Suspect it might also be eating juniper berries and/or visiting feeders but no confirmation.
White-breasted Nuthatch (eastern) LCC Woods
Common Grackle (1, seen at a feeder and the same bird (I think) was near the oriole).
White-winged Dove (1, where the oriole was, and a few also seen in Willow Creek Subdivision e of Willow Creek Park)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 adult male) north end of Willow Creek Park in pines just se of restroom building, usually up high, tough to see, first seen late last year
Lake Hasty (Bent), including the outlet canal south of the lake and the CG
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1m, getting bostrichid beetles from fire-charred tamarisk south and southwest of the lake)
White Pelican (2 along the outlet canal near the weir, one with green wing tag with white letters (Utah 3P1))
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 getting Russian-olives from the grass, north side of CG)
NO Eastern Bluebirds
Thurston Reservoir about 5 miles north of Lamar (Prowers):
Greater White-fronted Goose (1 in with a few hundred white-cheeked geese)
Other Comments:
Area very dry, water mostly open, good numbers of common waterfowl, 80 degrees on 10th of February!
Road over John Martin Res dam is closed. Why?
Dorm construction on-going at LCC, including ominous pipework between mid-college and the creek that may result in closure of the road behind the college for the next several months. Not sure if foot traffic will be able to cross this area or if birding the LCC Woods will require doing so in two sections: the north section, then drive around on 287 to the south section.
Marsh Wrens heard calling from various cattail marshes near Lamar and Lake Hasty. Good number of Northern Harriers, three Loggerhead Shrikes (no Northerns), few Harlan's Hawks around, saw one bird I believe was a dark Rough-legged Hawk but could not confirm, few Merlins, NO cranes that I saw or heard, did NOT see any white geese in Lamar proper but they are no doubt around (with plenty at John Martin Res), pockets of Mourning Doves here and there, as is normal in winter lots of Western Meadowlarks (i.e. NOT harbingers). Did NOT see or hear a single longspur in many miles of driving south of Caddoa and working over to US287 near Gobbler's Knob half way between Lamar and Two Buttes turnoff. Unidentifiable ravens were occasionally seen. NO redpolls, despite checking every goldfinch and siskin. Two Eastern Bluebirds at Fairmount Cemetery (south edge), while others have been reported near the hospital. Saw one rather worn anglewing butterfly at LCC which I believe was a Satyr Comma and one Festive Tiger Beetle (C. scutellaris) at the oriole site.
Total of 65 species in the Lamar "CBC" circle, if there was one.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Lamar's Willow Creek from Willow Creek Park south thru the LCC Woods to the Woodland Park Subdivision/College Drive (Prowers)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (at least 3, maybe as many as 5)
Northern Cardinal (1 pair, south end of LCC Woods on 2/9)
Bullock's Oriole (f, first reported by Jill White Smith on CFO Facebook on 2/10, seen by me on 2/11, in undeveloped sand dune area with Russian-olives and Plains Cottonwoods between College Drive and Woodland Park Subdivision south of LCC, private, eating Russian-olives in trees and off ground, only the second I have ever seen in CO during the winter period, both in Lamar (first one eating dried up grapes (aka raisins) in residential area on w side of Memorial Drive nw of Fairmount Cemetery, 1Dec1999). Neither grapes or Russian-olive fruits are mentioned in the BNA account for Bullock's Oriole. Suspect it might also be eating juniper berries and/or visiting feeders but no confirmation.
White-breasted Nuthatch (eastern) LCC Woods
Common Grackle (1, seen at a feeder and the same bird (I think) was near the oriole).
White-winged Dove (1, where the oriole was, and a few also seen in Willow Creek Subdivision e of Willow Creek Park)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 adult male) north end of Willow Creek Park in pines just se of restroom building, usually up high, tough to see, first seen late last year
Lake Hasty (Bent), including the outlet canal south of the lake and the CG
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1m, getting bostrichid beetles from fire-charred tamarisk south and southwest of the lake)
White Pelican (2 along the outlet canal near the weir, one with green wing tag with white letters (Utah 3P1))
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 getting Russian-olives from the grass, north side of CG)
NO Eastern Bluebirds
Thurston Reservoir about 5 miles north of Lamar (Prowers):
Greater White-fronted Goose (1 in with a few hundred white-cheeked geese)
Other Comments:
Area very dry, water mostly open, good numbers of common waterfowl, 80 degrees on 10th of February!
Road over John Martin Res dam is closed. Why?
Dorm construction on-going at LCC, including ominous pipework between mid-college and the creek that may result in closure of the road behind the college for the next several months. Not sure if foot traffic will be able to cross this area or if birding the LCC Woods will require doing so in two sections: the north section, then drive around on 287 to the south section.
Marsh Wrens heard calling from various cattail marshes near Lamar and Lake Hasty. Good number of Northern Harriers, three Loggerhead Shrikes (no Northerns), few Harlan's Hawks around, saw one bird I believe was a dark Rough-legged Hawk but could not confirm, few Merlins, NO cranes that I saw or heard, did NOT see any white geese in Lamar proper but they are no doubt around (with plenty at John Martin Res), pockets of Mourning Doves here and there, as is normal in winter lots of Western Meadowlarks (i.e. NOT harbingers). Did NOT see or hear a single longspur in many miles of driving south of Caddoa and working over to US287 near Gobbler's Knob half way between Lamar and Two Buttes turnoff. Unidentifiable ravens were occasionally seen. NO redpolls, despite checking every goldfinch and siskin. Two Eastern Bluebirds at Fairmount Cemetery (south edge), while others have been reported near the hospital. Saw one rather worn anglewing butterfly at LCC which I believe was a Satyr Comma and one Festive Tiger Beetle (C. scutellaris) at the oriole site.
Total of 65 species in the Lamar "CBC" circle, if there was one.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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