Longspurs and snow

[Norm Erthal]

Last Wednesday, Ira Sanders and I went east during the snow to look for longspurs and sparrows. With the fields mostly completely covered with snow, flocks of horned larks were on and near the roads. In the flocks, we found 3 McCown's, 2 Lapland and 1 Chestnut-collared Longspur. There was 1 bird that was suggestive of a female Smith's but most likely a female chestnut-collared. I am going to make another trip to look for longspurs and sparrows. Smith's Longspur come through Kansas from mid-March through April, Henslow's Sparrow from April 10 through May 3, and Baird's Sparrow from April 6 through May 4. Nelson's Sparrow arrives in Kansas on April 20.  I think this is the ideal way to find these birds in Colorado. Hopefully this time, the ice will not build up under my vehicle so much that the power steering belt is not pushed off the pulley. It at least provided an upper body workout for a few days until I got it fixed. Anyone interested in joining me can contact me on my cell at 303-917-2596. There is snow forecast tonight for the eastern plains with 6 inches as of yesterday morning in Ft Morgan.

Another bird that comes through this early is Louisiana Waterthrush which is as far north as Iowa a week ago.

Norm Erthal

Arvada