North Larimer Co 11/5

[Derek Hill]

COBirds,

Day off and decided to explore Larimer Co north of Ft Collins this afternoon exploring various small lakes and open land. Main goal being the 3 Tundra Swans Leatherman reported yesterday, which I did not manage to find - not surprising given they departed during his observation and there are a ton of water bodies around.  Not a ton of birds around but was nice to explore. Decent numbers of waterfowl, very low raptor and passerine numbers. One group of ~30 Sandhill Cranes along the n shore of N Poudre Reservoir #6.  One Common Loon on Douglas Reservoir. Personal highlight of the day was a pair of Lapland Longspurs flushed from near the road within Soapstone Prairie - rattled and 'tew'ed and looked good for LALO in flight.

Canada Goose - several flocks about
ducks - decent amount, few dozen dabblers and divers scattered at small
lakes n of town, mostly large dabblers (gad/mall/wig) and some diving
ducks (bufflehead, scaup/ringneck, 1 redhead), and a few com. merg
types (no scope today))
Gadwall - surely a couple/few dozen at least
am wigeon - 2+, prob more
mallard - few dozen
redhead - at least 1
rndu/scaup - small #s <100 total
bufflehead - 2-3 dozen scattered
com. merganser - 5+ probable distant birds on small lake
Common Loon  - 1-2 FOS
W Grebe - 5
Great Blue Heron - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Am Kestrel - 5
Sandhill Crane - 30
(very few raptors, no apparent coots, pelicans, cormorants or killdeer,
few gulls)
rock pigeon - 5
collared-dove - 5
raven sp - 2 at soapstone prairie
horned lark - 2 soapstone prairie
am robin - couple dozen
starling
song sparrow - 1 in weeds e side of Douglas Reservoir
lapland longspur - 2

Good birding,
Derek Hill
Fort Collins