April 2008 was a record month in many different ways. First the 179 bird species seen was the highest total since the wildlife inventory began in 1979, surpassing the previous April high of 170 species in 2002. Second we seem to have had a record number of reports for the month, rivaling the number we normally receive in May. Third we added two new species to the wildlife inventory this month; some years have no new species added and it is highly unusual to have more than one in a month. The two new species were very different but both managed to be seen by numerous observers. This is one of the advantages of modern technology, along with the accompanying photographs which were made available on the Web. First a Hudsonian Godwit was seen at Union Reservoir. Although Union Reservoir is in Weld County, we have historically accepted reports from this area to be included in the Boulder County wildlife inventory and will continue to do so. Second a Louisiana Waterthrush was seen along Lefthand Creek in Longmont.

Shorebird migration seemed particularly active with birds reported from all over the county. Some hot spots such as Teller Lakes had reports daily of different species. All four of our regular “peeps” - Semipalmated, Western, Least and Baird’s Sandpipers – were reported as well as a Pectoral Sandpiper. Among less usual sightings were two Black-bellied Plovers, thirteen Semipalmated Plovers, seven Black-necked Stilt and a Long-billed Curlew. We also had several reports of small numbers of Sandhill Cranes on the ground feeding, although these birds seldom seemed to stay very long. White-faced Ibis were seen in many locations, but although observers scoured the flocks looking for Glossy Ibis amongst them, they failed to find any. Similarly, a tentative Short-billed Dowitcher was seen amid a flock of Long-billed Dowitcher, but was not positively identified so has not been included in the wildlife inventory.

Seven species of wren were reported this month: Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Carolina Wren, Bewick’s Wren, House Wren, Sedge Wren, and Marsh Wren. This was only the second report of Sedge Wren for the wildlife inventory, the first having been seen in 2007. A Summer Tanager was the first to be reported since 2003. Other less usual sightings include Gray Flycatcher and Eastern Bluebirds that might possibly be breeding. Three Black-and-White Warblers were reported, but generally very few warblers were seen in April. The bulk of the warbler migration usually occurs in May, and April was still fairly cool with most night temperatures  below freezing until the end of the month.

By the end of April many of our duck species had disappeared or become hard to find. However, observers at the start of the month reported a full complement of our usual ducks. All six of our usual grebe species were also reported. A Cattle Egret was one of our less usual wading birds. Gulls had also begun to disappear with the most common gull being Franklin’s. If there was one area of the county that seemed to be under reported, it was the foothills with such common species as Western Scrub Jay being missed.

May 2008 was an exciting birding month with many rarities spotted. The rarest bird of the month was probably a Ruff seen during a snowstorm at Boulder Reservoir on the first day of the month. Fortunately, even though it only stayed one day, many observers were able to view this bird which was a new species for the wildlife inventory. Shorebird migration was still going strong at the beginning of the month with less usual species including Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Sanderling, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Red-necked Phalarope.  At least one Glossy Ibis was positively identified among a flock of White-faced Ibis. We also had some other reports of possible Glossy Ibis but this bird is notoriously difficult to identify.

Warbler migration was also strong with many unusual species. A Yellow-throated Warbler was the first reported since 1994, and only a third report for the wildlife inventory. A possible Swainson’s Warbler was unfortunately never confirmed as this would have been only the second report for the wildlife inventory, the first having been seen in 1988. Other unusual warblers which have not been seen for at least a year are (with the year last seen in parentheses): Black-throated Gray Warbler (2006), Prairie Warbler (2004) and Hooded Warbler (2004). This last bird is one that used to be seen (or heard) in small numbers yearly and was known to breed for multiple years in the Mountain Parks. A Tennessee Warbler, three Northern Parulas, a Magnolia Warbler, two Blackpoll Warblers, four American Redstarts, a Worm-eating Warbler, an Ovenbird and a Mourning Warbler rounded out the list of unusual warblers. Vireos were also well reported with seven different species. White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and Philadelphia Vireo were all last seen in 2005.

A male Vermilion Flycatcher was seen on the Boulder Creek path to the east of Boulder. This is only the third report of this species to the wildlife inventory, the last report having been in 1987. All our normal flycatchers were reported as well as two Gray Flycatchers and an Ash-throated Flycatcher. Black-chinned and Calliope Hummingbirds were less usual May sightings although they have become commonplace during fall migration in July and August. Field Sparrow (last seen in 2005) and Black-throated Sparrow (last seen in 2006) were two of our less usual sparrow sightings. A Veery was the first reported since 2005. Two Yellow-billed Cuckoos were reported, the first seen since 2005. This is another species that historically bred in the county but has become increasingly rare.

The 236 bird species seen in May was the second highest ever recorded in a single month – only May 2002 surpassed this total with 243 species. Every year different locations seem to act as “hot spots”. This year Sale Lake in Boulder and Waneka Lake in Lafayette seemed particularly productive. However, for a record month, coverage of all types of habitat throughout the month is essential, and the lack of an organized bird count apart from the Indian Peaks Spring Bird Count (IP) did not help with numbers of common species. It is possible to list several species that may well have been present in the county but were not reported. None of these could be called rarities. Into this category fall: Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Sora, California Gull, Northern Pygmy Owl and Loggerhead Shrike. TOP

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Contributors to the April 2008 Inventory:
Linda Andes-Georges, Betty Aspinwall, Bill Blackburn, Mike Blatchley, Alex & Gillian Brown, Carol Cushman, Raymond E. Davis, Anthony Delaney, Todd Deininger, Ted Floyd, Steve Frye, Paula Hansley, Jack Harlan, Thomas Heinrich, Rachel Hopper, Kirk Huffstater, Steve Jones, Loch Kilpatrick, Elena Holly Klaver, Chishun Kwong, Steve Larson, Carolyn Mahakian, Marcia Marvin, Mark Miller, Gene and Lynn Monroe, Christian Nunes, Laura Osborn,  Peter Plage, Suzi Plooster, Bill and Inez Prather, Bill Schmoker, Tim Smaet, Deborahann Smith, Susan Spaulding, Andrew Spencer, Bob Spencer, Walter Szeliga, Oakleigh Thorne, John Tumasonis, John Vanderpoel, Knut Waagan, Glenn Walbeck, David J. Waltman, Tom Wilberding, Wild Bird Center, Bob Zilly, Eric Zorawowicz. TOP

Contributors to the May 2008 Inventory:
Linda Andes-Georges, Mary Balzer, Alan Bell, Mike and Mary Blatchley, John Breitsch, Josh Bruening, Alex & Gillian Brown, Lauren Burke, John Cobb, Mark Chavez, Bob and Elaine Coley, Cathy Comstock, Todd Deininger, Wyatt Earl, Norma Erthal, Ted Floyd, Lonny Frye, Steve Frye, Peter Gent, Maddy Goldhawk, Bryan Guarente,  Paula Hansley, Jack Harlan, Thomas Heinrich, Chuck Hundertmark, Steve Jones, Bill Kaempfer, Chishen Kwong, Steve Larson, Tim Linder, Tony Lechleitner, Tony Leukering, Carolyn Mahakian, Lynn Merrill, Kathy Mihm-Dunning, Mark Miller, Gene and Lynn Monroe, Christian Nunes, George and Marti Oetzel, Sue A. Olmsted, Laura Osborn, Chris Pague, Nathan Pieplow, Peter Plage, Bill and Inez Prather, Sue Riffe, Bill Schmoker, Bob Shade, Randy Siebert, Tim Smart, Susan Spaulding, Cara Stiles, Walter Szeliga, Ann Tagawa, Pamela Tarrall, Neal Thielen, Oakleigh Thorne, John Tumasonis, John Vanderpoel, Knut Waagan, David J. Waltman, Wild Bird Center, Tom Wilberding, Curtis Williams. TOP