August and September 2003 continued the trend of the wildlife inventory receiving very few full reports - see the comments for June and July. Both August and September had record low numbers of bird species, with totals of 111 and 145 species respectively. Bad misses included American Coot, Belted Kingfisher, and Townsend’s Solitaire in August, and American Dipper for both months. Many summer migrants that we would normally expect to be present in early September were never reported. This is our first use of the latest (44th supplement) American Ornithological Union (A.O.U.) Checklist. This mainly affects the taxonomical order of the birds, and has not created many changes in local species. Geese, ducks and grouse-like birds now precede loons and grebes. Rock doves are now called Rock Pigeons, and what was the Three-toed Woodpecker is now the American Three-toed Woodpecker.

August 2003 was wetter than average. This might have led one to expect a strong shorebird presence, but in fact shorebird migration seemed to continue with a steady trickle of birds throughout both August and September. Baird’s Sandpipers were seen for the first time in 2003 during August; this is often one of the shorebirds more commonly seen in fall migration than in spring. In September we had fourteen Red-necked Phalarope reported and none of the more usual Wilson’s Phalarope. Red-necked Phalarope is a bird that seems to be on the increase.

September 2003 was a fairly cool and dry month. It will be remembered for the influx of terns into the county. Bill Schmoker counted an amazing 86 Common Terns on Boulder Reservoir on September 13. Other observers saw Common Terns at three other locations on the same day. Bill also found an Arctic Tern on Boulder Reservoir; this was our first record for the county as all past inventory reports had been at Union Reservoir in Weld County. Another Arctic Tern was seen at Union Reservoir on the 13th, along with Forster’s, Common and Black Terns. Gulls were also well reported with Sabine’s Gulls at Little Gaynor Lake, Lagerman Reservoir and Union Reservoir. A Bonaparte’s Gull was also seen at Little Gaynor.

The number of hummingbirds was beginning to decline by late August, but we had four hummingbird species reported in August: Black-chinned, Calliope, Broad-tailed and Rufous. Gray Flycatcher and Cassin’s Kingbird are two of our less usual flycatchers that were reported for the first time this year. Other first sightings for the year included Townsend’s Warbler, Cassin’s Vireo and Blue-headed Vireo. Townsend’s Warbler is habitually seen in the fall rather than the spring. The two vireos were formerly both designated as Solitary Vireo, but were split into separate species in 2000. Our breeding Solitary Vireo” became the Plumbeous Vireo.

We wish to thank Steve Jones for reporting five different species of bats in August. We would welcome more reports of this kind. We also received reports of two different woodrat species. TOP