Reporting for May 2009 followed the trend of recent years with many reports of rare birds but few of common species. Thus the number of bird species observed (215) was much lower than it probably need have been. International Bird Migratory Day at Walden Ponds and the Indian Peaks Spring Count (IP) did help, but did not have the widespread coverage needed to get all possible species. Birds that were missed included Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull and Horned Lark. Perhaps the most exciting days of the month came with the cold front on May 10 and 11. For two days it seemed that one could go anywhere in the county and find an amazing number of birds including rarities. Clay-colored Sparrows were reported in their hundreds from all over the eastern part of the county; this is a bird which is usually found only in single digits if at all.

Shorebird migration was still going strong for the first half of the month with all the expected species reported. Black-bellied Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope were new species for the year. Duck species were hard to find and generally reported in very low numbers. Again it is necessary to be out looking for these species early in the month when there is more chance of them being found. Three species of tern were reported: Forster’s Tern, Black Tern and Caspian Tern. Among the many White-faced Ibis reported, there were at least two Glossy Ibis. Cattle Egret was new for the year.

Warbler migration was also strong with a few rarities. Black-throated Green Warbler was seen for the first time since 2007. Three Black-throated Gray Warblers were reported and six Blackpoll Warblers in five different locations. This year there did not seem to be any one particular place that was significantly better for warblers; sightings came from all over the county. Other unusual warblers included a Tennessee Warbler, a Nashville Warbler, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, two Magnolia Warblers, a Worm-eating Warbler, two Ovenbirds and a Hooded Warbler. Wilson’s Warblers were barely reported with just one sighting in the high country at the end of the month, but there was no shortage of reports of our other breeding warblers. It will be interesting to see whether the number of Wilson Warblers is down throughout the summer.

The Scarlet Tanager in Gregory Canyon returned on schedule for the third consecutive year. Three separate Summer Tanagers were also reported. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks seemed to be everywhere with nine reported. Sparrow reporting was good with a Field Sparrow being the rarest sighting.  A Gray-cheeked Thrush was the first reported since 2007. Large numbers of Swainson’s Thrushes were reported, especially during the cold front of May 10 and 11. This seems early for this species which is often still migrating at the beginning of June. However, the number of Hermit Thrushes reported was far less than normal. Two unusual flycatchers were Eastern Phoebe and Cassin’s Kingbird which were both last seen in 2006.

Two birds stood out in June as exceptional. The first, a Kentucky Warbler found in Gregory Canyon lingered there all month. This elusive bird was last seen in the county in 1998, and tested many birder’s patience with skulking behavior that made it remarkably difficult to observe, and even more difficult to photograph. Fortunately, it was fairly vocal. The other sighting was of a Great-crested Flycatcher, also last seen in 1998. This bird was only seen once by a single group of birders, and did not seem to generate the same amount of excitement as the Kentucky Warbler. The wildlife inventory has had four previous past records of Kentucky Warbler, and three of Great-crested Flycatcher, although multiple observers have seen each Kentucky Warbler. Possibly an added enticement for birders visiting Gregory Canyon was the chance of also seeing our resident Scarlet Tanager. This is the third consecutive year that this bird has been sighted.

Spring migration was still underway in the first half of the month, although not as evident as in May. A few species are known as notoriously late migrants such as Willow Flycatcher and Swainson’s Thrush. A Black-necked Stilt was a late shorebird sighting. Some unusual warblers were seen, some of which might potentially breed in the county. These included a Chestnut-sided Warbler, three American Redstarts, three Ovenbirds, and two Hooded Warblers. Also seen, but probably not breeding were a Northern Parula, a Black-and-White Warbler and a Northern Waterthrush. An Orange-crowned Warbler seen on the Indian Peaks Breeding Bird Count (IP) was a very late spring migrant. Another bird that seems to be newly breeding in the county is Black-chinned Hummingbird. We were fortunate enough to have a pair in our South Boulder yard all summer, but never managed to locate a nest.

Six species of owl were well reported, including Flammulated Owl, nesting Northern Pygmy Owl and Long-eared Owl. There were two separate sightings of Red-headed Woodpecker, a bird last seen in 2007. This bird used to nest in the county but has become increasingly uncommon. Dickcissel was another bird that had not been reported since 2007. A White-winged Dove was seen in a Louisville yard in the early part of the month.

Altogether 172 bird species were reported in June. This is the second highest number of species reported for June since the wildlife inventory started, only surpassed by last year’s 177 species. This was in spite of no gulls or terns being reported, and such common species as Belted Kingfisher being missed. TOP