Fort Collins Audubon Society

2015 Field Trip Reports

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: December 13, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 7

Highlights: The highlights of the day were the WEATHER, first and foremost, a late Rock Wren and a small group of Eastern Bluebirds. Nearly 30 species were seen, a good tally for December. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26277760. This field trip lifted our total attendance for 2015 to over 200 people!

Douglas Reservoir

Date: November 14, 2015. Leader: John Shenot

Other attendees: 9

Highlights: Almost 30 species were observed, including Red-breasted Mergansers (distant and challenging to ID), a Northern Shrike and several Bonaparte's Gulls. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25826767.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: November 8, 2015. Leader: Robin Welsh

Other attendees: 9

Highlights: This group observed 28 species, including a Northern Shrike, Bushtits and Eastern Bluebirds! A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25756921.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: October 11, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 8

Highlights: Back to back field trips over the weekend!!! The monthly survey at Bobcat Ridge drew nine people who found over thirty bird species, including Wild Turkeys, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the always entertaining Pygmy Nuthatches. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25379189.

Fossil Creek Reservoir

Date: October 10, 2015. Leader: Sirena Brownlee

Other attendees: 8

Highlights: Lovely morning for a field trip... In addition to the spectacular weather, this group enjoyed seeing too many Western Grebes to count, great views of a Hooded Merganser pair, Franklin's Gulls, and - in the parking lot after some folks had left - a Rock Wren. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25369137.

Wyoming Hereford Ranch (private) and environs

Date: September 30, 2015. Leader: Irene Fortune

Other attendees: 3

Highlights: This experiment with a weekday field trip didn’t have as many attendees as most field trips, but oh! The Birds! More than 50 species were observed, including an Eastern Screech-owl, a Golden-crowned Kinglet and 40(!) Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 2 MacGillivray’s Warblers, a Ferruginous Hawk, and a McCown’s Longspur. Checklists are available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25247775 and http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25247726.

Dixon Reservoir

Date: September 19, 2015. Leader: Sirena Brownlee

Other attendees: 7

Highlights: More than 30 species of birds were observed, including unusually high numbers of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (>10), a Cassin's Vireo, and 4 species of warblers (including Townsend's!). A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25107147.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: September 13, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 9

Highlights: Vesper Sparrows (23 of them) were everywhere. Also seen were a Red-naped Sapsucker, Wilson’s Warblers, and Green-tailed Towhees. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25023445.

Timnath Reservoir

Date: September 12, 2015. Leader: Nick Komar

Other attendees: 6

Highlights: The group saw a wide variety of bird species (more than 50!), including up-close views of a female Northern Harrier, Least and Baird's Sandpipers, and lots of Brewer's Blackbirds. American Golden-Plovers, which are rare for Larimer County, were seen from a very long distance through spotting scopes, and identified by trip leader Nick Komar. The last stragglers who stuck around were also treated to a Cassin's Kingbird. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24996898.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: August 9, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 9

Highlights: Over 50 species were observed, including a dozen (!!!) Sage Thrashers, approximately 30 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, and a Virginia's Warbler. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24555612.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: July 12, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 12

Highlights Hummingbirds galore!!! Almost 50 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds would be amazing enough, but they were joined by 4 Rufous and 2 Calliope Hummingbirds. A Dickcissel was also heard but not seen. The complete checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24254654.

Pawnee National Grassland

Date: June 20, 2015. Leader: Bill Miller

Other attendees: 11

Highlights This field trip was stymied somewhat by the fact that Crow Valley Campground was flooded and closed to the public. Nevertheless, the group drove the bird tour route and saw many Lark Buntings and some Loggerhead Shrikes. (Checklist not available.)

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: June 14, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 14

Highlights An abundance of spring songs and colors! More than 50 species were observed, including Cordilleran Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Yellow-breasted Chats, Lazuli Buntings, and Bullock’s Orioles. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23923598.

Sunrise Ranch (private)

Date: May 30, 2015. Leader: Michael Costello

Other attendees: 10

Highlights The group saw and heard over 50 bird species, including Plumbeous Vireos, a Bushtit, 6 types of sparrows, and Black-headed and Blue Grosbeaks. Also, any day you can say "it is just ANOTHER Red Crossbill" is a very good day! A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23709225.

CSU Environmental Learning Center and beyond

Date: April 18, 2015. Leader: Austin Hess

Other attendees: 3

Highlights This trip visited the CSU Environmental Learning Center, Fossil Creek Reservoir, and Equalizer Lake. More than 60 species were observed, including Marbled Godwit, Clark's Grebe, an early House Wren, Tree Sparrows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and a photogenic Eastern Screech-Owl. Checklists are available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22923014, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22924512, and http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22925548.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: April 12, 2015. Leader: Georgia Doyle

Other attendees: 12

Highlights 31 species were seen, including Double-crested Cormorants (unusual for this location), 2 Great Horned Owls, White-throated Swifts, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23923632.

Loveland Area Lakes

Date: April 5, 2015. Leader: Nick Komar

Other attendees: 8

Highlights The group visited 9 lakes and ponds in and around Loveland, Timnath, and Windsor and tallied 67 species including Thayer's Gulls (Lake Loveland), Clark's Grebe (Houtt's Reservoir), Long-tailed Ducks (Walmart Pond), a large group of Red-breasted Mergansers (East Windsor gravel pits), and early Tree Swallows (Cattail Pond). Some of the checklists from these 9 stops are available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22705904, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22705975, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22705988, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22705986, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22706017, and http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22706060.

Running Deer & Cottonwood Hollow Natural Areas

Date: March 14, 2015. Leader: John Shenot

Other attendees: 9

Highlights Perfect weather, good company, and 29 species observed. Highlights included singing Marsh Wrens, Northern Pintails, and Cinnamon Teal. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22344039.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: February 8, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 19

Highlights Two dozen species were observed, including Golden Eagles, a Northern Shrike, and a Townsend’s Solitaire. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21885368.

Lee Martinez Park

Date: January 24, 2015. Leader: John Shenot

Other attendees: 3

Highlights 20 fairly common species were observed. The least common bird seen was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but the highlight may have been watching an American Kestrel chasing a Red-tailed Hawk. The speed and agility of the smaller kestrel was beautiful to behold! Attendees also enjoyed a glass of cider afterwards. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21521809.

Bobcat Ridge Monthly Survey

Date: January 11, 2015. Leader: Denise Bretting

Other attendees: 8

Highlights 30 species were observed, including a Prairie Falcon, a Northern Shrike, and dozens of Red Crossbills. A checklist is available here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21310055.

See Ptarmigan for more information.