Date: 6/7/25 2:08 pm From: John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> Subject: [cobirds] Sandhill Crane and Orchard Orioles - Adams County
All: Saturday June 7th, 2025, at Adams County Fairgrounds \ Riverdale Regional Park and the trail adjoining the Platte River. It baffles me why few birders and naturalists ever visit this area. It has one of the highest concentrations of Bullock's Orioles along the Front Range, along with good numbers of yellow warblers, warbling vireos, pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets, raptors, and kingbirds. I normally park near the restroom on Campground Road and walk due east to the Platte River bikeway just north along Mann Nyholt Lake, crossing the footbridge to get near the river.
Note: there is a lot of construction going on and a road detour is necessary on a dirt road. It's not bad, if you take it slow - passenger car safe.
List: *SANDHILL CRANE* - good looks of it flying low over Mann Nyholt Lake and the adjoining fishing lake. Flying to the North. Adult. Will someone please tell me what a sandhill crane is doing in Adams County in June? American White Pelican - at least 40 - adults and juveniles - in lakes, ponds, on the river and flying Double Crested Cormorant - 30+ in river, ponds, lakes, and flying Canada Goose - 50 - in the river and flying Mallard - 30+ - males and females, mostly along the river Great Blue Heron - 2 - foraging on the river Snowy Egret - 6 - foraging along lakesides Red Tailed Hawk - 1 - flying, the only raptor seen today Eurasian Collared Dove - only 1 Mourning Dove - over 30 - foraging on the ground, and perching in trees Belted Kingfisher - 1- flying along the river Northern Flicker - 7 - most concentrated near the river Western Kingbird - 12 - fights, chases Eastern Kingbird - 4 Western Wood Pewee - 3 - all heard near the river Warbling Vireo - 12 - concentrated in specific areas along the river Blue Jay - 4 Cliff Swallow - hundreds, some gathering mud, others nesting under bridges Barn Swallow - 40 - throughout the area gathering insects Black Capped Chickadee - 3 - only a few heard House Wrens - 35 - high concentrations by the river underbrush and trees American Robin - 60+ Feeding nestlings, foraging, songs, calls, fledglings Gray Catbird - 4 - songs along the river brush land European Starling - 30 or more - many fledglings Yellow Warbler - 20+ Most seen and heard along the river in cottonwoods, willows, and locust trees. Bullock's Oriole was aggressively attacking one. Yellow Breasted Chat - only 2 heard Song Sparrow - 8 - singing along the river Lark Sparrow - 3 - foraging on the ground Western Meadowlark - 1 singing on adjoining golf course Red Winged Blackbird - 100+ along ponds, lakes, and the river; aggressively attacking other birds Common Grackle - 40+ Brown Headed Cowbird - only 2 males Bullock's Oriole - 20+ mature males, females, and 1st spring males. Carrying nesting materials, some nests already fully built, chasing other birds, songs *Orchard Oriole* - 2 males singing. Two separate individuals, both singing on exposed cottonwood tree branches - easy to see. The first was by the footbridge near Mann Nyholt Lake, near the river (seems to have established a territory). The 2nd male was about 1 further north at the end of the Frisbee Golf Range singing in big cottonwood tree. House Finch - 6 - only a few American Goldfinch - 4 House Sparrow - 2 (unusually scant)
Note: one big cottonwood tree had the following birds in it: an Orchard Oriole, 2 Bullock's Orioles, 2 Robins, 1 Eastern Kingbird, 2 Westing Kingbirds, 1 Yellow Warbler, 2 Grackles, 1 Flicker, 1 Red Winged Blackbirds and 1 House Wren - I want that tree form my backyard!
I don't know how prevalent Orchard Orioles are in this area, but I don't remember seeing any there last year at this time.
Happy Birding, John T (Tumasonis) "I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."
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