September 29: Kettle Creek Lakes, led by Risë Foster-Bruder

On a beautiful fall day, not too warm – not too cold, four intrepid birders hiked through the Kettle Creek Lakes area near the south entrance to the USAFA.  We had a good variety of birds and plenty of activity to keep us occupied.

Birds: Black-billed Magpie, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker (M & F), Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Bluejay, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Western Scrub Jay, Lesser Goldfinch (Green-backed), Pine Siskin, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch (Black-backed), Mourning Dove, Mountain Bluebird, Western Tanager (Female), Chipping Sparrow, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Common Grackle, Red-tailed Hawk, European Starling, Merlin (?), Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Harrier, Steller’s Jay, Virginia Rail, Black-crowned Night-Heron (Immature), Red-winged Blackbird, Raptor – Unidentified, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Common Raven, Western Bluebird, Warbler species.

June 23: Red Rock housing area, Hwy. 115

Birds: Ring-billed Gull, American Crow, European Starling, Canada Goose, Black-billed Magpie, Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey, Common Grackle, Barn Swallow, Broad-tailed Hummer, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Western Bluebird, Western Scrub Jay, Lesser Goldfinch, American Robin, Violet-green Swallow, Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Western Wood Pee-wee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Least Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer Blackbird and Turkey Vulture.

Two folks went to Bear Creek Nature Center following the trip and saw the Northern Parula.

June 25, 2007: Emerald Valley, led by Ken Pals et. al.

Blooms: Blue Columbine, Wild Iris, Shooting Star, Pussy Toes, Blue Mist Penstemon, Lousewort, Green Bog Orchid, Senecio sp., Wild Rose, Wild Geranium, Evening Primrose, Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry, One-sided Penstemon, Stone Crop, Wild Raspberry, Spotted Coralroot Orchid, Wild Parsley, Blue-eyed Grass, Blue Clematis, Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid.

Butterflies: Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Fritalleri species, Skipper, Comma, Question Mark, Yellow Sulphur, Blue Melissa.

Bires: Broad-tailed Hummer, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Eurasian Collared Dove, Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Western Tanager, Cooper’s Hawk, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden Eagle, Warbling Vireo, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Least Flycatcher, House Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, Violet-green Swallow, Chipping Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Mountain Chickadee.