Trip Report: Rock Creek Canyon

Five birders managed to dragged themselves out of bed quite early this morning for a hike in Rock Creek Canyon. I was hesitant to schedule the trip this early for fear of losing possible participants, but, in the end, I think we were all quite happy with the decision. The dawn chorus in the canyon was simply overwhelming.

Looking for a singing Northern Waterthrush...and a MacGillivray's Warbler...and a Veery...

The primary impetus for this trip was the chance to see uncommon breeders that are difficult to find elsewhere this time of year. We got great looks at most species in this category and heard all the other ones we were hoping for. Highlights included Fox Sparrow, American Redstart, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Northern Waterthrush, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and Gray Catbird.

Singing (Slate-colored) Fox Sparrow.

 The group also got incredible looks at some of the more common yet delightful species including many Evening Grosbeaks, Western Tanager, MacGillivray's Warbler, Hammond's Flycatcher, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and Spotted Sandpiper.

As always, the butterflies, wildflowers, and non-avian wildlife (including 3 moose) in the canyon did not disappoint.

Spotted Sandpiper.

(All pictures in this post are from Laurel Armstrong)



A full checklist of the species encountered is listed below:

2 Common Merganser
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Spotted Sandpiper
2 Mourning Dove
4 Broad-tailed Hummingbird
1 Red-naped Sapsucker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
4 Western Wood-Pewee
8 Hammond's Flycatcher
2 Dusky Flycatcher
3 Cordilleran Flycather
15 Warbling Vireo
1 Steller's Jay
1 Clark's Nutcracker
1 American Crow
2 Tree Swallow
6 Mountain Chickadee
5 House Wren
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
5 Veery
5 Swainson's Thrush
10 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
2 Cedar Waxwing
3 Northern Waterthrush
6 MacGillivray's Warbler
1 American Redstart
8 Yellow Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Chipping Sparrow
3 Fox Sparrow
2 Song Sparrow
1 Green-tailed Towhee
8 Western Tanager
4 Black-headed Grosbeak
3 Lazuli Bunting
6 Pine Siskin
4 American Goldfinch
15 Evening Grosbeak

Upcoming Trip: Rock Creek Canyon

Golden-crowned Kinglet, photo by Stephen Parsons

Our next field trip, this coming Saturday, June 24, will be to Rock Creek Canyon, up in the Snowy Range. Rock Creek Canyon is a true gem of the Snowies. This cool, shady canyon is home to a fantastic diversity of organisms that aren't always easy to find in the Laramie area. Swainson's Thrushes, Veery, Least Flycatcher, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Evening Grosbeaks breed here among many others. The area also hosts an impressive diversity of plant life and a special reptile that we will also look for. We will plan on spending a couple of hours exploring the area, including a roughly 2 mile hike.

For more info on Rock Creek Canyon and the Arlington trailhead, check out this website.

Meet at 6:00 am the Eppson Senior Center to carpool. We will be back to Laramie by noon, so if you can only join us for part of the trip be prepared to drive yourself or coordinate with others ahead of time.

All Laramie Audubon field trips are free and open to the public; families are welcome. Bring binoculars, water and snacks, and dress for the weather.

Kids' Nature Walk Recap

Photos and post by Lisa Cox, I'm just putting it up. - Libby
 
A small but enthusiastic group gathered for a nature walk BINGO game in LaBonte Park on Saturday morning, June 10. The weather was perfect, with sun and only the slightest breeze, and the group took a leisurely walk around the lake with many stops to look closer and talk about the natural world around us in the park. We spied many of the items on our BINGO cards, including irises and other flowers, cottonwood and spruce trees and seed cones, bees, damselflies, several birds, and at the end of the walk, in the Feeding Laramie Valley yard (of course!) a rabbit and squirrel.

Birds observed: several red-winged blackbirds, house finches, American crows, grackles and house sparrows, four California gulls, three mallard ducks, grackle, two nighthawks, two American goldfinches and a Eurasian collared dove.

Families, keep your eyes on the calendar for future outings geared toward kids. 

Upcoming trip: Labonte nature walk for Kids

Laramie Audubon will lead a special nature walk designed for kids at Labonte Park this Saturday, June 10, at 9 am. We will meet by the Feeding Laramie Valley building on 9th Street. 

Join Lisa and Beth to explore the habitats of Labonte Park, including the plants, flowers, and birds that live there! With our best naturalist skills we will hunt, question, and traverse through out local park. Please meet us at the Feeding Laramie Valley building with your naturalist tools (investigative eyes and curiosity) and we'll supplement the tools with a checklist and scavenger hunt. Bring binoculars if you have them. Please plan on exploring the park for two hours.