Wyoming Hereford Ranch Birding Trip Report – 13 September 2025

On Saturday, 13 September 2025, seven of us ventured east of Cheyenne to spend the morning birding the Wyoming Hereford Ranch and Reservoir#1 and to look for Mississippi Kite family that nested in Lakeview Cemetery. We started at the Ranch and searched for migrant songbirds. Almost immediately, we found the previously reported Cassin’s Vireo and were afforded great looks. Wilson’s Warblers seemed to be everywhere, and numerous American Goldfinches were overhead. We found a Rock Wren on a small outcrop and picked out two Orange-crowned Warblers amidst all the Wilson’s. We got good looks at Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos and a brief look at a flyover Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Moving on to Reservoir #1, most of the waterbirds were distant with some glare. We were able to pick out some Lesser Yellowlegs, Franklin’s Gulls, Western Grebes, and Ruddy Ducks. A single winter-plumaged American Avocet rested among a flock of molting dabbling ducks. Lastly, we headed into Cheyenne where we located the mottled fledgling Mississippi Kite and got glimpses of the sleeker adult. By noon, we had tallied 58 species for the trip. Cassin’s Vireo and Wilson’s Warbler photos by Heather Johnson.