Field trip coordinator, Howard Horne, submitted this report for the CBA field trip to Ft. Morgan on November 8, 2008.
Ten members of CBA birded Fort Morgan Saturday (November 8th) for our first field trip of the month. The birding was moderate, although considering the passage of a weak front on Friday that brought some much needed rain to the area, more migrants (and vagrant surprises) were expected than had. Here are some of the highlights:
FRANKLIN’S GULL (1 well-studied individual deeply buried and hiding with 100’s of Laughing Gulls and Royal Terns at Mobile Point).
COMMON TERN (1 seen by Ben Garmon and William Lilly at Mobile Point)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (~10 individuals; Four birds seen together on the wires at the stable ground plus several more seen in flight at various locations)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (1 at the seawall on the south side of the fort)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (1 along woods bordering entrance road, directly west of the stable grounds)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (1 flushed and observed perched by Greg and Debi Jackson in the runway field with Savannah Sparrows)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (1 female seen by Greg and Debi in the middle grounds)
Common Loon (one near the ferry landing; first of the season)
Reddish Egret (one at Mobile Point marsh)
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (one fly-by)
Cooper’s Hawk (several or the same individual flying by?)
Black-bellied Plover (several in open runway field)
Sandwich Tern (several at Mobile Point)
Rock Pigeon (1 with green bands on each leg at the ferry landing)
Mourning Dove (abundantly common)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1; late)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (common)
Pine Warbler (Common)
Palm Warbler (Common)
Orange-crowned Warbler (one near stable grounds)
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow (Common)
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark (common in runway field)
Indigo Bunting (1; late)
