The Arkansas Valley Audubon Society conducted its 12th annual Pueblo County Fall Migration Count on 9-15-07. Eight parties and 14 participants including 2 at feeders spotted 168 species. Thanks to Brandon Percival who helped with compilation, making a big job lots easier. Brandon also saw the most species of any party--98 including 2 Sabine's Gulls, 10 Common Terns, and a Black & White Warbler in Pueblo Reservoir and Rock Canyon .
 
Applewood Trailer Park was the hottest spot covered by the Greenhorn Valley team. Jay Irving saw the Count's only White-winged Dove at his feeder, and the team enjoyed both Black and Eastern Phoebes chasing each other about near the Colorado CityTreatment Plant.
 
Mountain birds are sometimes found at unusually low elevations in the fall. But Barbara and Mark Yaeger 's two Pygmy Nuthatches in Pueblo were extraordinary. Rumor has it that a Mountain Chickadee stopped by and asked the Nuthatches: " Kansas anyone?" 
 
Shorebirding was a little slow on Count Day, but Van Truan had a nice pop of 3 Barn Owls at Huerfano Lake , one of them well photographed. There were also few shorebirds in the Stem Beach/Burnt Mill area, but hawk watching was good. Pearle and Clif Smith saw a Peregrine Falcon and a Rough-legged Hawk, the latter representing an early arrival of this winter resident in our area. 
 
There's been a pretty strong Northern Waterthrush migration this fall, but not on Count Day. The only ones were at Chico Basin Ranch seen by Bill Maynard. BB Hahn again found the Count's best bird. This time it was a Blue-winged Warbler near Colorado City . Congratulations BB! An award for effort should also go to Rich Miller, who walked 4 miles in 2 hours thru the foothills near Beulah.
 
If you would like a list of all the birds seen on this year's Fall Count, please respond to this message. The next Migration Count will be May 10 2008. I still think 200 species for the day is a possibility. Let's go for it!
 
Dave Silverman, compiler
Pueblo County Migration Counts