I birded several locations in the Lower Arkansas Valley yesterday and this morning. Water levels very high in irrigation and municipal storage reservoirs (Colo water law allows "winter storage" prior to irrigation season). Here are the highlights:
Lake Holbrook (Nw of LaJunta)--windy Willets-flock of 5 hunched over against the winds Snowy Egret--only saw 1 Franklin's Gulls-a few Aechmorphus grebes--100 or so, some starting to display Am White Pelicans Lake Cheraw (n of La Junta)--winds gusting dark Ibis--flock of 20-25 flying Black-necked Stilt-just one hundreds of ducks including my FOS Blue-winged Teal White-crowned Sparrows-some still in the weeds around the lake Lake Meredith & Lake Henry--water level very high with choppy waves from winds Aechmorphus grebes white-headed gulls waterfowl Cheraw stockyard ponds--water level exceptionally high & overflowing Franklin's gulls-hundreds Cinnamon Teal-2 gorgeous males Verhoeff Res (just west of John Martin Res)--water level higher than I've seen in years, almost goes to H50 white geese-at least 50 still there lots of ducks (waterfowl encouraged at this private lake that has lots of hunting) I checked on a nesting Bald Eagle--she is still on the nest. When I first checked her mate was in an adjacent branch 25 or so feet from her and I've posted a photo of them on my blog at http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com . Near dusk I was surprised to find him in the nest with the female--could he be there for more breeding behavior, or to spend the night in a nice nest, or (anthropomorphic view) an altruistic attempt to stay with his mate during high winds (they lost their nest to extreme high winds last year--could they remember??). I thought at first he was just there to bring her food but I wbatched for more than 10 minutes and he was still there. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
