At dusk on Thursday, 6 Aug 2009, I watched a juvenile YCNH in flight and on the
ground at close range (about 20 feet!) using my vehicle as a blind. The
location was about 10 miles south of Alamosa (in Alamosa County, San Luis
Valley). More specifically, it was at a wet culvert crossing underneath Rd. S
112 a few miles north of the Conejos County line. This road runs due south for
miles through the Rio Vega Ranch, a few miles west of Alamosa NWR but with
similar habitat. There are many Black-crowned Night-Herons in this area. I
identified this individual as a YCNH from is legs dangling behind its tail in
flight (rather than just feet), its long necked posture when standing (rather
than hunchbacked), its small white markings on the wing, and most importantly
its stubby, all-black bill. Unfortunately it was too dark to get a decent
photo. I could not relocate it in the morning (Friday 7 Aug). During my search
this morning, I did find 2 singing Willow Flycatchers about a mile further
south in a cattail marsh spanning both sides of the road. Also of potential
interest for Alamosa County were several Evening Grosbeaks feeding on pinyon
nuts at Zapata Falls Picnic Area (Alamosa appears to be the only western CO
county with no breeding evidence in the published CO Breeding Bird Atlas) and
two sightings of Band-tailed Pigeon at the same location (also absent from the
first Atlas).
Anyone who wants more detailed info on any of these sightings or locations,
feel free to contact me directly (outside of this forum).
In Andrews and Righter's Colorado Birds (1992), there are no YCNH records
from the San Luis Valley. The entry is also lacking in any of the SLV County
checklists on the CFO County Birding website. Photo documentation would be
useful if anyone gets the chance to photograph this bird, given that it may be
a first area record..
Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO
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