This is not an April Fool's Day joke, I actually went birding outside of Pueblo
County today. Most of the highlights were spring migrants that I hadn't seen
this year yet until today.
Otero County (83 species of birds):
The best bird for me would be the STELLER'S JAY in the town of Rocky Ford near
Washington Street, while looking for Inca Doves. This bird was first found in
December on the Rocky Ford CBC by Duane Nelson. This is a rarity in Otero
County and on the eastern plains. I didn't think this bird would still be
there after so many months.
Other highlights in northern Otero County:
Ross's Goose - 1 on a pond near Rocky Ford
Blue-winged Teal - several locations, Lake Cheraw and Lake Holbrook
Greater Scaup - 1 male at Lake Holbrook
Common and Hooded Mergansers - at Lake Holbrrok
Horned, Eared, Western, and Clark's Grebes - at Lake Holbrook and Lake Cheraw
American White Pelicans - at Lake Holbrook
Turkey Vulture - several in Rocky Ford
SNOWY PLOVER - 4 at Lake Cheraw -- this beats the early date of April 2nd from
the same location a few years back.
American Avocet - several at Lake Cheraw
Greater Yellowlegs - many at Lake Holbrook
LONG-BILLED CURLEW - 1 in a prairie dog town between Cheraw and La Junta on Hwy
109
Baird's Sandpiper - 15 or so at Lake Holbrook
Bonaparte's Gull - 2 at Lake Holbrook
White-winged Dove - 2 in Rocky Ford
Burrowing Owl - 2 at the same prairie dog town between Cheraw and La Junta
Bewick's Wren - 1 singing at Rocky Ford SWA
Marsh Wren - 1 singing at Rocky Ford SWA
Northern Mockingbird - 1 at Rocky Ford SWA
Chestnut-collared Longspur - 1 near Rocky Ford, good looks in a field by the
side of the road, then it flew off
Yellow-rumped Warbler - a few in Rocky Ford and at Rocky Ford SWA
Pine Siskin - 2 in Rocky Ford
A trip down to the Higbee area, about 20 miles south of La Junta was quite
productive.
The more noteworthy birds found follow: Wild Turkey; Ferruginous Hawk; Eastern
Phoebe (1); Say's Phoebe; Loggerhead Shrike; Chihuahuan Raven; Rock, Canyon,
and Bewick's Wrens; Eastern (1), Western (1), and Mountain Bluebirds;
Townsend's Solitaire; Sage and Curve-billed Thrashers; Canyon Towhee; and
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (1 singing).
Crowley County:
Nothing rare, a my first Cinnamon Teal (1 male) at Lake Meredith feedlot area,
and Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds at Lake Meredith
feedlot. Nice close looks at Clark's Grebes at Lake Henry.
My complete list of birds today, was 88 species.
Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO
--
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.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
