Cobirders,
This morning, I headed to the Higbee area south of La Junta. One of the
blocks I am doing for the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II project is the
southeast section of the Higbee 7.5 minute topographic map. While
intrepid birders are well aware of the great birding opportunities near
Higbee, most head west from State Highway 109 and bird along Higbee
Canyon from the road.
The priority block I am working on is close by, but not often visited by
birders. This morning, I had a territorial Black Phoebe on Otero County
Road 806 east of Highway 109. There is a ranch house on the south side
of the road close to the highway, notable for a green grain silo near
the house. A row of tall cottonwoods lines a canal about 200 yards east
of the house. The phoebe called from these trees. I may have heard
another answering. While Black Phoebes are often reported from Pueblo
and Fremont Counties, they are extremely rare farther east. On the
south-facing slope north of the phoebe site, I heard a Rufous-crowned
Sparrow. Elsewhere in the block, I had one male Eastern Bluebird, and
two Juniper Titmice (in the Bent County part of the block south of the
Purgatoire River).
All the land here is private, so birders are advised to stick to county
and state highways unless permission is granted by landowners.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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