COBirders,
While lamenting the total lack of passerines at the Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) after walking the perimeter of Rose Pond, I heard the distinctive flight call <www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=Snow+Bunting+%28Plectrophenax+nivalis%2 9+12&species_nr=> of a Snow Bunting overhead at the western edge (PUE). I never saw the bird but the frozen pond with dense edge grasses is similar to other CO habitats where I have seen wintering Snow Buntings (frozen Ft. Carson fishing ponds). Also at Rose Pond (99 % frozen) was a Marsh Wren and a "Prairie Merlin". Another Merlin was on Dearing Road (a loop road off of Squirrel Creek Rd) and a third was just around the bend on the southern end of Squirrel Creek Road (ELP). Snowy Owl - 0 Rough-legged Hawk - 0 Ferruginous Hawk - 0 Lapland Longspur - 0 At Big Johnson Reservoir (ELP), the ice shelf is almost even with the lower, unofficial parking spot, but the few gulls (noon thirty) were loafing on the farthest sides of the reservoir. An adult Bald Eagle was observed carrying a black-tailed prairie dog to the far shoreline where it was joined 5 minutes later by a second adult. Two Loggerhead Shrikes were observed on my route but no Northerns were seen. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs -- 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.
