Prewitt Reservoir (currently about 95% ice-covered) remains a good place to see geese this winter, and there is still a good variety of passerines in the Russian olives and surrounding marshes along the outlet canal below the dam. All the expected goose species were there yesterday (Jan 26) -- Canada (thousands), Cackling (hundreds), Snow (thousands), Ross's (several at least), and Greater White-Fronted (several). The snow geese were early risers, leaving the reservoir before sunrise but returning late morning.
Ducks numbered in the thousands, mostly mallards. I only found 5 different kinds of ducks, but maybe there are some goodies lurking in the crowd that I missed. Gulls are few and far between (I counted 7), and with the questionable fish population, I wonder if things will stay that way. The outlet canal requires some bushwhacking but gets birdier the farther you go. Highlights (Washington County) included: Harris's Sparrow Marsh Wren Red-Bellied Woodpecker Cedar Waxwing (dozens) White-breasted Nuthatch (3 eastern) Harlan's Red-Tailed Hawk I also found a red-bellied woodpecker along Logan County Road 25 between Prewitt Res. and Merino. (And I see on ebird that Norm Lewis reported one even farther west along the South Platte -- in Brush SWA -- in December.) In Morgan County, I believe there is a Krider's Red-Tailed Hawk between Brush and Fort Morgan. It was perched on a pole next to I-76 near the Dodd Bridge exit (86). Although I viewed it at highway speed, I had a good look, and the hawk's head appeared to be completely white. Birders in the area might keep an eye out for it. David Dowell Longmont, 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]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cobirds/-/bDGPDLxt7goJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
