During the last few days of 2013, I came to this area for a funeral (Henry
Paulsen, whose widow Linda and daughters Isa and Emily (Isa drew cover of CFO
Journal in the 1990s) birders may know from visits to their farmstead north of
Lamar on Prowers CR SS). I spent the 1st over at Lake Hasty below the John
Martin Reservoir Dam and north of there on Gageby Creek. Since then, I have
pretty much stayed in the Lamar area proper.
This area continues in a severe drought. Birds that like tumbleweed (Russian
thistle) and kochia seeds are doing well (White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
American Tree Sparrow, Western Meadowlarks, and Dark-eyed Junco). It is tough
ranching for the rest.
SUMMARY OF INTERESTING BIRDS:
Lamar Community College, Lamar
Northern Cardinal - after not seeing any cardinals for a few visits to LCC late
in the year, at least a pair continues to reside at the south end of the area.
I continue to be amazed at how difficult it can be so see these
brightly-colored birds when they want to be silent and secretive.
White-breasted Nuthatch (eastern race) - one or two present
Have NOT seen any towhees, thrashers, catbirds, creepers, mockingbirds,
kinglets, Harris's Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows at LCC. All in all, the
place is very quiet.
Willow Valley Subdivision east of Willow Creek Park, Lamar
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-rumped Warbler (few)
White-winged Dove (few)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Have NOT seen Pygmy Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, unusual jays, Inca Dove, Purple
Finch, or chickadees, as are occasional in other winters.
Fairmount Cemetery, Lamar
Red-bellied Woodpecker
not much else
Thurston Reservoir, north of Lamar
No unfrozen water except for small area near the inlet on north side (private).
At open water area: Swamp Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Mourning Dove (2), Ring-necked
Pheasant
Ditch north of Riverside Cemetery, Lamar
Yellow-rumped Warbler (3)
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron (2)
Along Willow Creek east of Walmart (private), Lamar
Greater Scaup (1)
Wilson's Snipe
Green-winged Teal (20+), Mallard (10), Northern Shoveler (1), and Gadwall (1)
Eaton Veterinary Facility s of Riverside Cemetery, Lamar
Great-tailed Grackle (several)
Northern Mockingbird (1 poor individual with deformed bill feeding from trough
intended for horses)
Sutphen Gravel Ponds n of Ark River north of town (private)
Greater Scaup (3)
Ring-necked Duck (60)
Fair number of shrikes seen in open country around Lamar, about equally
divided between Northern and Loggerhead. Several Red-tailed Hawks
(including dark-phase and Harlan's), several Ferruginous Hawks, few
Rough-legged Hawks, 1 Merlin, few Prairie Falcons, few Golden Eagles,
few Bald Eagles. Think I saw one light-phase Harlan's, which was too
far off to photograph. Both "white" geese and both "white-cheeked"
geese present flying over and near the gravel ponds north of downtown
along the Arkansas River. Hunters stir them up, so it is difficult to
say where they will be. Among flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds at feedlots and
cattle corrals are small numbers of Brown-headed Cowbirds and Brewer's
Blackbirds. Despite looking, I did NOT see any Rusty Blackbirds,
Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Bronzed Cowbirds, Shiny Cowbirds, Common
Grackles, or Groove-billed Anis.
Total species seen in greater Lamar area: 68 (only misses that I can conceive
of would be American Wigeon, screech-owl (Western or Eastern), thrasher (Brown
or Curve-billed), towhee (probably Spotted), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin,
Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (searched for in all the usual places
like Fairmount Cem, north end of Willow Creek Park), Harris's Sparrow, and
White-throated Sparrow.
Lake Hasty (January 1) (Bent)
Greater White-fronted Goose (7)
Greater Roadrunner (2) sw corner of the campground
Eastern Bluebird (3) nw part of campground
Canyon Towhee (1) east side of dam face sw of campground
Did NOT see Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Brown Creeper
Gageby Creek northeast of Las Animas (Bent)
Steller's Jay (at least 5)
Mountain Bluebird (few)
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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