Birders,
The recent storms brought an influx of gulls to John Martin Reservoir.
Best today were: a first winter Glaucous Gull, an adult and a first
winter Great Black-backed Gull, and an adult and a first winter Lesser
Black-backed Gull. One had to sort through a lot of more common gulls to
get through to the rarities. Today, action was centered on "Clayton
Point", directly south of the hay bales at Clayton Ranch, the only farm
east of Bent County Road 20 on Road JJ. Access is via the west entry
road to the John Martin State Wildlife area just east of Road 20,
heading south and east to the point. We got 4-6 inches of wet snow here,
and two-tracks are passable with 4WD. I would urge extreme caution in
driving these roads if the temperatures get above freezing and they turn
to mud.
All of the American White Pelicans that appeared at John Martin in late
December are gone, as are all of the loons and many ducks. I believe
these birds that arrived late were extremely late fall migrants, and
eventually continued south. Of interest, despite the cold and snow,
vanguard spring migrant ducks are returning, notably Lesser Scaup,
Northern Pintail, Redhead and Canvasback. It's kind of hard to keep
track of what season it is around here right now.
Respectfully,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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