Folks, I am working in southeast Colorado this week in the Comanche Grasslands of Las Animas County. This under-birded area is ripe with birds moving through. Grassland birds are plentiful including American Kestrel, Cassin’s Kingbird, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Vesper Sparrow, and Western Meadowlark. Accipiters seem to be on the move, many observed in crazy plains and grassland habitats. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was photographed, likely one of the breeding pair observed there this past spring. A handful of Chimney Swifts were heard and observed flying over Lucy’s taco stand in La Junta, a bit tardy on their southbound trek. Not unusual but still fascinating are the kettles of Sandhill Cranes flying to NM. But sea birding is what I said in the subject, so here goes...
During my second hour of work on Monday, I noticed an unusual bird flying towards me in the middle of nowhere. It was a Parasitic Jaeger, sallying around the gull-less expanse of Comanche Grasslands. The bird flew within 400 meters and I obtained some poor photos, included in the ebird list. What are the chances? I would not start a cobirds post with ‘sea birding’ if all I had was one lousy Parasitic Jaeger. Today, on a smallish pothole pond, about the size of a football field in the middle of nowhere were 18 (eighteen) Surf Scoters. The birds continued throughout the day and were observed by several co-workers. I am thinking the mountain lakes may be worth a visit this weekend. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39565635 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39526617 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39565491 Glenn Walbek Castle Rock, CO https://gwalbek.smugmug.com/2017-Birds/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/FF85FCC25EC04C0696B978AB9285AF90%40GWdell. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
