Birders,
The John Martin Reservoir CBC took place on Monday, December 17, 2018.
Fifteen observers tallied 108 species, about average for this count.
Good weather and a lack of ice allowed some species to linger late
(American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, four species of
grebe, a Common Loon and high counts of Red-breasted Merganser).
Construction below the dam drew Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and
Wilson's Snipe, all oblivious to heavy machinery nearby.
Crack counters found almost all expected species, even ones rare or
absent in most of the rest of Colorado in winter, like Bewick's, Canyon
and Rock Wrens, Greater Roadrunner and Canyon Towhee. Wintering sparrows
put in a good show, with sightings of White-throated Sparrows in three
areas, part of a regional invasion of that species. Harris', Swamp and
Lincoln's were counted. Nocturnal owling produced only Eastern
Screech-Owl this year. Mountain passerines were absent, except for three
Pine Siskins, absent on most other regional counts. This year,
Yellow-rumped Warblers, Townsend's Solitaires, American Robins and Cedar
Waxwings found abundant juniper berries at Ft. Lyon Cemetery and
elsewhere in the count circle.
Perhaps due to warm weather to the north, ducks (except for Common
Merganser, with about 3,000 counted) were either present in tiny numbers
compared to average, or absent completely (as in most diving ducks).
The highlight of the count was SIX Northern Cardinals together near the
confluence of the Arkansas and Purgatoire Rivers. Without feeders, they
feast on abundant Russian Olive fruits and drink regularly from a fallen
Russian Olive tree partly submerged in the Arkansas Rivers.
I hope other count compilers will post their results to cobirds.
Sincerely,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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