Paul Slingsby and I took advantage of the near 100-degree temperatures today to see how conditions look for shorebird migration in Morgan County. Conditions were not encouraging but we found a nice variety of shorebirds in small numbers. Here are the conditions and species highlights.
Playa at MCRs 23 and HH. There was a small pool of water west of CR HH and a larger pool east of the road. Long-billed Curlew 8, Baird’s Sandpiper 1, Least Sandpiper 6, Wilson’s Phalarope 2. Playa at MCR 26 near CR JJ. No water. Playa at MCR JJ and CO 71. Two ponds with water. No shore around larger pond. Narrow shore around smaller pond. American Avocet 2 adults with 3 young, Least Sandpiper 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1. Dickcissel singing from field across highway. Ponds along MCR JJ near CR 31. Little shore and no shorebird activity. Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots with young. A field on the west side of Jackson Reservoir had about 190 Ring-billed Gulls and four Franklin’s Gulls, most with mouths open to cool off. Jackson Lake State Wildlife Area. Lake is very high leaving little shore. In a narrow strip of shore we found three phalaropes (one Wilson’s and two awaiting assessment of photos), Spotted Sandpiper 1, Willet 9. If eastern plains reservoirs are not drawn down over the next month, it will be interesting to see where shorebirds show up. Chuck Hundertmark Lafayette, CO -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/E6101BFE-760A-4F96-A0A4-9651925B09EF%40gmail.com.
