Hey, all. Hannah Floyd and I sojourned down to Lamar, Prowers Co., & environs, for a long weekend with the High Plains Snow Goose Festival. Here's our belated report:
Thurs., Feb. 3. Elbert & Lincoln Cos. What's up with all the *rough-legged hawks* along I-70 and US-287? It's, like, borderline impossible, in my experience to find one west of I-25 in the northern Front Range metro region, yet they're common as dirt once you're on I-70 east of Denver. Tastier voles? Thurs., Feb. 3. Kit Carson, Cheyenne Co. Temp was down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit when we pulled in at sundown. Found Elena Klaver and 40 *wild turkeys.* Fri., Feb. 4. The Black Hole (Two Buttes SWA below the dam), Baca Co. Frigid but beautiful; temp around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, bright sunshine. Highlight was a ≥50% *eastern towhee;* don't think it was entirely "pure," though. Also some flyover *snow geese *and decent VisMig of *mountain bluebirds* (40+); plus a *ferruginous hawk *on a mound and 4 *canyon wrens* bebopping about the rimrocks. On the drive out, had marvelous studies of *Lapland longspurs* right along the road. And a porpentine. Fri., Feb. 4. Lamar Community College woods, Prowers Co. 1 *lesser goldfinch,* at least 4 *northern cardinals* (incl. 3 males). Sat., Feb. 5. John Martin Reservoir, Bent Co. Another frigid morning. Spectacular was a mass ascension of *common mergansers* lifting off a polynya over the span of 10 minutes--at least 3,000 birds, perhaps up to 5,000. Also a flock of exactly 52 *American tree sparrows* + 2 *Harris sparrows.* Sat., Feb. 5. McClave United Methodist Church, Bent Co. 1 beautiful adult female *"prairie" merlin.* Sat., Feb. 5. Downtown Lamar, Prowers Co., at nightfall. 130+ *great-tailed grackles* flying south toward a night roost. Sun., Feb. 6. Lamar Community College, Prowers Co. A fun flock of 30+ *scaled quail.* Sun., Feb. 6. Higbee Valley Road, Otero Co. Overcast with a bit of graupel, but signs of spring abounded. We saw at least 75 *mountain bluebirds* on VisMig; all were on a northerly bearing. Also 2 *eastern bluebirds.* And an early (or overwintering?) *sage thrasher.* And a *golden eagle* flying straight north, also perhaps a migrant. Residents included 4* Woodhouse scrub-jays* and 9 *canyon towhees.* Sun., Feb. 6. Vogel Canyon, Otero Co. Continued VisMig of *mountain bluebirds,* with another 30. Another *sage thrasher,* a *Townsend solitaire,* and 3 *loggerhead shrikes.* Sun, Feb. 6. Near(ish) Karval, Lincoln Co. 2 *Chihuahuan ravens.* Thanks to Hannah and Elena, to Travis Walker and Anna Mangan and others, for a fun if somewhat Siberian weekend! Ted Floyd Lafayette, Boulder Co. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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/CAGk944f9-9Zc9ju-Rr8F3UxBi4vM4u8tNHn1dYYQf%2BQubB0p8g%40mail.gmail.com.
