[cobirds] Swans and other goodies, Huerfano Co.

I spent a windy day birding the lakes near Walsenburg in Huerfano CO.

 

At Lake Maria (five miles east of Walsenburg on SR10) there were fifteen swans.  Three of them were close enough to identify as Trumpeter Swans.  The other twelve were too far away.  With the distant swans was a single American White Pelican.  A big surprise was a flock of 88 Sandhill Cranes at the south end of the lake.

 

At Lake Martin in Lathrop SP, there were two Common Loons and a Red-necked Grebe.  I counted 335 Common Goldeneyes on Lake Martin among which I found a single male Barrow's Goldeneye.

 

Horseshoe Lake at Lathrop had numerous hunters and frequent gunfire.  I stayed away.

 

The three lakes above are still ice free.

 

Rich Miller

Canon City