[cobirds] southeastern Colorado, Feb. 16-19

Hello, Birders. Hannah Floyd and Andrew Floyd and I are back from a great visit with the 15th annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival this past Presidents' Day (extended) Weekend, Thurs.-Sun., Feb. 16-19. Here are some quick highlights:

Kit Carson, Cheyenne County, Thurs., Feb. 16. We kicked things off with a lovely Eurasian collared-dove sitting at a nest and soaking up the late-afternoon sun. Hey, ya gotta start somewhere...

Nee Noshe Reservoir, Kiowa County, Thurs., Feb. 16. On the basis of a text from Elena Klaver that there were "gajillions of Snow Geese" at the rez, we hastened thereto, arriving a bit after sundown. Indeed, it was wall-to-wall snow geese, at least 15,000 of them roosting there. Also 20 sandhiill cranes flying over (and no doubt more of them), a short-eared owl hunting over the prairie, and, as we were heading back to the car, the mellow, baritone hooting of a male great horned owl.

Willow Creek Park, Prowers County, Fri.-Sat., Feb. 17-18. Several short trips during the course of the two days resulted in flyover snow geese and 1 (just the one!) flyover sandhill crane, Harlan hawk, a fake long-eared owl, Taiga merlin, Carolina nuthatch, Carolina wren, Townsend solitaire, a red cedar waxwing (and many "normal" ones), 1 or a few lesser goldfinches, at least 4 and up to 7 northern cardinals, and a flyover flock of 200 great-tailed grackles. Also nice to see the tiger beetle Cicindela tranquebarica. Well, "nice" to see; not sure if it's really normal to see it so early in the season.

Two Buttes State Wildlife Area, Baca County, Sat., Feb. 18. Below the dam in "The Black Hole," we found 1 prairie falcon, 1 canyon wren, 3 curve-billed thrashers, 1 sage thrasher, and 2 canyon towhees. Also, the usual gang of porcupines, and, up on the dam, great views of the eternal hoodoos. In the prairie beyond, ferruginous hawk and Chihuahuan raven.

Hasty Campground & vicinity, Bent County, Sun., Feb. 19. Thousands of snow geese and a few Ross geese on final approach to John Martin Reservoir, 1 greater scaup, 12 ruddy ducks, wild turkey feathers everywhere, 1 male red-bellied woodpecker, 1 loggerhead shrike, 1 northern shrike, 1 Carolina nuthatch, 7 eastern bluebirds, and 1 American pipit. On the drive west along U.S. 50, near Bent County road 15, we saw the mother of all great-tailed grackle flocks. Bare minimum of 1,600 birds and probably 2,000+. What an amazing sight! And sound! Sounds! Saw another loggerhead shrike here too.

Lake Henry, Crowley County, Sun., Feb. 19. A strong south wind was really picking up here, and the gulls were absolutely loving it. The place had a coastal feel to it. Along with the many herring gulls and ring-billed gulls, we saw two lesser black-backed gulls, one first-cycle and one second-cycle. The gulls had no problem with the wind, but a couple northern harriers and bald eagles struggled. On the drive back home, up state route 71, we futilely dried to dodge the Russian thistles but delighted in all the roadside raptors, including a rough-legged hawk and prairie falcon near the turnoff to Box Springs Pond.

We had a wonderful time! Thanks to Vincent Gearhart and everybody involved with the High Plains Snow Goose Festival!

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

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