With some free time available and a favorable weather forecast, Tim Smart and I headed to familiar locations in southeast Colorado.
-- Pueblo Reservoir 1/25 (Pueblo County): The adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was on the tires at the south marina early in the morning. We also saw two Common Loons but missed some of the other reported goodies. We found one Ladder-Backed Woodpecker near the West Fishing overlook, and another near the bridge over the Arkansas River below the dam.
Highway 96 west of Pueblo Reservoir and east of Wetmore was excellent for raptors, particularly Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks.
In eastern Pueblo County, a pond just north of Hwy 50 and 3 miles west of the Otero County Line (near 66th Lane) was loaded with white geese, including a few 100 Ross's Geese and over 1000 Snow Geese.
Lake Henry (Crowley County), which was drained this past summer, is now full and was mostly ice covered. It had attracted a few dozen ducks of expected species. Lake Meredith, also previously drained, is being filled and is still closed to public access. I wonder if either or both of these lakes will be re-stocked with fish this year?
Along Hwy 266 just east of Rocky Ford (Otero County), we found a beautiful dark morph (I would call it a black morph) Red-Tailed Hawk.
Rocky Ford SWA (Otero County), which had been quite birdy in December, was only somewhat birdy this time. The highlight was 4 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. We were unsuccessful in our attempt for after-dark Western Screech-Owl this time.
Cottonwood Canyon 1/26 (Baca County): Thanks, Steve, for finding this anomalously birdy spot this winter. Highlights included SWAMP SPARROW, STELLER'S JAY, Mountain Chickadees, Brown Creeper, 4 Ladder-Backed Woodpeckers, 2 Marsh Wrens, 2 Golden Eagles, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Merlin, singing Canyon Wrens, and singing Canyon Towhees. When birds became quiet in the "hot" weather of late morning, we felt like we had just scratched the surface of all the good-looking habitat there.
Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca County) had a mix of open water and ice, but no waterfowl that we could see.
John Martin Reservoir (Bent County) had lots of waterfowl, as advertised. Thanks, Duane, for the recent post and tip on road access. We found the adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL in the previously reported location. In the same area, we also saw two brilliant white immature GLAUCOUS GULLS. And the expected giant flock of white geese was impressive, as always.
Neegronda Reservoir (Kiowa County) was ice covered but had 29 Bald Eagles.
Driving around southeast Colorado was made particularly enjoyable by the variety of raptors, and Tim's experience with spotting and identifying them was greatly appreciated. Sunday highlights included a total of 41 Bald Eagles, good looks at Prairie Falcons, a second dark morph Red-Tailed Hawk, and a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk. All in all, it was an enjoyable weekend of birding.
David Dowell
Longmont, CO
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