The two Rusty Blackbirds that have been at Manitou Lake, off and on over the winter, were seen again this morning. At their usual spot about 300-400 yards north of the dam, along the trail on the west side of Trout Creek. Both were in breeding plumage. As they often sit down in the willows or are foraging in a brushy area that is a spill-over from a large beaver pond, the best way to locate them is to be familiar with their quiet chatter/calls/noises.
17 species in all this morning at Manitou Lake. 1 male Lesser Scaup was seen; which beats my earliest records in spring, of just a handful, by a full month.
The lake is still >95% frozen. However, the edges of the lake, trout creek, and the ponds in the marsh to the south are mostly open water.
Complete list below.
Jeff J Jones
Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands
Species: 17 - Subspecies: 0 - Forms: 17
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Gadwall Anas strepera
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
Birder's Diary - www.BirdersDiary.com - 3/22/2014
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