Birders,
Practically every year recently, a sub-adult white morph Reddish Egret has shown up in late summer at John Martin Reservoir or nearby bodies of water like Lake Hasty or Verhoeff Lake in Bent County. In fact, I think many Colorado birders with this species on their state list got there by observing a white sub-adult Reddish Egret at John Martin Reservoir, most commonly reported to the statewide network by yours truly.
Today, I observed a white egret on the expanding mudflats on the west end of John Martin Reservoir. The crazy canopy feeding suggested a white-morph Reddish Egret. In the scope, the bird had a bi-colored bill and bluish legs with dark feet, indicating an adult. Amazingly, a second white egret demanded my attention, and turned out to be a second canopy feeding adult white morph Reddish Egret. At one time, both birds stood within feet of each other, wings arched above their backs as they noticed each other. I called one friend about my sighting, and suggested I need a straight jacket for daring to think this improbable Colorado observation was happening in front of me.
You can access the west end of John Martin Reservoir from County Road JJ, just east of County Road 20. Work your way south and east on a confusing network of two-track roads. A word of caution: the birds will probably be very distant, and there are other white herons or egrets present, which must be carefully studied.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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