We went east this morning -- inspired by the wonderful prairie birds along the Baird's Sparrow CR 5, we hoped to see some of that abundance in a different part of the state. Essentially, from Colo. 86 where it meets I70, we drove east (20 miles north of Limon). Eventually we dropped down to I70 and visited Flagler Reservoir.
Lark Buntings must have had a banner year -- seeing the hundreds of them along the prairie roads gave us a real boost. Also, of course, lots of Horned Larks & Western Meadowlarks & Mourning Doves. We saw only two Grasshopper Sparrows (both immatures). Lots of Western Kingbirds and a variety of other species you'd expect on the prairie in August.
AT Flagler Res., we first saw two Com. Nighthawks perched on fenceposts. Then walked below the dam where we listened to a few American Goldfinches, Western Wood-Pewees, and House Wrens. One Sora piped up, once, to our surprise. Butterflies stole the show, though: we saw a couple of dozen Monarchs and almost as many Queens flitting through the woodland.
The reservoir itself has a shallow small pond near the dam. Here we saw a dozen Mallards, 2 Pied-billed and 1 Eared Grebe. Then we studied one Solitary & one Stilt Sandpiper and watched one Black Tern ply his way over the water. Our species count here totaled 27.
On the way back we stopped at the Colo. 86 pond in Elbert County, which had 26 White Pelicans and 54 Wilson's Phalaropes, along with 6 Ruddy Ducks, 6 N. Shovelers, and 15 other ducks.
All in all, an interesting trip with highlights we didn't anticipate.
Lark Buntings must have had a banner year -- seeing the hundreds of them along the prairie roads gave us a real boost. Also, of course, lots of Horned Larks & Western Meadowlarks & Mourning Doves. We saw only two Grasshopper Sparrows (both immatures). Lots of Western Kingbirds and a variety of other species you'd expect on the prairie in August.
AT Flagler Res., we first saw two Com. Nighthawks perched on fenceposts. Then walked below the dam where we listened to a few American Goldfinches, Western Wood-Pewees, and House Wrens. One Sora piped up, once, to our surprise. Butterflies stole the show, though: we saw a couple of dozen Monarchs and almost as many Queens flitting through the woodland.
The reservoir itself has a shallow small pond near the dam. Here we saw a dozen Mallards, 2 Pied-billed and 1 Eared Grebe. Then we studied one Solitary & one Stilt Sandpiper and watched one Black Tern ply his way over the water. Our species count here totaled 27.
On the way back we stopped at the Colo. 86 pond in Elbert County, which had 26 White Pelicans and 54 Wilson's Phalaropes, along with 6 Ruddy Ducks, 6 N. Shovelers, and 15 other ducks.
All in all, an interesting trip with highlights we didn't anticipate.
Hugh & Urling Kingery
Franktown, CO
-- Franktown, CO
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