Tuesday 1 December 2015

[cobirds] Sora - Mogeson Ponds - Mesa County

Just after noon today I watched a SORA walk around on the ice of a frozen pond for about 15 minutes.  Here is a description of what I saw:

Mogeson Ponds (on Hwy 330 to Collbran less than 1/2 mile from intersection with Hwy 65 to Grand Mesa).

Watched a SORA walk around on the ice of a frozen pond for about 15 minutes.  Had the best look I have ever had of a Sora (usually brief on the edge of a marsh).  The white spectacled back, gray eyebrow &  gray side of face and neck, short bill, and clear buffy undertail coverts were all very evident.  The most striking feature was the greenish legs with such large feet for such a small bird.  The Sora walked around on the ice placing one foot directly in front of the other (rails leave a single line of tracks), pecking at something on the surface of the ice ice or just below the surface.  Not sure what the bird was picking up, but rails are opportunistic omnivores eating a wide variety of invertebrates and plant matter as well as small vertebrates and carrion. Finally the Sora walked back to the edge of the pond and slipped between the cattails disappearing like a puff of smoke. 

Mike Henwood
Grand Junction
Mesa County



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