Today while doing some bird surveys, I chanced upon 2 Adult
Caspian Terns at the Blanca Wetlands Wildlife Area (Alamosa County). The area is
now open and the birds were alternately using pond 115 and 107. This is possibly
only the second and third records for the species in the San Luis Valley, with
Mlodinow finding one last year at Smith Reservoir.
The shorebirds were well represented. Between my wife Lisa and
I, we observed Western, Least, Baird’s, Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers, Lesser
Yellowlegs, BN Stilts, close to 1500 Wilson Phalaropes, Peregrine Falcons,
and one Gray Flycatcher. So shorebirds are on the move and this is a great
increase in numbers since we last surveyed a few weeks ago. Lots to
see.....
John Rawinski
Monte Vista, CO