Neotropic Cormorant Returns to Smith Res SWA

[mvjo...@gmail.com]

Went out today to check the lake and migration status. Still quite slow here. How slow you ask? I saw my first Yellow-rumped Warblers of the year today!

While I am still awaiting May 1st when many birds should arrive, I did find a couple that made the day special. At Smith Reservoir, on the peninsula, both DC and Neotropic Cormorants perched together on the rocky shore. Talk about making it easy on me! Size was significantly smaller on the Neotropic compared to the larger DC Cormorant. 

Last week Mountain Plovers showed up, but did not see any today. 

Finally at one of the bridges in the southern SLV, I saw 2 Black Phoebes. Once rare, they are only unusual now and a few can be seen each spring and summer. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista CO.