Bird Bonanza, Pueblo

[Hugh Kingery]

Today Urling & I enjoyed a bird bonanza at Pueblo Reservoir & vicinity. Escorted by Pearle & Cliff Smith, Bill Maynard, and Brandon Percival we (and John Drummond) saw almost all the specialties reported for the area lately.

On the far west, north side of the reservoir, at Pueblo Res. State Wildlife Area, the quantity of ducks (all diving ducks) amazed us. We may have seen only 1000, but it seemed like a good deal more than that. Estimates: 150 Lesser Scaup, 150-250 Com. Goldeneyes with one beautifully marked Barrow's, 25 Ring-necked Ducks, 50 Common and 100 or more Red-breasted Mergansers. At the first stop we saw two of our hoped-for Black Scoters; further west we counted nine of them, the black males shining with their yellow popups on their bills, the females striking in their contrasting though muted colors. Also 100 Western Grebes and an equal number of Eared Grebes.

Four species of gull, though only Ring-billed at the SWA. The others, Greater Black-backed at the North Marina and Herring and Lesser Black-backed, below the dam. Also below the dam, one Trumpeter Swan, one Black Phoebe.

What a memorable day!

Hugh