Chico Basin Ranch (El Paso, Pueblo), Ramah Res (El Paso)

[Dan Stringer]

Work has really interfered with birding this summer, but today I escaped and went to Chico Basin Ranch (El Paso Co, Pueblo Co) (fee area). Kind of summer-ey, kind of fall-ish based on what I saw.

Highlights on the El Paso Co side were Scaled Quail, Sora, Sage thrasher, Brown Thrasher (no Curve-billed), Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Nighthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher consuming a dragonfly, Marsh Wren, Yellow Warbler, about 12 Wilson's Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Lark Bunting. 

On the Pueblo Co side highlights were many of the same plus Northern Harrier, Barn Owl, Prairie Falcon, another Red-headed Woodpecker, and a single Bank Swallow. 

I went the back way (Burrowing Owl, Peyton Highway) up to Ramah Reservoir (El Paso Co) and among other things saw White-faced Ibis, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, and a Peregrine Falcon ripping up the sky harassing everything in sight.

Dan Stringer

Larkspur, CO