Southeast El Paso County today, 4/15

[mel...@comcast.net]

Greetings, Cobirders.

After being gone for over 2 weeks, Jeanne and I finally got out to do some birding yesterday and today. We went to Big Johnson yesterday and had some great views of Western, Horned, Eared, and Pied-billed Grebes. There were a couple of Common Loons, too.

Today we had an amazing day birding the roads of southeast El Paso county.

On Squirrel Creek Road, we had Mountain Plover, an American Pipit, our first county Say's Phoebe for this year, and close-up looks at a Swainson's Hawk. Lots and lots of Horned Larks.

On Dearing Road, we had Logger-headed Shrikes, Scaled Quails, an Osprey, and a Ferruginous Hawk.

We turned off Myers Road onto Finch Road and went south to the intersection with Hanover Road. Around that intersection we had Great Horned Owl on a nest, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and more shrikes.

On Hanover Road we saw Curve-billed Thrasher and Burrowing Owl just east of Hanover. On the west end of the road we had a large mixed flock of blackbirds, including Great-tailed Grackles, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and more. At the flooded field (most of you know where that is) we saw three beautiful Wood Ducks.

All in all, a wonderful two days. Now, I think I will just put on my "loungewear" and hunker down for the stormy weekend.

Good birding all.

Mel Goff

Colorado Springs