In Search of Spring .../Weld

[The Nunn Guy]

Hi all

Explored a lot of north central Weld over weekend hoping to find signs of spring. I did. Still only Horned Larks and raptors on shortgrass, no summer longspurs seen/heard. Other item of interest is new wooden double-post power-lines going in along Hwy 77 on east in and around CR 116 Playa-new raptor perches at least.

Most waters open and fully occupied in most instances.

• CR 124/122 ponds (open and full) geese and ducks
  
• Cozzens Lake (open) tons of geese
  
• Stewart's Lake (open) geese and ducks
  
• Latham Reservoir (partial) geese and ducks
  
• CR 48 marsh has flooded fields (no birds)
  
• Crom Lake (open) geese and ducks)
  
• CR 61/74 Ponds frozen
• CR 40 marsh-area on north is new large burn scar (looks like a local burn by the shape)
• CR 59 and Loloff Reservoir (partial)

Spring birds seen ...

• Greater Yellowlegs - 1 (CR 59 Marsh)
• Killdeer - 1 (CR 59 Marsh)
• American White Pelican - 20+ (Cozzens Lake)
• Mountain Bluebird - 12+ (several CPER roads north of Nunn)
• Double-crested Cormorant - 20+ [Hwy 392 Pond [Galeton]--full of birds!]
  
• 13 expected duck species

Other notable birds ...

• Gray-crowned Rosy Finch - 18+ (CR 128)
• Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 (Crom Lake)
• Northern Shrike -1 (Briggsdale Work Center)

Photos at first URL below (first 11 posts).

Thanks, Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland