Duane Nelson
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Birders,
I got a call from Norm Erthal and Loch Kilpatrick this afternoon. They
asked me if I could help them find some year birds in my area.
We found a few Brown-headed Cowbirds mixed in with the immense
Red-winged Blackbird flocks at Spady Feedlot and south of Karney SWA on
Road 17 just south of the Ft. Lyon Canal. There are still numerous
Mountain Bluebirds at multiple locations. We had Eastern Bluebirds along
the Ft. Lyon Canal about one mile east of the spillway below Gageby
Creek. Karney SWA was slow today.
We went to the west end of John Martin Reservoir, accessed from Road JJ
just east of Road 20, and worked our way east to Clayton Point. The
highlight for us was two American White Pelicans, definite spring
migrants, despite the fact that the lake is only about 30 percent open.
I've stated before, and repeat today, that American White Pelicans are
the harbinger of spring in my part of the state, often appearing the
last week of January. On the ice shelf in Clayton Bay, we found an adult
Great Black-backed Gull among the multitude of Ring-billed and Herring
Gulls.
The numbers of almost all waterfowl are dramatically rising, including
about 30,000 "white" geese. On our way back to Las Animas, we found a
lone Steller's Jay atop an elm tree about 1/4 mile east of the five-way
junction at Ft. Lyon Prison / Hospital on Road HH.
Respectfully,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO