Two Buttes Reservoir SWA, Baca County

[Tom Wilberding]

Hello birders,

 

The news here is water, lots of it. The reservoir is usually dry, but yesterday seemed completely full. Surprised a covey of about 15 scaled quail near the boat ramp.

The beautiful oasis below the dam had the usual canyon wren. A Townsend’s solitaire flew in to check out Barb and me. The surfaces of the reservoir and ponds were about 90% frozen, despite the 61 F degree temperature outside. Delightful, sunny weather for January.

This will be a wonderful destination during the upcoming CFO convention in Lamar this May. The parking lot, ditches, and road below the dam have been re-graded lately. Red cliffs, sapphire water, gray willows—what a gem, even in late January. And Harold Holt wrote, “Two Buttes can be spectacular in migration.”

Today headed southeast across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles to Norman, Oklahoma to search for Smith’s longspur, a nemesis bird for me. Flushed a bunch from a field late this afternoon, but “better view desired,” so will try again tomorrow. Barb is a good sport!

Cheers,
Tom Wilberding
Littleton, CO