Russel Lakes State Wildlife Area (Saguache Co.)

[Erik Hendrickson]

I made a quick stop just after noon yesterday on U.S. Hwy 285 (The Gunbarrel) about 10 miles south of Saguache; there was a pair of WESTERN TANAGERs in the cottonwood trees in the parking lot, and an AMERICAN BITTERN in the wetland near the highway (usually making itself somewhat visible with a spotting scope).  Also:
WHITE-FACED IBIS
BLACK-NECKED STILT
AMERICAN AVOCET
SNOWY EGRET
in the wetlands, along with 8 species of ducks, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and WESTERN GREBE.

There was also a juvenile KILLDEER (that looks like a different plover species), and a bat skimming the water's surface, capturing insects, and occasionally skimming water to drink.

Erik Hendrickson
Cortez, Colorado