Teller Co - all Junco races present

[Jeff J Jones]

Today, I had my final subspecies of Junco show up at my home here north of Woodland Park in Teller County – white-winged (aikenii). And all 6 races but one are present today (missing hyemalis today).

 

That completes the group of six that I eagerly await each fall – in order of first appearance (though not always in this order each year):

·         Gray-headed (caniceps) – year round, though I assume that the breeders move south at this time and I have those from further north in the summer here now.

·         Pink-sided (mearnsi)

·         Slate-colored (hyemalis)

·         Oregon/Hooded (I assume all are shufeldti, but there are other possibilities)

·         Cassiar (cismontanus)

·         White-winged (aikenii)

 

Beautiful, cheerful, active little birds to have from October through April.

 

Jeff J Jones

(jjo...@jonestc.com)

Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands

 

[Gloria Nikolai]

One male and two female long-tailed ducks remain at Big Johnson Reservoir in El Paso County. Park in the lower of the two parking lots and scope the lake to the north - they were seen in that general location for about two hours this morning, approximately the same area the loons like to hang out. There were also 3 common loons. [Seen with Mel and Jeanne Goff, Beth Payne and arriving later, Mark Peterson and Duane Nelson.]
 
Gloria Nikolai
Colorado Springs