Huerfano County Update: Common Loon, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye

[Polly Neldner]

It was truly a beautiful,  warm, non-windy morning in Huerfano County. Out at Lathrop there was quite a assortment of waterfowl. Calm water made for very good scoping.

Was quite pleasantly surprised to find 6 Common Loon on the lake. Had them all up at the same time...that was a nice treat.

First of the season female Greater Scaup together with a small group of Common Goldeneye in amongst the more usual suspects of  Common Merganser,  American Wigeon, Redheads, Ring-necked Duck,  Bufflehead, Mallard  a few Canvasback.

Large rafts of Clark's and Western Grebe with more than a few Pied-billed Grebe, Horned and Eared Grebe.

No unusual gulls...

The Bald Eagles have returned to the lake and the Osprey are gone.

Nice group of Bushtit. Lovely flyover of Sandhill Crane. Of course there were lots of Northern Flicker, American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. Quite a few Western Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven and Black-billed Magpie.

Best of all...my trusty pup Scooter and I were the only ones out there!

Polly Wren Neldner

La Veta, CO