Huerfano County Update: Black Terns and Common Tern

[Polly Neldner]

This morning at Lathrop State Park we found two Black Terns and one Common Tern. Have been wondering what all those new huge floats and buoys near the swim beach were good for...now we know...terns LOVE them!

Have to admit we puzzled over the Common Tern for some time, it was still in breeding plumage. Red-orange bill with black tip - bill seemed too narrow for Forster's, red-orange legs. When seated tail was definitely shorter than wings. In flight showed dark wedge on primaries.

Lots and lots of Wilson's Warblers flying about

Common Bushtits were seen

2 Belted Kingfishers at the small wildlife ponds to the west of Horseshoe Lake

A great many Western Grebe on Martin Lake

Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen

Nearer to home we came across a nice small flock of Western Bluebirds

Polly Wren and Paul Neldner

La Veta, CO