Least Bittern in Bent County

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

I flushed a Least Bittern along Bent County Road JJ just east of Van's
Grove this morning. It flew off to the south. Gageby Creek is slowly
flowing into John Martin Reservoir here, and it should prove to be
spectacular for migrating and staging waterbirds and shorebirds in the
coming weeks. My best birds today were a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers.
A scope will be necessary for shorebirds, which should mostly be south
of Road JJ.

For those who have missed them, there are a couple of pairs of Least
Terns on "Gravel Island" on the north shore of John Martin Reservoir.
Gravel Island is west of the cattle guard marking the boundary between
the State Park and the State Wildlife Area, and immediately west of
"Plover Island, marked by a line of large boulders theoretically
preventing sportsmen from attempting to drive across a channel built to
protect nesting shorebirds.

Sincerely,

Duane Nelson

Las Animas, Bent County CO