Mexican Duck - Teller County, Manitou Lake
Jeff J Jones
Today, on the beaver ponds at the south end of Manitou Lake (fee area) I had what I believe was a Mexican Duck (considered a subspecies of Mallard nowadays). It did fly after a few minutes and I got good looks at the speculum bordered in white on both sides.
FOS birds this weekend at the lake:
American White Pelican
Golden Eagle
Spotted Sandpiper
California Gull
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Have not seen either the Rusty Blackbird or the Black Phoebe in several days.
The Golden Eagle was first seen in a steep dive from up high onto a prairie dog. The prairie dog escaped at the last second. One of the resident red-tailed hawks (nest somewhere nearby, but haven’t found it yet; seen them collecting sticks and courtship a month or two ago) immediately swooped down on the eagle, which took off. The Hawk pestered the Eagle until it was out of range.
Jeff J Jones
Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands