Smith Reservoir, Costilla County rarities

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All

Today, Smith Reservoir was filled with birds and good ones at that

Highlights included an adult Caspian Tern, an adult breeding plumage Glossy Ibis, an apparent Glossy x WF Ibis (perhaps that Glossy had bred with WF Ibis in the San Luis Valley this year), and a male Mexican Duck.

On private land in Alamosa County I had a Gray Vireo. Also, on private land near San Luis Reservoir State Park (that reservoir is dried up), there were patches of some pale pink flower that abounded with Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds. The most I've ever seen at one spot "in the wild." Oddly, no Broadtails that I could detect.

Monte Vista NWR in Rio Grande County had no rarities, but stacks of birds including a few migrant shorebirds

Good Birding

Steven Mlodinow