John Martin Reservoir dam closure update

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

As of today, one of SE Colorado's best birding spots, the road crossing
the dam at John Martin Reservoir (Bent County), is once again open to
the public. This road has been closed to the public for the past 10
months, but will reopen seven days a week during daytime hours. This
means that birders will be able to drive across the dam and scan for
birds from the two pull-outs on the north and south sides of the release
gates in the center of the dam. I think the view west from the dam is
one of the most magnificent vistas in SE Colorado.

The three uncommon bird species that showed up last October to my Las
Animas yard persist through today. They are Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Canyon Towhee and Curve-billed Thrasher. Four Common Loons that showed
up in late December remain on the reservoir, about one mile west of the
Overook on the north shore. Today, on "Plover Island" (a major Piping
Plover-Least Tern habitat project completed this winter, and marked by a
freshly-excavated channel and large boulders and "no vehicles" signs),
an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and migrant Baird's Sandpiper
appeared. Seasonal arrivals can be expected.

Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO