El Paso county --- Scoters (1027/11)

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Mark Peterson

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Oct 27, 2011, 5:27:34 PM10/27/11

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The SURF SCOTER first reported by Nick Moore is still at Big Johnson reservoir. Other things around the reservoir:

Most diving duck species have increased in number since Tuesday. There had been a single Bufflehead as early as September 27 and then four total until today (well probably yesterday).

10+ Hooded Merganser

1 Red-breasted Merganser (first found by John Drummond this morning)

1000+ Ruddy Ducks (I counted 900 a couple of weeks ago and there appear to be more now)

1 Common Loon

140 Western Grebe's

1 Clark's Grebe

1 Double-crested Cormorant

1 Bald Eagle (scared off all the Cranes and harassed a Ruddy Duck for between 5 and 10 minutes then gave up)

400 Sandhill Cranes (they all left shortly after I arrived , ~9am)

6 species of shorebird, not bad for this body of water this late in the season

1 Black-bellied Plover (I thought I heard a BBPL while at the reservoir on Tuesday while I was there but never could find it)

14 Killdeer
2 American Avocet
Peep species
8 Long-billed Dowitchers
1 Wilson's Snipe
2 Bonaparte's Gulls
3 Franklin's Gulls
5 Barn Swallows
40+ American Pipits
2 Chestnut-collared Longspurs

See #9 for directions to Big Johnson:
<http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name=El Paso>

A quick stop at Prospect Lake (El Paso county) at Memorial Park was worthwhile. There were 3 BLACK SCOTERs sitting amongst a small raft of Ruddy Ducks.

To get to Prospect Lake from I-25 take exit 141/Cimarron Street and go east where I believe it will "T" with Wasatch. Turn left/north and go 1 block to Costilla Street and turn right/east and follow it to the Lake/Park. There is good viewing from the south side.