Sabine's Gull at Blanca Wetlands

[John Rawinski]

Spent the morning out and about birding the area. Was excited to find a juvenile Sabine's Gull on pond 184. You have to walk a ways from the main road to this pond. But the bird seemed nervous and soon took to the skies to parts unknown. But plenty of birds out there including Least, Baird's Semi-palmated and Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plover, Willet and Avocets (All in Alamosa County). Peregrine Falcons were on the hunt and scattered flocks of shorebirds periodically. There was also an abundance of upland birds with bountiful numbers of Sage Thrasher, GT Towhee, and Brewer's Sparrows flitting from shrub to shrub.  A Gray Flycatcher and American Pipits were nice to see. 

Wading birds included Bittern, BC Night-herons, Snowy Egrets and WF Ibis. All the Rabbitbrush is now flowering in brilliant yellow, a sure harbinger of changes to come. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO