Pinello Ranch and Big Johnson Reservoir, El Paso County, 4/11

[Mel Goff]

Hi all.

 

This morning 14 folks attended the Aiken Audubon Society field trip to Pinello Ranch (fee area, reservations required).

 

We had 34 species with two FOS birds. Our first highlight came at the north end of the big pond on the left of the trail leading from the ranch buildings. In the cattails by the small foot bridge was our FOS WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. We all got great looks and we will have some photos available. As we got to the large field at the north end of the trail, we had a solitary CHIPPING SPARROW. We also had a Red-tailed Hawk on a nest with the mate close by, a pair of American Avocets, and more that a dozen Cinnamon Teal blazing in the morning sun.

 

After the field trip, four of us went over to Big Johnson Reservoir.

 

Highlights:

Snowy Egret

Black-necked Stilts

American Avocets

Burrowing Owl

Clark’s Grebe

Franklin’s Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gulls

Blue-winged Teal

 

Good birding, everyone.

 

Mel Goff

Colorado Springs