Lewis's Woodpecker in Larimer

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Lewis's Woodpeckers used to be uncommon but regular in many areas of Larimer County.  Except for local patches of prosperity, it seems like they have definitely declined, pretty much statewide.   This may be due in part to the loss of orchards to housing areas, with fruit like apples being a major winter food if available.  This may be due in part to West Nile, with many corvids and corvid-like species taking a hit.  Probably other factors.  At least they've had fire areas to exploit in the recent decade.

I found a Lewis's Woodpecker on a power pole at 2820 Storm Mountain Drive about 3 miles north of Drake (Larimer) today.  Storm Mountain Drive (which eventually becomes FR128, a road that is closed currently because of last summer's flood damage to a gate) is accessed by going a few tenths of a mile west of US34 at Drake on Devil's Gulch Road (aka 43 Road, the "back way" to Estes Park and devastated Glenhaven), then north on Storm Mountain Drive for what feels like a long, tortuous, uphill 3 miles.   I believe the Bobcat Gulch Fire of 2006 is probably the explanation for this bird's presence.

Also seen in the general area were a group of Wild Turkeys that included several youngsters. 

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

 

Practically every year recently, a sub-adult white morph Reddish Egret has shown up in late summer at John Martin Reservoir or nearby bodies of water like Lake Hasty or Verhoeff Lake in Bent County. In fact, I think many Colorado birders with this species on their state list got there by observing a white sub-adult Reddish Egret at John Martin Reservoir, most commonly reported to the statewide network by yours truly.

 

Today, I observed a white egret on the expanding mudflats on the west end of John Martin Reservoir. The crazy canopy feeding suggested a white-morph Reddish Egret. In the scope, the bird had a bi-colored bill and bluish legs with dark feet, indicating an adult. Amazingly, a second white egret demanded my attention, and turned out to be a second canopy feeding adult white morph Reddish Egret. At one time, both birds stood within feet of each other, wings arched above their backs as they noticed each other. I called one friend about my sighting, and suggested I need a straight jacket for daring to think this improbable Colorado observation was happening in front of me.

 

You can access the west end of John Martin Reservoir from County Road JJ, just east of County Road 20. Work your way south and east on a confusing network of two-track roads. A word of caution: the birds will probably be very distant, and there are other white herons or egrets present, which must be carefully studied.

 

Duane Nelson

Las Animas, Bent County, CO

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