Eastern Bluebird mini-fallout, San Luis Valley, Mar. 17

[Ted Floyd]

Hey, all.

Hannah Floyd and I saw and heard an adult male eastern bluebird this sunny Sunday morning, Mar. 17, 2019, at the Zapata Ranch, Alamosa County. The time of our sighting was 9:11 am.

On return to Boulder County this evening, I was curious about previous records from the San Luis Valley. Turns out there is one (1) previous eBird record for the valley. And here's the crazy thing: That previous record, of two male eastern bluebirds documented by Kara Gallagher and Cody Ensanian, was from an Alamosa County eBird checklist dated Sun., Mar. 17, 2019, at 8:16 am, less than an hour earlier! Given the separation of the two sites (Zapata Ranch vs. the city of Alamosa), I'm thinking that different birds are likely involved.

Anyhow, for a period of about 55 minutes, Alamosa County was THE place to find eastern bluebirds in Colorado.

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County