Birders,
This isn't exactly a rare bird report, but it includes some birds of
local interest. I went to Adobe Creek Reservoir (aka "Blue Lake") this
morning, mostly to see if winter storage water in the Fort Lyon Storage
Canal is entering the lake. It is. The canal company has decided to
store water in Adobe Creek Reservoir this winter instead of in Lakes
Henry and Meredith, good news for Piping Plovers, Least Terns and
birders with affinities for Kiowa and Bent County lists. I think the
south lake (in Bent County) will begin to fill within days.
At Adobe Creek Reservoir, I searched for, and did not relocate, the
adult Parasitic Jaeger, but it's a big lake and I could have missed it.
I did see one late Long-billed Dowitcher. The lake is still swarming
with ducks and gulls, but I didn't pick out anything noteworthy.
I drove to the Ft. Lyon VA cemetery from the five-way junction at Ft.
Lyon. I had one Steller's Jay in the junipers leading to the cemetery,
quite noteworthy this far east. I searched in vain for LeConte's and
other marsh sparrows near Ft. Lyon. I then went to the new Karney State
Wildlife area, north of US 50 along Gageby Creek. This is a spectacular
winter bird site newly open to the public. I found another two Steller's
Jays here, and they were very vocal and cooperative. They preferred
Russian olives, tall cottonwoods, and coming to the creek to drink. Also
here were Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Finally, I went to John Martin Reservoir. I didn't feel comfortable
attempting to walk across the mudflats on the west end of the reservoir
to look for marsh and water birds, as waterfowl season is underway, and
hunters have staked out multiple territories. At least one occupied duck
blind was at the junction of the Arkansas River and the lake, which was
my intended destination, so I left. I did walk along the Arkansas River
below the dam at John Martin Reservoir, and easily found two Rusty
Blackbirds at the easternmost rock crossing below the small dam.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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