Birders,
The deep snows of December have melted, and temperatures have moderated
in the lower Arkansas River Valley. The first northbound birds have
begun to arrive.
On January 29th, I saw a flock of 20 Sandhill Cranes in Prowers County.
Because they only rested briefly in the agricultural field where they
were seen, it is not useful to give directions. I know a few Sandhill
Cranes lingered along the Front Range earlier in the month, but cranes
were definitely not around here during the period when heavy snow
blanketed the ground.
Today, I saw a flock of six American White Pelicans on the far west end
of John Martin Reservoir. It is not unprecedented here for flocks of
Pelicans to appear in late January.
I saw an adult Great Black-backed Gull on the west end of John Martin
Reservoir today. This is probably the same individual that has wintered
locally, but can be sometimes be impossible to find. It was with a few
Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls in the bay east of Clayton Point.
With winter storage raising the level of the reservoir, ice cracks and
pulls away from the shore. This break-up zone currently hosts thousands
of migrant and wintering waterfowl, and lots of Bald Eagles.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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