CUSTER COUNTY FIELD TRIP REPORT

by Jane Pederson

   The Arkansas Valley Audubon Society held their annual summer field trip to the Wet Mountain Valley on August 25. This is the 23rd consecutive year that this birding trip has been held, and the all day affair had the group of about 20 participants tabulating their checklists at a steady pace. There were a number of new people who had never attended this field trip, and their participation was welcomed.

   The very first bird of the day that got on everyone’s checklist was an adult Bald Eagle at Lake DeWeese . Although Bald Eagles can generally be seen in the area during the winter months, this is the first record of this bird for the August trip. Similarly, just about the last bird of the day was also a raptor and quite unexpected for this time of year.  As the group made their way along Brush Creek Loop Road in the late afternoon, a Merlin was found sitting on the top of a cottonwood.

   As had been the case most years, the group tallied a total of 110 species for the day. Many in the group were awarded with “lifers”—birds they have never seen before—and a number of birders in the group were able to add to their Custer County list.
Other highlights of the day included 10 species of ducks, 3 species of grebes, a total of 9 species of raptors and 12 species of shorebirds.

 Participants for the outing included:  two from Westcliffe, four from Pueblo , two from Durango (and Hillside ), five from Colorado Springs and others from Cañon City , Rye , and Carbondale .

Following is a recap of the Arkansas Valley Audubon weekend trip beginning at La Veta on Saturday, July 21, 8 am:

 A large group (19) of birders that included permanent and summer La Veta residents and Canon City, Boulder and Pueblo trekkers joined Tom Doerk, Dave Moore and Stirling Lathrop at the Town Park to begin the day at historic Ritter Ranch where we peeked into a sheepherders wagon (an early RV?) dating from the late 1800's and an adobe barn with wooden loft and pitched roof built in the same period.  There was a noisy pair of American Kestrels in the large cottonwood trees around the ranch house and we saw several Song Sparrows, Yellow Warblers, Western Wood-Pewees and Cordilleran Flycatchers along the Cucharas River.  Other sightings included Eastern Kingbird and Cedar Waxwing. 

On the Moore property, south of town and along School Creek, we were delighted to see Wild Turkeys and Band-tailed Pigeons, who were sharing the food from a feeder with several very pretty, very vocal domestic roosters.  At another stop nearby were a family of Lewis's Woodpeckers, the 2 or 3 fledgings getting some practice flying from the nest tree to a telephone pole near the road. 

After lunch in Town Park, 6 birders who planned to participate in the rest of the weekend met Ron Garcia, Baca National Wildlife Refuge manager, for a guided tour of the new Refuge.  It's not open to the public yet, as the mandate for the birds and other creatures who live on the land has not been established as yet.  Lots of study and research has been and is being conducted to find solutions that will best suit their needs.  Eventually, the Refuge will total 92,000 acres so it's a big area and a big job for Ron, who is the lone staff member until funding is available from Congress, which may be as far away as 2009.   Many thanks to him for taking the time to give us a close-up look and an idea of his plans.   

Some shallow playas that have not had water for several years previous were busy with Wilson's Phalaropes and American Avocets, prolific breeders in the Valley's wetlands.  A few early shorebird migrants - Long-billed Dowitcher, Baird's Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper - were mixed in.  Brewer's and Vesper Sparrows, Sage Thrashers and Mourning Doves were abundant in the greasewood/rabbitbrush/saltbush habitat that covers at least 90% of the Refuge.    

A most memorable sight was not birds, but a herd of about 300 elk, mostly females and young, who bolted at the sight of our vehicle and crowded to jump a fence into a riparian area and cover.  Ron estimates several herds that total 3,000 elk live on the Refuge.  

Sunday morning began at Zapata Falls, a recreation area with a beautifully treed, cool riparian area surrounded by pinyon-juniper.   A heavy rain on Thursday and more on Friday, made wading into the creek for a look at the Falls risky, but everyone in the group of 5 was able to identify at least one Black Swift circling around the area with the White-throated.  How many there were in the group we could not be sure.  On the short trail to and from the Falls we counted BT Hummers, Plumbeous and Warbling Vireo, Western Scrub-Jay, Bushtit, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Spotted Towhee and Chipping Sparrow. 

Four more birders from northern New Mexico joined the group for the rest of the day. San Luis Lakes SWA was closed for breeding season until July 15 and was busy with numerous American Coots and youngsters of all ages, Eared and Western Grebes, Green-winged Teal and chicks, lots of Ruddy Ducks, Great Blue Herons, some Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead and Lesser Scaup, a Black-crowned Night Heron with juvenile, White-faced Ibis, a Black Tern and Marsh Wren.  A few Lark Bunting males were seen on the road between stops. 

Blanca Wetlands, also re-opened on July 15, hosted huge flocks of Wilson's Phalarope and many American Avocet and juveniles.  We spotted a small plover with 2 chicks, but could not be sure if it was Piping or Snowy; a flock of 12 American While Pelicans flew by.  Identified a Western Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher here and a California Gull.  Also a surprise - a young Peregrine perched on a fence post. 

Two trips to Medano-Zapata Ranch, The Nature Conservancy property and an oasis in the treeless valley floor, yielded numerous Western Wood-Pewee, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Northern Flicker and American Kestrel.  A Great Horned Owl and juvenile were spotted at dusk. 

All this and we had no time for some of the other wonderful birding areas in the Valley!  Thanks to the organizers in La Veta, Ron Garcia, the kind people at Medano-Zapata Ranch and Great Sand Dunes NP and John Rawinski for their help and advice. 

Click here to view a complete list of sightings. 

Donna Emmons

The Arkansas Valley Audubon Society field trip last Saturday (May 5th) to a few prairie canyon sites on the Colo. Birding Trail, includin a private ranch, was a success according to the participants.  There were 11 participants who came from north of Colo Springs to the Walsenberg area to spend the day south of La Junta.  We didn't see lots of bird species but what we saw was worth the drive. The best bird(s) of the day was a nest with Common Ravens in it.  After Donna Emmons spotted a nest in some canyon cliffs, a spotting scope showed 4 large nestlings in the nest.  Interestingly, we also saw some Yellow-rumped Warblers in some junipers on the prairie (hey, it's long ways between riparian green-belts in these parts and they were busy feeding for the next part of their migration) as well as a pair of Blue-winged Teal and a Great Blue Heron that flew from a cattle pond.

The private ranch, belonging to Zane and Barb Leininger (check it out- http://www.coloradobirdingtrail.com/trails/eastern_plains_site.php?trail=9&id=919), is not far south of La Junta and includes thousands of acres of prairie and canyonlands not yet explored by birders.  The Leininger ranch even has its own set of dinosaur tracks (not as distinctive as Picketwire Canyon but a lot easier to get to).  There were wonderful blooming prairie wildflowers including large clumps of Sprawling Daisies and blankets of Blue Flax thanks to all the moisture they've received.  Many butterflies worked these wildlflowers including the Variegated Fritillary, the only species my novice skills allowed me to identify (gosh, lots were really small and jumpy). And a final treat was a good size, spring-fed pond with dozens of Northern Leopard Frogs which are a species of special concern in Colorado .

With a beautiful, mild day a good time was had by all.  I encourage Cobirders to check out the Colorado Birding Trail if you haven't done so yet.  I also encourage you to buy some gas, breakfast, lunch or something while you are in these rural areas and be sure to wear your binoculars or tell them you are there birding.  They can use the economic boost and it’s important that they know that birders are contributing to their area.  That's the conservation mission of the birding trail efforts around the country--bring some economic benefit to small communities so they realize it is important for them to protect and enhance their natural areas.   For birders, there are some great birds, and other stuff, to see.

I have posted a number of photos from this trip on my blog, including the nesting Common Raven nestlings and a parent.  See them at www.SEColoradoBirding.blogspot.com (and be sure to scroll down the page as I broke the trip into 4 separate posts)..

 Other early migrants included Eurasian Collared-Dove, Tree Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark and Common Grackle.
Donna Emmons - Field Trip Chairman

2007 EAGLE DAY REPORT

In spite of dire weather predictions earlier in the week, this year’s Eagle Day celebration on Feb. 3 enjoyed a fairly good attendance by the general public.  A dozen AVAS volunteers staffed our table supplied with a wide variety of information, gave an introductory orientation and shared spotting scopes for many people, from toddlers to octogenarians.

With the waterways iced over in northern Colorado we expected that possibly 25 or more bald eagles would be present.  Curiously, surveys earlier in the week turned up only two or three so we were worried people might not get to see the promised “target” bird.  However, at least seven representatives of our national symbol put in an appearance, allowing everyone a good look at this striking bird of prey.

This annual event is a worthwhile collaboration with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks , the Raptor Center of Pueblo, Pueblo Zoo, and other groups concerned with wildlife conservation.  It attracts many families with children, providing us with an exceptional opportunity for educational outreach.