The Rocky Ford Christmas count is an established count located only one hour east of Pueblo in a very birdy area along the Arkansas River . It includes the town of Rocky Ford , the Rocky Ford State Wildlife Area, Valco Ponds, and large reservoirs including Lake Meredith , Lake Holbrook and Lake Cheraw . This is one of relatively few Christmas Count Circles in Colorado that have reached 100 species on Count Day. 

Successful counts require a lot of effort on the part of compilers, and multiple groups of observers to cover all areas and habitats. The count held on December 15th had the former (compiler Stan Oswald ), but not the latter. This year's count had only two participants (Stan and I), and we had to split up for the entire day in order to cover "most" of the territory. We found a respectable 81 species, and probably had the highest count of species and individual birds/ participant for a sanctioned count in the state this year, but I personally am frustrated by the tiny turnout.  

As usual, some great birds were found on this count, including a male Eurasian Wigeon, a female Barrow's Goldeneye, a Double-crested Cormorant, a female Greater Scaup, a group of 14 Greater White-fronted Geese, one California Gull, 9 White-winged Doves, two White-throated Sparrows and numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers, all absent on the adjacent John Martin Reservoir Count. 

The most interesting birds seen were a family group of Cackling X Snow Geese. Three of these birds were with a Cackling Goose, and were marked by blotchy white areas on the head, expanded white cheek patches, and dark bills the shape and size of the bills of Snow Geese. A group of these birds were at the same location in December 2005, and provided a subject for discussion of parentage among last year's participants. Were these last years' birds, or the results of a similar inter-species tryst last summer in the high arctic? 

Stan and I met at Lake Holbrook at noon to compare notes, and found two Greater Yellowlegs, new for the count.

I hope metro-area birders will take this posting as a stimulus to consider helping with additional counts in future Christmas Count seasons. The very continuation of some counts may depend on participation by out-of-area birders.  

  Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO