Friday, January 18, 2013

Jumbo Reservoir to Flagler Reservoir

January 18, 2013

Richard Stevens:

We woke to a couple of Harris's Sparrows visiting Roger's feeders.  A White-winged Dove also made an appearance.  Temperatures would climb to a "warm" middle 50s today.  Winds however were quite strong (anemometer readings, steady at 13 mph, gusts to 21 mph).

We headed to Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) to search for uncommon gulls or perhaps an Eastern Meadowlark (only Ring-billed and a few Herring Gulls were found).  A good highlight was a Dunlin walking the shore south of the Campgrounds (private property).

Then we drove south on Fleming Road (Highway 59) and east to Haxtun (Phillips County; where birding was slow).  Holyoke did not provide any additional uncommon birds to our trip list.  A consolation was a Northern Goshawk at the City Park

In Wray (Yuma), we made two quick stops at friend's homes.  This added 3 male and 2 female Northern Cardinals and a red Fox Sparrow to our trip list!

We passed by Bonny Reservoir and Burlington, observed half a dozen Great-tailed Grackles at Palmer Park (Highways 385 & I70).

Our final stop was Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson County).  Birding was slow here.  No Common Redpolls or wrens.  A lone Red-bellied Woodpecker was the highlight. 

We scoped the northwestern fields late in the afternoon.  A Short-eared Owl flew over about 15 minutes after sunset.

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