Southeastern Christmas Counts

January 4-6, 2018

January 4

It was a beautiful day in Cottonwood Canyon (Baca).  High temperature was 61 degrees, fantastic for winter!  Winds were 3-4 mph in Cottonwood Canyon and 5-6 at Picture Canyon.

The sixteenth Cottonwood Canyon Christmas Count includes Picture Canyon.

Four CoBus birders arrived in Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) around 4:00 am.  A pair of Western Screech-Owls responded to our recordings played near the camping area.  A Great Horned Owl called quite a distance to the west.

Eventually the bird count at Cottonwood Canyon included a Barn Owl (CR 7), Northern Saw-whet Owl (CR M), Greater Roadrunner (CR M), Long-eared Owl and Northern Cardinal (western draw), a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Winter Wren (southern draw), and Canyon Towhees, a Swamp Sparrow and two Rufous-crowned Sparrows (eastern end), Bewick's Wrens at Campgrounds.

Picture Canyon added a Curve-billed Thrasher, another Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and 4-5 Lapland Longspurs.  Four Mountain Bluebirds were observed as we drove out of Cottonwood Canyon and the way to Picture Canyon.  A Short-eared Owl was along CR M seen along CR M near CR 30.

January 5

Even a better winter day in Colorado, high temperature was 66 degrees!  We were not in the lower canyons today.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

The CoBus group conducted the first annual Las Animas County Christmas Count today.

Highlights included a Western Screech-Owl, three Northern Saw-whet Owls, two Great Horned Owls, a Greater Roadrunner and male Northern Cardinal.

The count included the northern end of Lake Dorothey Wildlife Area and private lands to the north and east.  Two of the Northern Saw-whet Owls were found here.

Other birds recorded included a flock of fourteen Lapland Longspurs, one McCown's Longspur, Canyon Towhees, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Chihuahuan Ravens, Bewick's Wrens, and a Rock Wren.

January 6

Another gorgeous day with a high of 65 degrees.  Winds were higher at 16-17 mph with gusts measured at 29 mph.

The CoBus group found a Lesser Prairie-Chicken near the old Campo Lek (Baca) this morning.

We returned to Baca because of a report of a Painted Bunting in Furnish Canyon.  High winds did not aid in our birding today.  The female/young Painted Bunting sighting was never confirmed.

A male Northern Cardinal the third of the trip was observed at the private ranch in Furnish Canyon.  

Other birds recorded included Chihuahuan Ravens, Canyon Towhees, Bewick's Wren, female Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and another Rufous-crowned Sparrow.