Opening Day at Blanca Wetlands
There was not much doing at the wetlands but we had gone to
see a snowy plover and our efforts were rewarded.
We saw what we presumed to be two snowy plovers feeding
along the shore of the alkali playa north of parking area 4. We were able to get a good look but decided
to wait on a positive I.D. until we could check field marks against our
Sibley’s field guide, which we had left in the truck. We also wanted to take
some photos.
We moved on to parking area 6 and walked out to the playa to
the west. It was filled with white-faced ibises, Franklin’s gulls, American avocets,
killdeer, red-winged blackbirds and a mallard mother and ducklings. At the
south fishing pond we saw a Swanson’s hawk.
Back at the truck and with field guide in hand we returned
to the playa to again observe the shore birds. This time we saw the dark stripe
on the plovers’ shoulders and we were certain of the sighting.
On our way home we saw a great horned owl as we headed across
Alamosa CR 2.
No comments:
Post a Comment