Field Notes 9.4.12

Sometimes birdwatching is a very busy affair with birds everywhere. Other times it seems towards the end of summer things slow down and there are fewer birds to see. But that’s not to say there aren’t unexpected and delightful sightings such as the group of cedar waxwings we saw in a Russian olive tree just west of the Adams State University campus near the Rio Grande River.

We’ve also been busy with family events and end-of-summer activities so here is a list of sightings that have brightened the doldrums of late summer birding:

American goldfinches and plumbeous vireo at Pike’s Stockade

A Wilson’s snipe and great blue herons near Lasauses

American avocets, white-faced ibises, black-crowned night herons, Wilson’s phalaropes and gulls at Blanca Wetlands

Common nighthawks and killdeer at Riverwood Pond in Alamosa

Around town we’ve noticed that the numerous swallows that have delighted us with their aerial acrobatics all summer have left the area. The rufous hummingbirds that so jealously guarded the feeders are gone but we still have broad-tailed hummingbirds enjoying the sweet nectar. Canada geese are getting restless and practicing their v-shaped flying formations.

We will soon look forward to hearing the haunting calls of the sandhill cranes that signal the beginning of the fall migration.

Field Nites 7.16.12

 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.