SE Colorado Birding: Otero County

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Otero County

Yesterday's trip to the lower Arkansas Valley area included to two sites in Otero County. Lake Cheraw, a great shorebird hotspot, yielded 4 Snowy Plovers (a state species of special concern), 35-45 Wilson's Phalarope, 2 Least Sandpipers, 2 Black-necked Stilts and several American Avocets. There were a number of Ruddy Ducks and many Northern Shovelers on the lake.

I next made a quick trip to the Higbee area where I saw several Cassin's Kingbirds, Scaled Quail and Northern Mockingbirds.

SeEtta

Why bird southeast Colorado?

From our high montane areas to the riparian areas along the Arkansas River as it exits Colorado, southeast Colorado offers birding opportunities for beginners to those serious birders who seek out the less common species. We have great shortgrass and sandsage prairie birding including public areas on the Comanche National Grasslands. We have wetlands including playa lakes (playas are important shallow, depressional wetlands that provide essential habitat for waterfowl and many other bird species). We have small lakes (such as Lake Cheraw north of La Junta)and large lakes (such as John Martin Reservoir that encompasses 35 square miles) that host an impressive diversity of bird species. And we have large expanses of pinyon-juniper woodlands with their special birding opportunities.

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SE Colorado Birding

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Otero County

Why bird southeast Colorado?

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