SE Colorado Birding: A late-ish Monarch Butterfly

Thursday, October 25, 2007

A late-ish Monarch Butterfly

I found this beautiful Monarch Butterfly late this afternoon at Blue Lake (aka Adobe Creek on maps). According to MonarchWatch.org, peak in Monarch abundance during migration should be the end of September at the latitude of Blue Lake (though that is an extrapolation since 38 degrees latitude is not specified). It was flitting around the tamarisks, an invasive plant, that ring the shore. It seemed to be settling-in for the night. SeEtta

Labels: Blue Lake, Viceroy Butterfly

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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