Birds and Nature

I did some birding in the La Junta, CO area over the week-end and was surprised to find this and another Sage Thrasher near Lake Holbrook, a location without sage brush. Ebird notes a few sightings of this species around the La Junta area but they range back over a number of years. I suspect this, the 2nd Sage Thrasher it was with and an Eastern Phoebe I found nearby were all migrating through the area. The attraction was a large puddle of water about 10 feet X 3 feet--it is the only appreciable water in the area. Lake Holbrook, an irrigation reservoir, has been dried up for 2-3 weeks and the drought has virtually eliminated sources of water around there. SeEtta

This Olive-sided Flycatcher was an unexpected surprise on my trip to the Lower Arkansas Valley of Colorado last week. I found it giving it's 'quick free beer' call in the limited forest edge around Lake Holbrook. The top photo is really such a classic view showing it's distinctive dark vest an it's very short tail. The is a species of concern with continuing significant population decline. The tufts of white feathers on it's rump, another feature of this species though not always visible, can be seen in fluffed up bird in the bottom pic. SeEtta