'Twas a tale of two reservoirs, one which was rained upon last night (Jackson) and the other which was not (Prewitt).
I started at Prewitt. Migrants were scarce, indeed, absent would be close to the truth. The only bird of note there was a male VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, a tasty tidbit so far out on the plains.
Of the many options to choose from, I decided to investigate Jackson, more on a whim than ought else. I noticed that the dirt roads were full of puddles. It had rained, and rained but good there. I started by poking around Andrick Ponds SWA (it is on your left just before you enter the state park's main entrance, and can be encircled by turning left on county road AA. The access there is confusing, as the sign at the parking area says that one must have reservations for all activities, but a very detailed sign directly next to it sets out an incredibly complex set of rules of what can be done when, with the apparent upshot that reservations being necessary only during hunting season, which it ain't. So I went in. I was rewarded almost immediately by migrants. A small cluster of Yellow-rumpeds and a few Swainson's Thrushes filled my heart with joy.
That is, indeed, how slow Prewitt was.
Between walking around Andrick and driving around the perimeter I had OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and VEERY + 7 American Bitterns.
Jackson State Park was also reasonably birdy, but as with Andrick, the birds were scattered in small pish-resistant groups. Near the visitor center there was a LEAST FLYCATCHER and a NORTHERN PARULA. The parula repeatedly sang a song that sounded absolutely nothing like that of a N Parula. The closest I could come up with was Indigo Bunting (which I did, about an hour later and a mile away). Watching the parula sing was kind of like watching a Canada Goose open its beak and quack. In the patches of woods to the n. of the visitor center I had yonder INDIGO BUNTING (singing male) and a 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.
Blissfully ignorant of what Willy had found, I went to the n. end of Jackson Lake/Res, Jackson State Wildlife Area. Taking Co Rd 5 north, past Co Rd BB, the road swings west (directly at lake), and then makes a 90 degree turn to the north again. I noticed some forms (as in birds) standing at the lake's edge, so pulled over, and climbed atop my Toyota Highlander. On the shore there were 19 WHIMBREL, 1 LONG-BILLED CURLEW, and one very spiffy breeding plumage BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. At the state wildlife area, one of the sloughs still has water, and shorebird level water. In addition to 100 or so White-faced Ibis (I would bet there was a Glossy in there somewhere), were 250 Wilson's Phalaropes, 5 Marbled Godwits, >70 LB Dowitchers (no Short-billeds, alas), and >30 Willet. A Peregrine diving in hoping for dinner caused rather an impressive shorebird explosion. The ducks seemed to think nothing of it and continued along their dabbling ways.
Jackson Res and Andrick yielded 90 species in an afternoon's birding. I wish that I'd been there first thing.
What a difference rain makes.
Good Birding
Steven Mlodinow
Longmont CO
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