Jan., 1910 
SOME CENTRAL COLORADO BIRD NOTES 
29 
Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. This bird was seen on several of the smaller 
lakes, both near San Luis Lake, and at Medano Ranch. It seemed rather common. 
Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. Seen on some of the smaller lakes though 
not as common as the preceding. 
Mareca americana. Baldpate. Two or three were seen on one of the small 
lakes one afternoon. (Unless otherwise stated all notes of water birds refer to the 
San Luis Lake and Medano Ranch region. 
Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. Two or three seen among other 
ducks one afternoon. 
Querquedula discors. Blue- winged Teal. Two or three pairs were seen on a 
small lake, and we noted others at other times and places. 
Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. The most common Teal, if not the 
commonest of all the ducks we saw. One of the ponds near the Medano Ranch had 
several pairs on it, how many it was difficult to tell, but half a dozen or more, I 
am sure. 
Spatula clypeata. Spoonbill. One seen each of two afternoons, and at differ- 
ent places. Apparently not common. 
Dafila acuta. Pintail. A number were seen at different times; it seemed 
fairly common. Near Medano Ranch, July second, I saw a female accompanied 
by four one-third grown young. 
Marila americana. Redhead. Durand saw one near the Medano Ranch. We 
thought we saw others elsewhere about the lakes, but were not sure. 
Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. This species was seen on the same 
lake as the grebes, and at the same time. 
Guara rubra. Scarlet Ibis. It is interesting to note that the only specimen of 
this Tropical species recorded from Colorado, and one of the very few known from 
the United States, was taken by a Mr. Livesy on Grape Creek, in the Wet Mountain 
Valley, Custer County, in May, 1876, and probably in, or at any rate very close to 
the region traversed by me. It was recorded by W. P. Lowe, Auk xi, 1894, p. 324. 
Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. Durand saw one at a small pond on the 
Medano Ranch. 
Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. One evening, 
when we were at San Luis Lake, 4 or 5 Night Herons came to the little lake near 
which w r e were camped, and fed there. A few days later Durand found a colony 
on a lake at Medano Ranch, and from the indications thought they must nest there. 
The first of July I saw several in a flooded meadow while driving to Hooper. 
Fulica americana. Coot. A common bird, seen on nearly every lake we visited. 
Steganopus tricolor. Wilson’s Phalarope. Seemed rather common on ponds 
about Medano Ranch. 
Recurvirostra americana. American Avocet. Avocets were very common at 
San Luis Lake, though we saw none at Medano Ranch. We saw them daily while 
camped at the lake; they fed both about the large lake and about the small lakes; 
we used to see them feeding in the pond close to camp, especially in the early 
morning and late afternoon and evening. Henshaw states that the Black-necked 
Stilt, Himantopus niexicanus, was equally common with the Avocets, and Aiken 
tells me the same thing, but I saw none whatever. 
Limosa fedoa. Marbled Godwit. An interesting note is that the first Colorado 
record for this species is one taken by Aiken at San Luis Lake, October 1, 1874. 
Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. This species was seen but a few times, 
at Parkdale, at San Luis Lake, and at a small reservoir near Fountain on the last 
day of the trip. 
