Today, I saw the Indigo Bunting at Ouray in the exact location that the Beyers reported it a couple of weeks ago. But my favorite birds of the day were 3 American Bitterns. I heard one while I was on the auto-tour route just as the road turns parallel to the Green River. When I got out of my car, I was met by 50 or so mosquitos. I was in a t-shirt and shorts and had no bug repellent making me an irresistable snack. They drove me crazy and quickly drove me back into my car. Luckily, I was able to spot the bittern from the car after driving 100 feet or so. I got one photograph off, before the mosquitos noticed and tried to get me through the window. I watched the bittern do its call/song thing and was fascinated. I had never seen a bittern doing its song, and was fascinated by how it fast it moved its head up and down. Also, it was interesting to watch it open its bill and do a gargling motion with its throat before it performed its song. Was it sucking in air?
I flushed two more American Bitterns when I stopped my car just outside of Leota Bottoms next to the closed gate. Awesome.
I couldn't find the Green Heron or the Black Terns, but was able to see the other cool birds previously reported by the Beyers. I also saw a Peregrine Falcon just outside of Ouray on a telephone pole and two Caspian Terns flying over Leota Bottoms. Wilson's Snipe were also 'winnowing' by the observation tower and also in the area was one lone Long-billed Dowitcher.
I also made a stop at Jordanelle wetlands and saw 2 Gray Catbirds. Some of the other 'better' birds were 3 Western Wood Pewee's, 2 Plumbeous Vireos, 2 Warbling Vireos, and many Cedar Waxwings.
Last but not least I saw the Bobolinks in Heber Valley.
-Ed Conrad