This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the Wilson’s snipe. Despite being one of the most common and widespread shorebirds in North America, this bird can be difficult to spot. Its cryptic coloring and secretive nature can have you looking right at the snipe without actually seeing it. This is a solitary creature of wet fields, bogs and pond edges. It avoids areas of tall, dense vegetation, but requires the cover of sedges, rushes and cattails to duck in and hide. Feathers patterned in buff and brown with stripes and bars, which include three long buffy stripes on the back and a striped head, provide camouflage against the muddy edges where the snipe is often found. Without having to perform weight training, this bird develops extra large pectoral muscles that can make up one-quarter of its total weight and give it a pudgy look. These muscles power the straight, strong flight this bird achieves at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, but when a snipe is flushed, it explodes in zigzagging flight that is hard for a predator to track. The term “sniper” was originally given to those British soldiers in the 1770s who were accurate enough shots to successfully hunt the snipe as a game bird. The Wilson’s snipe uses its long, straight bill to probe in the soft mud and detect and capture prey underground. The sensitive and flexible bill tip can feel insect larvae and earthworms that burrow in damp soil and open to slurp them up with the bill still buried. Eyes set far back on its head provide the snipe with vision to the front, sides and back, even while feeding with its bill buried in the mud. The haunting winnowing sound associated with the Wilson’s snipe during courtship is not a vocalization, but instead is produced in flight by air rushing over the spread outer tail feathers. Renowned wildlife recordist Kevin Colver introduced it as “A bewildering, wavering sound drifts from everywhere and yet from nowhere.” The Wilson’s snipe is still common enough that it is one of only two shorebird species allowed to be hunted in the United States. Over half of the 35 shorebird species found in North America are in trouble. Unregulated hunting on their wintering grounds may be a factor in population declines. For information on events, visit www.weminucheaudubon.org and www.facebook.com/weminucheaudubon/.
Bird of the Week
Artist's Lane
I didn’t know where our conversation would lead. I’m not an alarmist, I’m pretty peaceful. I always feel great. No problem. Apparently, I have severe arthritis in both hips. They are shot …
Local News
Incident Management Team: An Important Transition in Our Response Today marks an important transition for the Incident Management Team (IMT) supporting our response to the devastating flooding …
Outdoors
For the safety of the public, the San Juan National Forest has implemented two closure orders on the Pagosa and Columbine Ranger Districts. These closures prohibit motorized traffic on all listed …
Faith
Save the dates for the following activities at the SpiritFire Inspirational Living Center: • Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather dependent: “Refresh Body, Mind and Spirit Sessions.” Call or …
Local News
On Friday afternoon, Nov. 6, Colorado Highway 17 was fully opened to travel through Colorado and New Mexico. With Highway 17 extending into New Mexico, it provides a critical route connecting Pagosa …
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Local News

County issues Nov. 6 flood update

A major milestone in our response For the first time since this disaster began, neither ground nor air teams performed any rescues today. This is an important milestone in our response …
Education

Pagosa Peak Genealogical Society to discuss history of Colorado’s railroads at Saturday meeting

The Pagosa Peak Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting this Saturday, Nov. 7. We will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St., in …
Library News

Ruby Sisson Library focusing on fundamentals

My oldest son and I are big baseball fans, and this year we were especially excited that the Milwaukee Brewers went to the World Series. While I simply love friendly competition and watching …
Community

Pagosa Community Initiative steps up flood recovery efforts

As the Pagosa Springs community responds to the devastating effects of recent flooding, Pagosa Community Initiative (PCI) is helping local families meet immediate needs while connecting residents …
Senior News

Honoring our veterans: a lifetime of service and sacrifice

Veterans Day is a special opportunity to pause, reflect and express our heartfelt gratitude to the men and women who have served our country in the United States Armed Forces. At Archuleta …
Local News

County issues Nov. 5 flood update

What We Did Today Today, air resources from the Colorado National Guard (CONG) and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), and ground teams conducted secondary assessments in areas …
What Readers Are Saying
Severe flood damage to the Piedra River Bridge, approximately 18 miles west of Pagosa Springs, has cut off US Highway 160 access between Pagosa and Durango. (Photo courtesy of the Colorado Department of Transportation)
Local News

Expect lengthy Southwest Colorado detours due to flood damage

The Colorado Department of Transportation urges motorists and commercial motor vehicle drivers to prepare for extensive detours when accessing Southwest Colorado, specifically Pagosa Springs and …
Things to Do

What's happening in and around Pagosa Springs

Here's a look at upcoming events in and around Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County. Find more events on our calendar . Thursday, Nov. 5 Ruby’s Writers Guild. 9-11 a.m., Sisson Library. …
Local News

Town issues Nov. 5 flood update

Some encouraging news as Pagosa Springs continues moving forward with flood recovery: • Bridge reopening: The Hot Springs Boulevard bridge is expected to reopen shortly, marking another …
Things to Do

Amid flood recovery, Salvation Army continues helping Archuleta county neighbors

As our Archuleta County community begins recovering from two devastating flood events, the Archuleta County Salvation Army extends its thoughts and prayers to everyone affected. We are grateful to …
Food

How to connect with food resources during flood recovery

As Archuleta County continues to respond to and recover from the recent historic flooding, Healthy Archuleta reminds community members that local food pantries are available to help individuals and …
Local News

More historic flooding hits Pagosa Country

For the second time in as many weeks, Pagosa Country experienced historic flooding.   And, for the second week in a row, there have been no known fatalities or injuries associated with the …
Additional major flooding early this week resulted in additional major damage to the area, compromising roads, bridges and, in at least one case, sweeping a house from its place along the river.
Local News

Additional flooding causes multiple area road closures

With two historic flooding events occurring in Archuleta County from Oct. 23 through Nov. 2, multiple town and county roads, state and U.S. highways have sustained significant damage, causing …
Government

Results of election remain unclear

The results of the Nov. 3 general election in Archuleta County — including what voters decided on a trio of local ballot issues — remains undetermined as ballots continue to be counted. …
Capt. Richard Sebastian, DDS, retired, served in the U.S. Army in Korea 1969-1970, calling the service a way to honor his father and pay back the debt he felt he owed to his country.
Local News

A debt repaid: Capt. Richard Sebastian’s service in Korea

Editor’s note: Capt. Richard Sebastian, DDS, retired, served in the U.S. Army in Korea 1969-1970. The SUN is honored Sebastian chose to share his story with our readers and to help us continue our …
Archuleta County Veterans Services Officer Raymond Taylor was recently received the Louis Nardini Award from the Colorado County Veterans Service Officers Association. Taylor received the award in recognition of outstanding performance and achievement in serving the veterans and families of Archuleta County.
Local News

Louis Nardini Award

Government

Flag presentations, ceremonies and dinners planned to honor veterans

Several events are planned over the next week to honor military veterans for their service to our country, with Veterans Day falling on Wednesday, Nov. 11. In addition to the community events, …
Local News

U.S. 160 reconstruction project completion delayed

During a meeting held by the Pagosa Springs Town Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 5 Transportation Director Julie Constan explained that the …

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Obituaries
 Alva Lee Cox
8/5/37-10/27/26 Born at home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., Lee’s heart never strayed far from that place of his origin. Named for his granddad, Alvie Patterson, and his dad, Lee Cox, he was a …
Andy Ray David Rivas
Andy Ray David Rivas was called home on Oct. 21, 2026. Andy was born on Sept. 23, 1975, to Marie Ann Valdez and Henry Carl Rivas. Andy was truly a kindred spirit and was loved by all who met …
Denise (Lihme) McCroddan
Denise (Lihme) McCroddan, age 85, of Springdale, Ark., was called home to be with the Lord on Oct. 31, 2026. Born in Elgin, Ill., on June 7, 1941, Denise dedicated her life to Christ as a teenager …
Robert E. J. ‘Buck’ Goodyear
June 3, 1938 - Aug. 24, 2026 “A True Highway Man”   Robert “Buck” Goodyear passed away Aug. 24, 2026. Buck graduated from Durango High School in 1956 and spent two years at …
Demetrio Martinez
Demetrio Martinez passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at his home in Carracas Mesa, N.M. Born and raised in Carracas, Demetrio spent the majority of his life in Durango, …
Jean Macht Taylor
The family of Jean Macht Taylor would like to let the community know of her passing on Oct. 19, 2026. Obituary and celebration of life details to follow.

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