October 16, 2007
While out doing chores I stopped and walked the Cottonwood Creek Loop at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) for the last two hours of daylight. I played a Swamp Sparrow recording at several locations and one came out of the cattails. It was along the inlet canal at about halfway between the bird platform and the wooden bridge east of the parking area. You can recognize the area by a small muddy shoreline with a large group of bright green plants (cattails?).
While standing on the old wooden bridge playing a Swamp Sparrow recording, a flock of sparrows came by to the east (where the path is paved). The count was 37 American Robins, 9 White-crowned Sparrows (all juveniles), and 6 Song Sparrows. When I continued the walk east to the metal bridge (just below the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands Pond) there were 17 White-crowned Sparrows (all adults). No additional Swamp Sparrows could be found.
No uncommon gulls were found today around the lake. A couple of Herring Gulls, dozens of California Gulls, and hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls were it. Two American Tree Sparrows were around the restrooms at the campgrounds. A dozen Great Blue Herons, no egrets, hundreds of American White Pelicans, and dozens of Double-crested Cormorant rounded out the count. Only shorebirds were Killdeer.
One thing that stuck me was the lack of birds especially sparrows. In late October last year and previous years, many sparrows would be feeding on the thistles and rabbit brush at the Cottonwood Creek and Lake Loops.
On a traffic note: trying to get to Barr Lake from the airport is next to impossible between 3:30pm and 6:00pm. With the new town, Reunion and all the cars heading north on Tower Road, forget it. It takes half an hour just to get through the traffic light at 88th avenue. The reverse (Barr Lake to Airport) is the opposite (impossible) between 5:30am and 7:00am.
While out doing chores I stopped and walked the Cottonwood Creek Loop at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) for the last two hours of daylight. I played a Swamp Sparrow recording at several locations and one came out of the cattails. It was along the inlet canal at about halfway between the bird platform and the wooden bridge east of the parking area. You can recognize the area by a small muddy shoreline with a large group of bright green plants (cattails?).
While standing on the old wooden bridge playing a Swamp Sparrow recording, a flock of sparrows came by to the east (where the path is paved). The count was 37 American Robins, 9 White-crowned Sparrows (all juveniles), and 6 Song Sparrows. When I continued the walk east to the metal bridge (just below the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands Pond) there were 17 White-crowned Sparrows (all adults). No additional Swamp Sparrows could be found.
No uncommon gulls were found today around the lake. A couple of Herring Gulls, dozens of California Gulls, and hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls were it. Two American Tree Sparrows were around the restrooms at the campgrounds. A dozen Great Blue Herons, no egrets, hundreds of American White Pelicans, and dozens of Double-crested Cormorant rounded out the count. Only shorebirds were Killdeer.
One thing that stuck me was the lack of birds especially sparrows. In late October last year and previous years, many sparrows would be feeding on the thistles and rabbit brush at the Cottonwood Creek and Lake Loops.
On a traffic note: trying to get to Barr Lake from the airport is next to impossible between 3:30pm and 6:00pm. With the new town, Reunion and all the cars heading north on Tower Road, forget it. It takes half an hour just to get through the traffic light at 88th avenue. The reverse (Barr Lake to Airport) is the opposite (impossible) between 5:30am and 7:00am.
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