Sunday, March 1, 2009

Aurora Reservoir and Boulder County

February 28, 2009

Richard Stevens:

I met up with Bill Cryder and Terry Michaels at sunrise and we searched Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County) for gulls as soon as it opened (we did not see any black backed gulls fly toward the DADS landfill while we waited for the reservoir to open).

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the edge of the swim beach when we arrived. Unfortunately, it only stayed for about 15 minutes and took off toward the Landfill. Other gulls there included a few Herring Gulls and many Ring-billed Gulls.

Next we drove up to the S. Platte River at 88th Avenue (Adams) and looked for uncommon gulls; without success. Have not seen the Glaucous Gull in a while now!

We hiked down to the green/white tower and saw a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes on the S. Platte. There are still many ducks wintering on the river. We did not take the time to scope East and West Gravel Lakes.

Terry Michaels left for home and Bill and I headed to Boulder to look for the previously reported Mew Gulls. There were no Mew Gulls at Walden Ponds or Jim Hamm Park (Boulder). We could not pick out any Mew Gulls at Union Reservoir (Weld) either.

After sunset we drove over around the county and found a Long-eared Owl at its usual spot (unadvertised as it is on private land).

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