January 9, 2010
Richard Stevens:
Before sunrise, I headed up to the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area near Windsor (Weld County). Having read about several birders had to kick up the bird and make it fly to identify it (behavior that is not typical of most Colorado birders by the way); I decided to walk the bike path north of the Poudre River.
This paid off as the Red-shouldered Hawk was found about 0.5 miles east of the Wildlife Area parking area. I watched it through binoculars for about 30 seconds and then put a scope on it. It only allowed about an 11-second look and then flew east to the next group of trees. From there it flew south and west toward the open field and farmhouse area in the distance.
The bird was relocated about an hour after my sighting and again six hours later.
On my way to join the Boulder Bird Club Trip to Valmont Reservoir (Boulder) I stopped at several places. Two adult and two 1st cycle Thayer's Gulls stood on the ice at the Parkside Center Pond (Broomfield). An adult California Gull was among 300+ Ring-billed Gulls and 7 Herring Gulls. Gull numbers are changing constantly here as the Erie Landfill is just to the north.
Next, I stopped at Erie Reservoir (Boulder). There were only 10 Ring-billed Gulls and the 1st cycle Great Black-backed Gull. Probably the same Great Black-backed Gull later seen at Valmont Reservoir. I hope that I got some good photos at both locations.
The annual trip inside the Valmont Power Plant always allows closer looks at the gulls that return from foraging around sunset. This afternoon we saw the 2nd cycle Iceland Gull, several adult and 1st cycle Thayer's Gulls, the 1st cycle Great Black-backed Gull, an adult and 1st cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, a California Gull and many Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls.
All may be possible to see from Legion Park or slightly closer from the Red Deer Road entrance to the open space south of Valmont. However, looks are definitely farther away.
Richard Stevens:
Before sunrise, I headed up to the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area near Windsor (Weld County). Having read about several birders had to kick up the bird and make it fly to identify it (behavior that is not typical of most Colorado birders by the way); I decided to walk the bike path north of the Poudre River.
This paid off as the Red-shouldered Hawk was found about 0.5 miles east of the Wildlife Area parking area. I watched it through binoculars for about 30 seconds and then put a scope on it. It only allowed about an 11-second look and then flew east to the next group of trees. From there it flew south and west toward the open field and farmhouse area in the distance.
The bird was relocated about an hour after my sighting and again six hours later.
On my way to join the Boulder Bird Club Trip to Valmont Reservoir (Boulder) I stopped at several places. Two adult and two 1st cycle Thayer's Gulls stood on the ice at the Parkside Center Pond (Broomfield). An adult California Gull was among 300+ Ring-billed Gulls and 7 Herring Gulls. Gull numbers are changing constantly here as the Erie Landfill is just to the north.
Next, I stopped at Erie Reservoir (Boulder). There were only 10 Ring-billed Gulls and the 1st cycle Great Black-backed Gull. Probably the same Great Black-backed Gull later seen at Valmont Reservoir. I hope that I got some good photos at both locations.
The annual trip inside the Valmont Power Plant always allows closer looks at the gulls that return from foraging around sunset. This afternoon we saw the 2nd cycle Iceland Gull, several adult and 1st cycle Thayer's Gulls, the 1st cycle Great Black-backed Gull, an adult and 1st cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, a California Gull and many Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls.
All may be possible to see from Legion Park or slightly closer from the Red Deer Road entrance to the open space south of Valmont. However, looks are definitely farther away.
No comments:
Post a Comment