Monday, November 29, 2010

Finally the Brant! Ross's Gull Probably Gone

November 29, 2010

Richard Stevens:

We received several inches of snow last night. Temperatures will hardly reach the low 30s today. An hour before sunrise, Bryan Ehlmann and I drove the DIA Owl loop looking for Short-eared Owls; without success.

At sunrise, we scoped Lakecrest and finally got a look at the Brant! Several Ross's Geese were also observed; no Greater White-fronted Goose today. The lone Ross's Goose was with many White-cheeked Geese at Emerald Strand Park (all Denver County).

Next, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) for one last shot at the Ross's Gull. It was not found. We probably will not try again unless someone reports the Gull. Most gulls were flying around and we found nothing uncommon at the swim beach or the southeastern corner.

We did not see the Dunlin. However, they could be in the southeastern corner. Yesterday, they walked around in little valleys along the shore and were not visible for long periods of time (unless and when I hiked around the south side of the lake).

Then we drove over to Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) and scoped the lake from the dam, the swim beach and south side. No Ross's Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was at the swim beach. We did not hike the 8.7 miles around the lake and therefore missed many coves (about 20 percent of the lake cannot be seen from the above mentioned locations).

Again, we found the Harris's Sparrow at Barr Lake (Adams) and the Great-tailed Grackles at the Picadilly Tree Nursery feedlot. For once, I did not stay out until dark; too cold, I went home for a hot meal!

No comments: