Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Drive East of Denver In Search of Geese and Owls

November 9, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Just last week I was mentioning to Rebecca that so few geese were found. We experienced a different phenomenon today.

Our first stop was Lakecrest (Denver County, 40th avenue, east of Chambers). Several thousand White-cheeked Geese swam on the lake. Among them were 5 white Snow Geese, 2 Blue Snow Geese and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose.

Best times to visit the lake are after 9:00 am and before 4:00 pm (when they fly out to eat in the fields to the north and east). In addition, it is best to park at Wendy's or the bank along Chambers and walk 2 blocks to the lake, which is private.

Then we scoped Barr Lake (Adams) from the boat ramp (mile 7.6). Tens of thousands of geese were too far away to identify.

A Common Loon and Pacific Loon were in the southeast corner of the lake. The Pacific Loon flew from right to left giving us great views (dark head no chance it was a Red-throated Loon).

We stopped at the entrance station on the way out and scoped the cornfield to the south. At 4:00 PM, tens of thousands, wave after wave of geese landed perhaps 30 yards south of us!

In the mix were Cackling Geese, Canada Geese, 4 white snow geese, 2 blue snow geese, 1 Ross's Goose and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose.

No Great-tailed Grackles were around the Picadilly Tree Nursery at 5:00 pm.

We found no Short-eared Owls while driving around the DIA Owl Loop.

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