Sunday, January 1, 2012

Good First Day of the Year 2012

January 1, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan & Sue Ehlmann, Rebecca Kosten and I started the New Year by trying to relocate some metro Denver birds.

Several dozen Great-tailed Grackles flew around the town of Barr. The pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was at the South Platte River Birding Area (below the green and white tower).

The Golden-crowned Sparrow visited below the platform feeder behind the Red Rocks Park Trading Post (Jefferson County). I threw out seed and the bird appeared within 5 minutes.

A two hour search for the Denver West Office complex Pine Warbler was not successful.

The Long-tailed Duck was on Duck Lake in Denver City Park (Denver). Although, the ducks and geese on Duck Lake got a scare when a Bald Eagle dove down several times. We wondered how the Bald Eagles in the Zoo cages would feel about that (and yes, that is anthropomorphizing).

Then we spent the next three hours searching for the Snowy Owl near Aurora Reservoir. First southeast of the reservoir, then northeast, no sightings. Finally, we returned to the southeast area and found the Snowy Owl on the ground (private property, no public access)!

We ended our birding day sitting in chairs and scoping Aurora Reservoir from the balcony of a friend's home in the Lake Shore Development. We figured the Snowy Owl might return to Aurora Reservoir at sunset because the reservoir was closed today. The last few days, the open park experienced relatively mild weather. Many bikers, walkers and dog owners probably discouraged the return of the Snowy Owl.

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