Friday, April 12, 2013

Cherry Creek Reservoir and DIA Owl Loop

April 10, 2013

Richard Stevens:

In spite of a high of 28 degrees and winds 6-8 mph, it was a nice birding day.

I went back to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) this morning. The adult and 1st cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls were again on the eastern sand spit.  The two Bonaparte's Gulls were off the Bird Platform at the Prairie Loop. I could not find the Caspian Tern or the Common Loon.

At least one Burrowing Owl was again at the prairie dog town (3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th Avenue, Adams County).

Continuing east, I found the highlight of the day.  Five green road markers east of the Oil Tank along Quency Avenue (where 96th goes from east to north to east) a Short-eared Owl stood on the green post on the south side of the road.

I saw a photographer getting shots of a Red-tailed Hawk at the oil tank and drove down to tell her.  She returned east and was able to get a few shots of the Short-eared Owl before it flew south.

A couple of Rough-legged Hawks are still around the DIA Owl Loop area.

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