Saturday, February 15, 2014

Gulls and Brant, southwest Arapahoe County to Jefferson/Douglas Counties

February 15, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca and I enjoyed a successful trip south to Chatfield Reservoir and area.  Temperatures did not reach 58 degrees as predicted; the 46 degree day with winds 5 mph was not bad.

No gulls were on McLellan Reservoir when we passed by the lake that spans Arapahoe and Douglas Counties.

The Brant was found on the golf course directly north of Redstone Park, 1.4 miles south of McLellan Reservoir (Douglas).  It was across from our sighting last Saturday in the median of Town Center Drive.  Eventually the White-cheeked Geese and Brant flew back to Redstone Park.

A stop at South Platte Park Reservoir, 1.6 miles northwest of Redstone Park (Arapahoe/Jefferson) did not find any uncommon birds.  Six plus Greater Scaup were on Blackrock Lake, just east of the reservoir.

Another birder told us about a 2nd year Iceland Gull at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas) and we headed over there.

The Iceland Gull was still on the snow/ice covered lake when we arrived.  An adult Thayer's Gull was also out there.  I got talking to a fisherman/hunter about birds and learned of three good locations for Dusky Grouse in April/May.

While talking to him, a first year Great Black-backed Gull, young Glaucous Gull and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew to the marina area!

In addition, we checked Coley Lake in South Platte Park (Arapahoe) where Glaucous, Lesser Black-backed and Thayer's Gulls were reported yesterday.  Only one Thayer's Gull was identified.  Perhaps these gulls (yesterday's) were today's Chatfield Reservoir gulls? (2.0 miles from Chatfield Reservoir as the Gull flies to Coley Lake).

I wonder if the Aurora Reservoir gulls are spreading out now that the temperatures are rising and ice is melting.  We did not have time to get to Aurora Reservoir to see what was there before dark.

Instead we headed north up Wadsworth Blvd and stopped at Marston Reservoir (Denver County).  Only a couple of Ring-billed Gulls were here.

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