Cherry Creek Reservoir, the last three days.

September 23-25, 2014

Richard Stevens: 

A family medical situation has reduced my birding to 1 or 2 hours a day for the next week or so.  There was no time today (9/25).  Two birders searched today for the possible Pine Warbler at Cherry Creek Reservoir (see 9/24).  They did not find one.

Previous birding:

September 24, 2014

Email sent to "cobirders" listserve:

Hello cobirders;

I managed to get in an hour of birding Wednesday.  As I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County), I scoped the lake from the southwest marina and walked around the Smoky Hill Group Picnic area.  At least three Sabine's Gulls flew around below the dam.  A flock of 30 plus 1 Yellow-rumped Warblers was at the Picnic area.  A Plumbeous Vireo and Cassin's Vireo searched for food in the locust trees.  Last seen, the vireos were flying along the trees at the western side of the parking area.

Continued Good Birding!

The "plus 1" warbler:  I was almost positive that I glimpsed a Pine Warbler in the evergreen trees west of the group picnic area.  It only allowed two views and only for a couple of seconds each.  I ran out of time and could not pursue a definite ID.

September 23, 2014

Due to family medical situation, my birding is reduced to an hour or so for the near future.  I passed through Cherry Creek State Park again late in the afternoon.  A couple of Sabine's Gulls were seen off the marina.  A Townsend's Warbler was at the south end of the swim beach.

Cherry Creek Reservoir, Barr Lake and the DIA Owl Loop

September 22, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Email sent to cobirders listserve:

"Hello cobirders;

While out doing chores I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).  The pair of Caspian Terns photographed yesterday was gone.  A Sabine's Gull was standing on the poles outlining the marina.  Perhaps the two Caspian Terns Dan Stringer found at Barr Lake (Adams) were yesterday's birds.  I had an adult and juvenile yesterday as he did today.  Photos of Caspian Terns are on the "recentwitnessphotos" link on CoBus website.

A downpour prevented me from looking for passerines at Smoky Hill Group Picnic area.

Continued Good Birding!"

After the rain stopped, we went to Barr Lake (Adams County), and then drove the DIA Owl Loop.

The pair of Caspian Terns could be seen with the help of a scope off the boat ramp.  At least two Burrowing Owls continue at the Prairie Dog Village at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue.  No Short-eared Owls were found this afternoon.

Birding and Owling In Park County

September 17-21, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Sept 17
Bryan Ehlmann and I headed to Park County for a few days of birding and owling.  Driving South on Highway 285 toward Park County, we made a detour at Grant and continued to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek).  It took about two hours, we finally found two White-tailed Ptarmigan up the Rosalie Trail (80 yards south/uphill of the 603 trail).

A few White-crowned Sparrows continued to flutter about the clumps of willows.  A Prairie Falcon made a rapid trip across the partly cloudy sky.  It is almost time for them to fly to lower wintering grounds.  A female/young Wilson's Warbler was a little bit of a surprise in the willows along the boardwalk to the lake below the parking area.

After setting up camp at the Guanella Pass Campgrounds, we wandered around and up the Lost Silver Dollar Trail.  An adult and young male American Three-toed Woodpeckers were near the intersection of Guanella Pass Road and the L.S.D. trailhead.

After dark, we set up our three "owl listening stations", then drove north down the road and searched for owls.  Unfortunately, none was found (we have not had time to check the owl recordings yet).

Sept 18
After a few hours sleep (after sunrise), our trek continued south into Park County.  While nothing exciting was found at the three Park County reservoirs, a few interesting birds were encountered.

The Parasitic Jaeger reported two days earlier was not found at Antero Reservoir.  A Common Loon swam at the north end of the lake.  Two Sabine's Gulls flew along the eastern shore.  Killdeer, a Least Sandpiper, two Western Sandpipers, and half a dozen Baird's Sandpipers were the only shorebirds that were found.

Vesper Sparrows, a few White-crowned Sparrows and a couple of Song Sparrows flew about the native grasses surrounding the reservoir.  A couple of Common Nighthawks buzzed overhead.

An "ammodramus" sparrow kept our attention for about 30 minutes before we had to settle that it was a Grasshopper Sparrow (hoped for a Baird's Sparrow).

A Common Tern was observed flying along the Spinney Mountain Reservoir shore as we approached.  It turned (no pun intended) out to be the only interesting bird here.  A couple of American Avocets and three Baird's Sandpipers completed the shorebird count.

Eleven Mile Reservoir was slow also.  We did find another Common Tern and two Sabine's Gulls.  Shorebirds were scarce.  Sparrows were mostly Vespers.

We detoured over to Buffalo Pass Campgrounds where a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers was observed flying around the Aspens.  On the way to Rough and Tumbling Creek, several Pinyon Jays flew by.  Rough and Tumbling Creek added four Red Crossbills, a Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Plumbeous Vireo to our day list.

A stop at Trout Creek Pass was uneventful.  No Pinyon Jays were around the Buena Vista Overlook or KOA Campgrounds (Chaffee).

After dark, we set up the "owl listening stations" on BLM land northeast of Buena Vista.  A first listening, no owls were recorded this night.  Meanwhile we headed south to Ruby Mountain.  A Northern Saw-whet Owl was drawn to our recordings (about 0.2 miles north of the parking area).

Sept 19
After another late start, Bryan and I headed back into Park County.  A couple of stops along Highway 24, found a Golden-crowned Kinglet and three species of nuthatches in sparse pine forest habitat.

It had been a few years since I drove up Weston Pass.  The afternoon and night proved quite interesting.  A Dusky Grouse walked around the Weston Pass Campgrounds.  A male Three-toed Woodpecker was also found there.  Later we heard a Northern Pygmy-Owl calling.

As we drove to the Summit, we set up our "owl listening stations".  Two of which did pick up Northern Pygmy-Owls responses.  When we played a recording at the "upper Campgrounds", a Boreal Owl called to us!

At sunrise, we set up our tents back at the lower Campgrounds and caught a few hours of sleep.

Sept 20
This day we headed up Michigan Creek Road.  A couple of Red-naped Sapsuckers, a male Williamson's Sapsucker and a Dusky Grouse were found at the Campgrounds.

Then we walked around the "traditional" Three-toed Woodpecker spot (4.1 miles west of the W.P. Campgrounds).  A pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers worked the trees here.  A dusk, we played our recordings at the end of the undefined trail/road; without getting any response.

We hiked up Michigan Creek Road to the first set of switchbacks.  A Dusky Grouse was seen crossing the road.  Back at the "parking area" a Northern Pygmy-Owl did call in response to our recordings.

Sep 21
We ended up setting up our tents in a pouring rain (just before sunrise).  The rain finally stopped around noon; however, more was predicted for the late afternoon, which made our decision to return to Denver an easy one.  Both of us were exhausted from the downpour last night.

A stop at Kenosha Pass Campgrounds added another American Three-toed Woodpecker to our trip list.  The rest of the day was described in an email to the "cobirders" listserve:

Bryan Ehlmann and I birded in Park County the last five days.  We enjoyed success in finding a few uncommon birds and owls.  Most were reported to the Colorado Birding Society's RBA.  I hope to find time to update the CoBus Trip Blog later tonight.

On the way back to Denver today (Sunday) we made several stops.  The Red Phalarope was not far off the eastern side of the marina sand spit at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas).  The phalarope was in Douglas County.  If it moves west, I will think about returning for a Jefferson County sighting.

While we scoped the lake for the Red Phalarope, two Sabine's Gull were observed flying below the dam, just north of the Plum Creek Delta.

We hurried to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) hoping to get a second Red Phalarope for the day.  While we never found it, one Sabine's Gull was found flying around below the dam.

A greater surprise was three terns on the poles outlining the southwest marina.  The smallest had a black bill, reddish legs, uniform neck, breast and belly of a Forster's Tern.  The larger were an adult Caspian Tern (large reddish bill and streaked black crown) and a juvenile Caspian Tern (slightly less reddish bill, spotted back).

Dark overtook us before we were able to explore the rest of the park.

Barr Lake and Cherry Creek Reservoir State Parks

September 15, 2014

Richard Stevens:

I spent four hours at Barr Lake (Adams County).  Many birders moving around this morning including two Sabine's Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, eight Pectoral Sandpipers, two Barn Owls (banding station), three Townsend's Warblers, Least Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher and Western Wood-pewee.  The Lesser Black-backed Gull was found yesterday by Jerry Petrosky; he wanted another opinion before reporting the Gull.

While my stay at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on Saturday was seven hours, I only stayed about an hour today.  At least half a dozen Sabine's Gulls and a Caspian Tern were new for me.  A Common Tern and two Townsend's Warblers were left overs from Saturday.

Aurora Reservoir to Castlewood Canyon State Park

September 14, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I conducted a two man fall count at Aurora Reservoir this morning.  The 8.8-mile trail around the reservoir has few trees and few birds.

Highlight was a Mew Gull with many Ring-billed Gulls at the southwest marina area.  We did see several Western Kingbirds and a Say's Phoebe.

Later we decided to head to Castlewood Canyon State Park and the Winkler Ranch.

A stop at Whispering Pines Park found a Black-and-white Warbler east of the restrooms.

A walk along the Cherry Creek trail (trailhead east of Walker Pit) added a Townsend's Warbler (cottonwoods west of trail) and Cassin's Vireo (willows east of trail) to our day list.

Bobolinks appear to be long gone from the Winkler Ranch.  A few Western Bluebirds were along Castlewood Canyon Road (missed Mountain and Eastern).  Half a dozen Vesper Sparrows and a Savannah Sparrow were also found.

After dark, we relocated one of the Northern Saw-whet Owls at Castlewood Canyon State Park.

Day to Cherry Creek Reservoir

September 13, 2014

Email to cobirders listserve Richard Stevens:

Hello cobirders;

Bryan Ehlmann and I spent the last couple of weeks driving around mostly northern Colorado.  I took advantage of the great late, cool summer day to circle Cherry Creek Reservoir on foot.  While enjoying birding with others, the solitude today was a refreshing treat.

I started at the Dam Tower parking area and headed south.  The few gulls flying around were Ring-billed and California Gulls (in lesser numbers).  A few Snowy Egrets hunted for food at the base of the dam.  A Common Tern and two Black Terns flew around the south side of the lake (resting several times of the buoys.

A Western Kingbird and Say's Phoebes hawked insects around the southwest marina.  I scoped the lake often during the trek.  While eyes were kept open for a possible phalarope, However, I did not see the two Red-necked Phalaropes reported by Glenn Walbek sometime during the day.

Probably the highlight of the day was a male Hooded Warbler deep in the thickets just east of the Mountain Loop Parking Area.  A thrush stayed hidden most of the time in the willows and remained unidentified.

Many Chipping Sparrows and four Yellow-rumped Warblers fluttered around the Lake Loop.  Several Song Sparrows and a Common Yellowthroat sang from the cattails between the Lake and Prairie Loops.

The tall cattails at the Bird Observation Platform made scoping the lake from here quite frustrating.  A Virginia Rail walked the shore below the rocks.

The Eastern Phoebe reported yesterday by Schrab around the Cottonwood Creek Footbridge was not relocated.  Two Great Blue Herons and three Black-crowned Night-Herons waited patiently for prey to swim by north of the footbridge.

A few Barn Swallows flew over the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands.  No Green Herons appeared among the cattails.

A Plumbeous Vireo flew about the southern end of the Pipeline Trail.  While a Black-crowned Night-Heron and a Great Horned Owl hunted along Cherry Creek just south of the Pipeline Trail.

Tall cattails at the southeastern end of the lake made seeing any shore (if there was any) at this end.  Two dozen American White Pelicans were seen through the foliage as it was blown by the wind.

I scoped the reservoir from the northeastern end and found no uncommon gulls or the phalaropes.  A few additional Song Sparrows and a Lincoln's Sparrow popped out of the willows along the picnic area west of the boat ramp.

Finally reaching the Smoky Hill Group Picnic area, many birds were observed flying around.  The best location was the small group of trees at the south end of the swim beach.  It was here that a Tennessee Warbler, six Orange-crowned Warblers, two Wilson's Warblers, one Yellow Warbler and dozens of Chipping Sparrows were observed.

Four additional Orange-crowned Warblers, a Wilson's Warbler and Cassin's Vireo were in the evergreen trees closer to the picnic pavilion.

Hundreds of people scattered on the swim beach limited gulls to less than two dozen Ring-billed.  A dozen Chipping Sparrows and a young American Redstart moved around the trees at the northwest corner of the swim beach.

Dozens additional Chipping Sparrows, two Song Sparrows, a Spotted Towhee and two Orange-crowned Warblers popped out of the willows along the shore at the Dixon Grove Picnic area.

Finally, many birds were found in the willows along the lake edge from Dixon Grove to the Dam Tower.  These included another five Orange-crowned Warblers, half a dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Green-tailed Towhee.

I drove through the Campgrounds but did not stop.  No additional interesting birds came out.

Continued Good Birding!

Back to Northeastern Colorado

August 19 to September 11, 2014

I was without a computer most of this time.  We were either staying in cabins or tents without electricity or owling all night.  This quick summary is so I have a record of those days.

September 6 to 11, 2014

Richard Stevens:

September 6-7

Bryan, Roger and I had better fortune today.  Two Sprague's Pipits were found along Sedgwick County Road 59 (between 30 & 26).

Later we walked around DePoorter Lake and found a male Black-throated Green Warbler (southern border) and two Field Sparrows southwest hillside.

Our Sprague's Pipit search continued on 9/7, without success.  We did find a Philadelphia Vireo at the Julesburg Elementary School, missed the Northern Cardinal.  The Field Sparrows were still at DePoorter Lake, missed the Black-throated Green Warbler.

September 8, 2014
We decided to head back west today.  Most of the morning was spent around Sterling.  A Mourning Warbler was found at Overland Park. While a Blue-headed Vireo and Cassin's Vireo fluttering about the museum across the highway from the park.  A Blackburnian Warbler and Tennessee Warbler were found at Pioneer Park, missed the resident Eastern Screech-Owls.

We walked around Crow Valley Campground (Weld) in the afternoon.  It was quite birdy today: Cassin's Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart and Townsend's Warbler, missed a reported Eastern Wood-Pewee.

 September 9

Bryan and I walked Pawnee National Grasslands after dark last night.  Birds we heard flying overhead included many Chipping Sparrows and an Upland Sandpiper.  Others we could not identify.

After a late start, we walked the field at the southeast corner of Highway 85 and Weld County Road 114.  Chestnut-collared Longspur traditionally nest in this field.  This year they have been scarce however.

The rest of our day was spent in Wyoming along a road where Chestnut-collared Longspurs are reported to be common.  We did find two, then headed to Cheyenne for a motel.

September 10

Back in Colorado today, we stopped at a friend's ranch north of Grover to say "Hi" and then walked around the town.

It was a good stop: Cassin's Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, a Townsend's Warbler and a Broad-winged Hawk.

Next we stopped at the Centrail Plains Experimental Range and walked to Owl Creek (from dirt road about a mile north of the CPER office.  The hike was quite productive.  We found a female Black-throated Blue Warbler and Cassin's Vireo north of the trail/creek intersection.  A Short-eared Owl was found about 0.5 miles south of the intersection.  For those familiar with the area, Snow Buntings have been found at least three winters around the old buildings.

September 11

We camped at Murphy's pasture and again walked around listening to the birds migrating overhead.  Chipping Sparrows dominated the night.  A Great Horned Owl called west of our campsite.

Crow Valley Campground was not as interesting today.  We relocated a Cassin's Vireo and several Townsend's Warblers.

A detour to Wellington Wildlife Area (Larimer) added two Long-eared Owls to our trip list.

Then headed for home, tired but happy with our northern birding expedition.

Back to Northern Colorado

September 4-5, 2014

Bryan Ehlmann and I headed back to Jackson County.  A stop at a friend's ranch west of Loveland (Larimer) did not find one of his resident Northern Saw-whet Owls that he called about yesterday.  A second report of a Northern Saw-whet Owl at a private ranch in Jackson County also did not pan out.

After dark, we relocated a Boreal Owl along Ruby Jewell Road at 0.4 miles east of the Michigan Creek Road.  The Flammulated Owl called again at 0.2 miles up Ruby Jewell Road.

On 9/5, we once again found the male American Three-toed Woodpecker north of hwy 14 (across from the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center).  Another American Three-toed Woodpecker was found along the east side of Chambers Lake (Larimer) as we headed to Pawnee National Grasslands.

Yet a third Northern Saw-whet Owl was reported to us by a friend who has a ranch north of the Pawnee National Grasslands.  Once again, it was gone by the time we arrived.  A bonus was a young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak visiting his feeders.

A Short-eared Owl was found on the north side of Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld) when we went to check for shorebirds along CR 48 and CR 42 (Beebe Draw Ponds).

We continued east to Sedgwick County for another search for Sprague's Pipits.

Northeastern Fall Count

August 30 to September 3, 2014

Richard Stevens:

August 30

A group of eight birders headed to northeastern Colorado for a weekend of birding.

We relocated Short-billed Dowitcher (Kellner, 8/22) was relocated at Red Lion Wildlife Area.

Eventually we found at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan): found: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Field Sparrows, an Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinals and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

At Jumbo Reservoir: Cassin's Vireo & Red-eyed Vireo and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

At dusk, we found a Greater Prairie-Chicken walking around the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area.

Later we enjoyed a fantastic barbecue at Roger Danka's ranch!  Cholesterol tastes good!

August 31

Our group wandered around Sedgwick County in an unsuccessful search for Sprague's Pipits and Eastern Meadowlarks.

A Northern Cardinal was found across the street from the Julesburg Elementary School.

September 1

 

Most of our friends went home after yesterday's barbecue.  Bryan and I continued to wander northeastern Colorado.

The highlights today were two Baird's Sparrows on a private ranch in Logan County and another two or three at a private ranch in Sedgwick County.  Most I have observed in one day in Colorado.

Both Sprague's Pipits and Eastern Meadowlarks were missed; however, we did not care!

September 2

We returned to Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan) today.  Many interesting birds moved about.  These included: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Field Sparrows and an Eastern Screech-Owl.

Sedgwick Bar Wildlife Area was good to us also.  Birds found included: Cassin's Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and two Eastern Bluebirds.

A stop at the Ovid Woods added a Blue-headed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler and Baltimore Oriole.

September 3

Bryan and I headed back to Denver at 3:00 am by way of Highway 385 to I70 to Hwy 71 to Hwy 24.  We managed to find one of the Baird's Sparrows along Drennan Road (El Paso) for our fifth Baird's Sparrow of the trip (spread over three counties)!

We scoped Big Johnson Reservoir (El Paso) and found a Pectoral Sandpiper and Burrowing Owls (along the Blue Stem Trail).  Missed loon and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

At dusk, we passed through Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas).  A Northern Saw-whet Owl responded to our recordings played near the old falls area.

Trip to Clear Creek County

August 29, 2014

Richard Stevens:

We returned to Denver an hour after sunrise.  I dropped Bryan off and took off for Clear Creek County with a birder from Illinois.

Four Brown-capped Rosy Finches were found at the northwest corner of Summit Lake.  The male American Three-toed Woodpecker was again found about 40 yards east of the Captain Mt Trailhead. 

Not finding any White-tailed Ptarmigan on Mt Evans, we continued over to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County).  Luck was with us.  Two White-tailed Ptarmigan were observed on rocks below the eastern side of the Rosalie Trail.

North Park Trip

August 24 to 28, 2014

Richard Stevens:

August 24, 2014
Bryan Ehlmann and I headed to Jackson County at 6:00 pm on August 23.  A Boreal Owl was heard northwest of the Cameron Pass restroom pullover.

We drove Jackson County Roads 26 and 26b at first light.  No Greater Sage-Grouse were found.  Hundreds of Horned Larks were around.

Later, we relocated Willets and two Red-necked Phalaropes along the self-driving auto tour in Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.

A check of Lake John Wildlife Area did not turn up any of the Red-necked Grebes that attempted to nest earlier in the summer. No uncommon birds appeared at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center feeders in the afternoon.  The American Three-toed Woodpecker that roams the forest north of the Visitor's Center was relocated.

August 25, 2014
Today Bryan and I returned to the Teller City Ghost Town.  One of the resident American Three-toed Woodpeckers was found at the northwest corner of the self-guided walking tour. 

We set up our "owl listening stations" south of the area.  None of the three stations picked up any owl sounds this night.

August 26, 2014
Bryan and I drove to the top of Buffalo Pass (Routt) today.  There are many birding opportunities, too many places to stop to cover in one day (which is all that we had).

We eventually found along Buffalo Pass Road: White-Winged Crossbill, five American Three-Toed Woodpeckers & Flammulated Owl.

Owling on Rabbit Ears Pass after dusk was a bust.  Again, our three Owling Stations picked up no owl sounds.  We were not able to find any on our own.  Others have reported Boreal Owls and Northern Pygmy-Owls in the area.

August 27-28, 2014
Today we drove around the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge starting at dusk.  Three Greater Sage-Grouse were found on the east side of Highway 125.

The self-driving auto tour on the west side added Sage Thrashers, Vesper Sparrows, Brewer's Sparrows, and a Willet to our day list. 

Later we watched the male American Three-toed Woodpecker across (North) from the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.  A few hummingbirds mostly Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (female and young) continue to visit their feeders.

After dark, we went owling in the Colorado State Forest.  We found a Flammulated Owl along Ruby Jewell Road, 0.3 miles east of the Colorado State Forest main road.  A Boreal Owl was south of the Crags Campgrounds.

Starting late in the day 8/28, we walked to the North Fork of the Canadian River in the Colorado State Forest.  Three Boreal Owls were eventually encountered.

Southeastern Colorado Trip

August 19 to 22, 2014

Richard Stevens:

August 19, 2014
Bryan Ehlmann, three Florida birders and I headed to Las Animas County by way of Interstate 25.  We stopped to go owling in Custer County.

Eventually we found two Northern Saw-whet Owls along the South Creek Trail.  A Flammulated Owl responded to our recordings played at the Davenport Campgrounds.

August 20, 2014
Our troop camped at Cottonwood Canyon (Baca County) for the night.  A Western Screech-Owl was heard calling about 5:00 am.  Later we found Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Rufous-Crowned Sparrow, Mississippi Kite & Lewis's Woodpecker.

In the afternoon, we drove over to Picture and Sand Canyons.  No Painted Buntings were around.  We did add another Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Curve-billed Thrashers and a Greater Roadrunner to our trip list.

August 21, 2014
We camped back at Cottonwood Canyon and again found a Western Screech-Owl (this time around 10:00 pm.

In the morning we found a Cassin's Vireo, Gray Vireo, Lazuli Bunting in Cottonwood Canyon, then headed to Gunnison, Colorado.

Two American Three-toed Woodpeckers were relocated north and south of highway 50, near the Monarch Ski Area Rest Stop.

August 22, 2014
At first light we drove Gunnison County Road 38 at dawn and found five Gunnison Sage-Grouse north of CR 38A.  Our friends had to catch a 9:00 pm flight out of DIA and we rushed back to Denver. 

Along the way, a quick stop was made at Antero Reservoir (Park).  The only interesting bird was a Common Loon. 

Afterwards, I made it to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) before Friday traffic halted the trip home.  Scoping Cherry Creek Reservoir for about two hours, I did not find the previously reported Little Gull. 

It was a good afternoon for terns.  Eighteen Black Terns stood on various buoys.  Two Common Terns scared off four Black Terns off one buoy.  While watching them, a Caspian Tern pushed the Common Terns off.  At least two Forster's Terns also flew around.  A Townsend's Warbler was flying around the Smoky Hill Group Picnic Area.