Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Another Visit to Cherry Creek Reservoir

November 25, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I went out owling at 3:00 am.  A search of previous locations of Northern Pygmy-Owls at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, White Ranch Open Space and Morrison Road along the east side of Red Rocks Park did not turn up any Northern Pygmy-Owls.  We did see one Great Horned Owl at Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

Later I stopped over at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) an hour earlier than yesterday.  The birds were probably the same today as yesterday; visibility was much better.  Winds gusts were over 20 mph at times.  I used the dam tower as a shelter from the wind.  Birds were probably closer to the Lake Loop, perhaps not.

White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye were mingled in the large raft of ducks (Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Western Grebe, Eared Grebes and American Coots.

Many gulls hunkered down from the wind at the southwest marina.  At least one adult Thayer's Gull (probably two) and three+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls were among the group.  At least two Pelicans continued to "hang around".

High winds and waves made an accurate account close to impossible.

Note: Again looking at photos after returning home, I captured photos of the Red-necked Grebe, a possible second Long-tailed Duck, three+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes and many Bonaparte's Gulls.  Misses: Yesterday's Glaucous Gull.

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