January 26, 2015
Richard Stevens:
Monday was even better than yesterday. Temperatures reached 64 degrees; winds were less than 8 mph. What a fantastic day for late January!
My first stop today was Crown Hill Park (Jefferson County). Yesterday's report of a Glaucous Gull and two Mew Gulls was intriguing. Unfortunately, the only gulls on the ice were Ring-billed. I checked out nearby Prospect Lake, Bass Lake and Arvada Reservoir; no uncommon gulls.
A quick stop at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson) found the Golden-crowned Sparrow behind the trading post.
I swung over to Adams County and found no gulls on Lake Ladora or Lower Derby Lake at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. For information: the Visitor's Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Only Ring-billed Gulls flew around the northeast corner of Barr Lake. I enjoyed good fortune at the southeast corner below the dam (mile 7.0). A Thayer's Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the ice; however, no Glaucous Gull could be found.
An hour before sunset, I scoped Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) from above the fishing parking area along the west side (required a 0.3 mile hike). Hundreds of gulls stood on the ice (quite far from the shore).
I could pick out one Lesser Black-backed Gull. A possible Thayer's Gull eventually flew overhead and confirmed it was a Thayer's Gull.
Another Gull in the group was quite interesting. At 4:30 pm, the gulls started to take off and flew overhead and west. Of course, the interesting Gull was the very last Gull to leave. It turned out to be a somewhat strange looking Herring Gull. No Glaucous Gull found here either.
Richard Stevens:
Monday was even better than yesterday. Temperatures reached 64 degrees; winds were less than 8 mph. What a fantastic day for late January!
My first stop today was Crown Hill Park (Jefferson County). Yesterday's report of a Glaucous Gull and two Mew Gulls was intriguing. Unfortunately, the only gulls on the ice were Ring-billed. I checked out nearby Prospect Lake, Bass Lake and Arvada Reservoir; no uncommon gulls.
A quick stop at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson) found the Golden-crowned Sparrow behind the trading post.
I swung over to Adams County and found no gulls on Lake Ladora or Lower Derby Lake at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. For information: the Visitor's Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Only Ring-billed Gulls flew around the northeast corner of Barr Lake. I enjoyed good fortune at the southeast corner below the dam (mile 7.0). A Thayer's Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the ice; however, no Glaucous Gull could be found.
An hour before sunset, I scoped Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) from above the fishing parking area along the west side (required a 0.3 mile hike). Hundreds of gulls stood on the ice (quite far from the shore).
I could pick out one Lesser Black-backed Gull. A possible Thayer's Gull eventually flew overhead and confirmed it was a Thayer's Gull.
Another Gull in the group was quite interesting. At 4:30 pm, the gulls started to take off and flew overhead and west. Of course, the interesting Gull was the very last Gull to leave. It turned out to be a somewhat strange looking Herring Gull. No Glaucous Gull found here either.
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