Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Another Drive Around Eastern Arapahoe County

February 17, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures only reached the low 30s today.  Winds were 12+ mph, gusts to 18 mph.  Rumors of winds in the 30+ mph range in the foothills changed our plans to go owling in Gilpin and Boulder Counties.

Instead, I drove to Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) and walked the eastern side from the scuba area (mile 6.0 to mile 4.0).  About 300 gulls were at the scuba area.  Mostly Ring-billed Gulls with several Herring Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the ice there.

Another patch of ice at mile 4.0 offered a resting spot for another 400 gulls.  Again, mostly Ring-billed Gulls stood here.  Uncommon gulls included a Glaucous Gull and the Herring Gull X hybrid? that I have seen on several previous trips.

The last hour of daylight was spent driving again around Eastern Arapahoe County.  A fifth Great Horned Owl's nest was added to the four found on Friday the 13th!

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