October 31, 2016
Richard Stevens:
While doing chores I passed through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe County). I believe Colorado reached a record high 79 degrees today; winds were 5 mph, gusts to 8 mph.
I scoped the lake from below the dam and found little but Western Grebes and American Coots. Then I scoped from the east side of the Lake Loop for 50 minutes, again finding few birds, but enjoying the beautiful day.
Then a glimpse of a loon and I decided to stay to identify. It took another 20 minutes to confirm it was a Common Loon. The Loon would stay under water for almost a minute, then surface for only a count of two.
At one of the brief glimpses, the head appeared to be too rounded and gray for a Common Loon. I spent another 30 minutes before confirming that it was a Red-throated Loon.
Eventually I saw two and then possibly three loons surface at the same time (nearer sunset). At least one Common Loon, one Red-throated Loon and possibly the other Red-throated Loon are still there.
While watching the waves for the surfacing loons, a pair of Bonaparte's Gulls hunted along the east side of the Lake Loop. Later they "turned" into four Bonaparte's Gulls.
Another great fall day in Colorado!
Richard Stevens:
While doing chores I passed through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe County). I believe Colorado reached a record high 79 degrees today; winds were 5 mph, gusts to 8 mph.
I scoped the lake from below the dam and found little but Western Grebes and American Coots. Then I scoped from the east side of the Lake Loop for 50 minutes, again finding few birds, but enjoying the beautiful day.
Then a glimpse of a loon and I decided to stay to identify. It took another 20 minutes to confirm it was a Common Loon. The Loon would stay under water for almost a minute, then surface for only a count of two.
At one of the brief glimpses, the head appeared to be too rounded and gray for a Common Loon. I spent another 30 minutes before confirming that it was a Red-throated Loon.
Eventually I saw two and then possibly three loons surface at the same time (nearer sunset). At least one Common Loon, one Red-throated Loon and possibly the other Red-throated Loon are still there.
While watching the waves for the surfacing loons, a pair of Bonaparte's Gulls hunted along the east side of the Lake Loop. Later they "turned" into four Bonaparte's Gulls.
Another great fall day in Colorado!
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