Friday, January 13, 2017

Another Day of Studying Gulls at Aurora Reservoir

January 13, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures only reached 39 degrees today.  Winds measured 6-7 mph with gusts to 11 mph.

I birded Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) from Noon to 5:00 pm.  Starting at the swim beach pavilion parking area I counted seven Thayer's Gulls (five adult, one 2nd cycle and one 1st cycle), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (three adult, one 2nd cycle, one 1st cycle), Glaucous Gull (adult & 1st cycle) and two Great Black-backed Gulls (adult & 1st cycle).

Then I walked the northern and western ends of the dam.  A White-winged Scoter was found at the northwest corner and the same or another at the northeastern corner.  Two Greater White-fronted Geese were also in the northwest corner.

Back at the swim beach pavilion, most of the same gulls were still there.  One Gull that was there earlier, Frank Farrell was thinking a Slaty backed Gull.  Because they are so uncommon in Colorado, I was skeptical.

Looks later with a couple additional birders, it was labeled an interesting possibility for Slaty backed Gull.  Eventually the Gull flew off.  Many of us will return tomorrow.

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