Northern Goshawk Search in Arapahoe County

April 7, 2018

Temperatures reached 59 degrees on this party sunny day.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 17 mph.  

Rebecca Kosten and I searched for the Northern Goshawk reported around Quincy Reservoir this morning.  It was the third report of a Northern Goshawk this year between the 7.5 mile stretch between Pronghorn Natural Area (near Aurora Reservoir) and Quincy Reservoir. No suspense, we did not find it. 

We tried to follow the tall metal electric poles that run from Quincy to Aurora Reservoir.  They seemed to be the best spot for a Goshawk to perch.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull was with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls, several California Gulls and a Herring Gull at Quincy Reservoir.

Nothing uncommon was found at Aurora Reservoir.  Both Eared Grebes and Horned Grebes swam around, some in breeding plumage.

A drive around the Jewell-Yale Loop found a Sage Thrasher east of the fracking tanks along Yale.  Not one sparrow was found throughout the trip.  Only one Horned Lark was along the loop.

After an early dinner, we drove through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe). Still no Western Kingbirds encountered.  An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the poles surrounding the southwest marina.  Few waterfowl were on the water.

The Long-eared Owls were nowhere to be seen.