Cold Hike Around Aurora Reservoir

December 27, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 45 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph; however, gusts at Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County) were 14 mph.

The temperature may have been 45 degrees, however, exposed to 14 mph winds at Aurora Reservoir where there is little cover made for a quite cold day.

I decided to hike the 8.7-mile bike path around the Reservoir.  I entered from the south gate and walked counterclockwise around the Lake.

Thousands of gulls swam in the middle of the reservoir.  Only one Iceland Gull and one Lesser Black-backed Gull were found.

Thousands of White-cheeked Geese also were on the Lake.  Eventually two Snow Geese, one Ross's Geese and two Blue Geese (snow) were found.

Five American Tree Sparrows near mile 4.5 were the only passerines encountered.  

It was a long hike for such a minuscule bird list.

At sunset, I parked at West Cargo Road and Third Creek (Adams).  No Short-eared Owls showed up this evening.