Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Rocky Mountain Arsenal to Aurora Reservoir

January 23, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature reached 41 degrees today.  Winds were measured at 10-11 mph with gusts to 19 mph.  It felt quite cold all day.

We had a visit from several friends who are leisure birders.  After picking them up at DIA, I took them to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams) to see the bison.  BYW, the only buffalo in Colorado/US are in zoos.

Birds were few.  One adult Bald Eagle, one Ferruginous Hawk and two Red-tailed Hawks were all the raptors encountered.  A brief walk around Lake Mary found no Swamp Sparrows.

A 20 minute stop at Bluff Lake Nature Area (Denver) did not find any sparrows.  This was my first trip that not one sparrow was seen, although high winds may have kept them hidden in the many rabbit brush behind the maintenance building.

The trip home to avoid traffic passes by Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe).  No uncommon gulls were found and few geese were about.  However, the Long-tailed Duck was still east of the lower swim beach parking area.

The Common Redpoll found yesterday at our feeders was not seen today by Rebecca and Sue who stayed around all day.  Yesterday's snowstorm may have blown it to our yard for just one day?

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