Two Return Trips to Spratt Platte Lakes Area

March 23, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature today was 45 degrees.  Winds were 9-10 mph with afternoon gusts to 22 mph.

I returned to the Spratt Platte Lake (Adams County) area seeking the Neotropic Cormorant.  It was not found; however, the Red-throated Loon was still on the 104th gravel pond south of Elaine T. Valente Open Space.

I mentioned Friday to a couple of birders that size is not a great field mark to distinguish Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants.  Friday, one of the cormorants was almost 30 percent smaller than the rest of the group.  We had to wait thirty minutes before it raised its head.  It had the crests of a Double-crested Cormorant.

Finally giving up on the Neotropic Cormorant, I passed the 89th avenue Lake on the drive home.  The male Barrow's Goldeneye was again swimming along the eastern side of the Lake.

A stop at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams) for an unsuccessful hunt for Burrowing Owls and Eastern Phoebes did discover two Lesser Black-backed Gulls lounging around Lake Ladora.

Once home, I read the Neotropic Cormorant was relocated and decided to return to Spratt Platte Lake.  This time we relocated the bird on the shore of the second lake south of 100th Avenue. 

Its small size, small head and distinct head pattern (no yellow above its bill and pointed gape) confirmed a Neotropic Cormorant.

Many gulls had returned to the West Spratt Platte Lake.  Among them was the Mew Gull.  A lone American White Pelican swam on the East Spratt Platte Lake.

Several birders had been looking for and missing the Red-throated Loon.  I pulled out my scope and found the Loon in the middle of the 104th Pond.

No owls appeared along the DIA Owl Loop at sunset.  Winds were 22 mph at the time.