October 11, 2019
Richard Stevens:
High temperature today was 49 degrees. Winds were 7-8 mph with afternoon gusts to 14 mph.
I walked into Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) by way of the southern trail to see if any uncommon waterfowl or shorebirds were brought by yesterday's snowstorm.
Highlight was a juvenile or female Surf Scoter. The bird was loosely associated with a raft of American Wigeons.
No other uncommon ducks or loons were found as the Lake was scoped four times or so. One strange looking Ruddy Duck took a while before I decided it was not a Long-tailed Duck.
A text message received noted two Surf Scoters at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). The Reservoir is about 8 miles west of Aurora Reservoir; I headed that way.
Scoping the Lake from Pelican Point and into the sun found only American Coots, American Wigeons and dozens of American White Pelicans.
The east side of the Lake Loop offered better views with the sun at my back. The two Surf Scoters were observed swimming in the middle of the American Wigeon raft.
Later I hiked from the Smoky Hill picnic area to Augie's Pond and back. No passerines were encountered. A check of the Pond and two drainages flowing into it found only Black-billed Magpies. The Rusty Blackbirds that wintered in 2018-2019 have not returned.
No comments:
Post a Comment