Birding Across Western Denver Area

January 29, 2020

Richard Stevens:

It was not much warmer today with a high of 41 degrees.  Winds were calmer at 5-6 mph with gusts to 9 mph.

I birded around Denver today.  My first stop was Inspiration Park at I70 and Sheridan Blvd (Jefferson).  Yesterday's Northern Mockingbird was not found while I circled the Park twice.  

The north side has plenty of bushes for the Mockingbird to hide.  I remember the Northern Mockingbird that spent a month along Dry Creek stayed quite hidden most of the time.

A Snow Goose was with a flock of 50+ White-cheeked Geese.

The next stop was more successful.  The Brant was on the grass along the north side of Lake Arbor (Jefferson), captured some nice photos.

I continued north to Lac Amora Open Space (Broomfield).  Many Eurasian Collared-Doves and the White-winged Dove were in the backyards along the south side of the Park.

The White-winged Dove would not allow close approaching.  Captured photos of several of the Eurasian Collared-Dove; however, I did not get the White-winged Dove.  Saw it a second time along Rock Creek Drive and a final time at the first yard west of Rock Creek Road and Poplar Way.

Ran into Frank Farrell who saw a Harlan's Hawk at the Miramonte Blvd entrance to Lac Amora Park.  I later saw the Hawk in a cottonwood along the north side of Josh's Pond (western entrance to park off Rock Creek Drive).

My next stop was the South Platte Birding Area at 88th avenue (Adams).  One of the Long-tailed Ducks continues to swim with Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes on East Gravel Lake.

The penultimate stop was Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams).  The Lesser Black-backed Gull was again on the ice at Lake Ladora.

I parked briefly at the 88th Avenue Bridge over the toll road (east of Tower Road).  No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.

Photos of the geese will be put on the Colorado Birding Society's photo library later tonight.

coloradobirdingsociety.net