Superb Day At Aurora Reservoir

January 16, 2017

Richard Stevens:

After Saturday;s snowstorm, temperatures reached 33 degrees today; winds were 9 mph with gusts to 16 mph.  It was a little nippy in Minnesota terms!

I enjoyed a splendid birding day at Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe).  In six hours I found just about all the birds expected.

This included: the Brant (below dam), Greater White-fronted Geese, two Ross's Geese, seven Snow Geese and thousands of White-cheeked Geese (Canada & Cackling).

Gulls included: Thayer's (8), Iceland, Lesser Black-backed (5), Great Black-backed (2), Glaucous (2), Mew Gull (1st cycle).

The White-winged Scoter remained in the northeast section of the lake.

A Prairie Falcon flew by below the northern side of the dam.  Two adult Bald Eagles occasionally harassed the many waterfowl.

Misses: The "strange" black-backed Gull found on 1/13 was not relocated.

Birding In Weld County

January 15, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Terry Michaels and I birded Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld).  In four hours, we found three Long-eared Owls in the northern windbreak, a Barn Owl, and two White - throated Sparrows in the southwestern windbreak.

A search for Lapland Longspurs at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area and the fields to the east was unsuccessful.

Afterwards, I drove over to Box Elder Creek at Weld County Road 4.  The three Rusty Blackbirds were again along the Creek, north of CR 4.  Still too far away for a respectable photo.

Snowstorm

January 14, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Snowed most of the day, temperatures stayed in the low 30s.  I spent the day doing chores.

Another Day of Studying Gulls at Aurora Reservoir

January 13, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures only reached 39 degrees today.  Winds measured 6-7 mph with gusts to 11 mph.

I birded Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) from Noon to 5:00 pm.  Starting at the swim beach pavilion parking area I counted seven Thayer's Gulls (five adult, one 2nd cycle and one 1st cycle), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (three adult, one 2nd cycle, one 1st cycle), Glaucous Gull (adult & 1st cycle) and two Great Black-backed Gulls (adult & 1st cycle).

Then I walked the northern and western ends of the dam.  A White-winged Scoter was found at the northwest corner and the same or another at the northeastern corner.  Two Greater White-fronted Geese were also in the northwest corner.

Back at the swim beach pavilion, most of the same gulls were still there.  One Gull that was there earlier, Frank Farrell was thinking a Slaty backed Gull.  Because they are so uncommon in Colorado, I was skeptical.

Looks later with a couple additional birders, it was labeled an interesting possibility for Slaty backed Gull.  Eventually the Gull flew off.  Many of us will return tomorrow.

Aurora Reservoir On a Cold Day

January 12, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached the high 40s; clouds rolled in the afternoon and temperatures dropped rapidly.  Adding winds 12-13 mph, gusts to 18 mph made for a cold afternoon.

Not much time to bird today (family emergency), I stopped by Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) and scoped the lake from the pavilion north of the swim beach area.

Ice shelf was not far off the pavilion and many gulls stood on the edge.  Eventually the count included four Thayer's Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, one first cycle Great Black-backed Gull and one Glaucous Gull.

There was much open water today; however, it was quite far away.  I scanned the lake four times.  Nothing else was added to my day list. 

Missed were White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup and additional gulls.

An immature Ferruginous Hawk stood on a telephone pole near the northern entrance; some nice photos were captured.

Jackson County

January 10-11, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Rosy Finches are not being seen in any numbers at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center this winter.  In two mornings, we found only one Brown-capped Rosy Finch (Tuesday) and one Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (Wednesday).

Nearby at a friend's ranch however, we observed 400+ Rosy Finches (three species).  Ranger Lakes did not add an American Three-toed Woodpecker or Boreal Owl sighting this trip. 

Tuesday afternoon we did find the male American Three-toed Woodpecker north of the Visitor's Center and Hwy 14!

We drove Jackson County Roads 26, 26b & 26a on Wednesday morning.  No Greater Sage-Grouse were found.

Wednesday night we managed to hear, not see a Boreal Owl just west of Cameron Pass.  Winds were strong, but varied.  During one of the slow times, a Boreal Owl was heard quite far from the north side of hwy 14.

Interesting Trip to Cameron Pass

January 9, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten & I headed to Jackson County for a couple of days.  Weather wise temperatures were in the 30s, winds 10+ mph, gusts at night to 22 mph.

We stopped at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Larimer) on the trip up.  One of the two American Woodcocks reported on 1/8 was relocated.

We passed by Horsetooth Reservoir (Larimer) and scoped from the east side.  The Long-tailed Duck was still there. 

The Harris's Sparrow near Bellvue was not found.  A drive up Rist Canyon did not find any Northern Pygmy-Owls or American Three-toed Woodpeckers.

Winds were quite strong on Cameron Pass; no Boreal Owls could be heard this night.