Cherry Creek and Aurora Reservoirs

February 18, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 67 degrees today.  Winds were 13-14 mph with gusts to 23 mph.

I did not feel like driving 30+ miles to Ketring Park to miss the Brant three days in a row.  Although Terry Michaels called to tell me it was there this morning.    I missed it by 10 minutes yesterday and several hours on Friday.  Instead, I went to Aurora Reservoir by way of Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).

I did not find the Glaucous Gull reported early.  A Common Loon was the consolation.  The two Long-eared Owls were again in the Russian Olive trees along the Gun Range road.

Aurora Reservoir had more birds.  The four Long-tailed Ducks were together off pavilion #4 although quite far offshore.  

Scanning the lake four times, I finally found one of the two White-winged Scoters.  I have not seen both in awhile, hope nothing has happened to the other one.

Several hundred gulls were on the swim beach ice shelf.  One Iceland Gull and two Herring Gulls were among the many Ring-billed Gulls.  

I noticed one of the gulls smaller than the Ring-billed and darker mantled.  It was a Mew Gull!  A Glaucous Gull towered over the other gulls.  Perhaps it spends its mornings at Cherry Creek Reservoir and flies the eight miles east to Aurora Reservoir in the afternoon?

An adult Ferruginous Hawk flew across the length of the lake made a dive down to the gulls and then continued south.

Forty three Pronghorn wandered across the new Pronghorn Natural Area north of Aurora Reservoir.

I drove down the entrance road of the discipline school east of Aurora Reservoir (sorry forgot the name).  I hoped the Northern Goshawk that has been reported at the Reservoir had perched in the cottonwoods along Coal Creek.  It was not found.

An adult Bald Eagle was in the cottonwood with nest along the Yale-Jewell Loop (Arapahoe).  Seventeen Horned Larks fluttered around the same area.

South Platte Park Reservoir, Ketring Park to Cherry Creek Reservoir

February 16, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached only 41 degrees under party sunny skies today.  Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

I scoped South Platte Park Reservoir (Arapahoe/Jefferson) six times and saw the adult male White-winged Scoter on two of the scans.  The Yellow-billed Loon was not found.  However, lack of mobility forced me to scope from the southwest corner.  About 10-15 percent of the lake could not be seen.  The Yellow-billed Loon was reported later in the afternoon.

The Brant was not found at Ketring Park, Edwin Bemis library fields, Gallup Park and Ida Park (Jefferson).  The Eastern Screech-Owl was out sunning in his usual cottonwood.

The pair of Long-eared Owls was back in their usual Russian Olive trees along the Gun Range road at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).

Visit to Aurora Reservoir in a Snowstorm

February 15, 2018

Richard Stevens:

While doing chores we drove through Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) this afternoon.  A blizzard like snowstorm came from the east around 4:00 pm.

We managed to scope the lake just one time before visibility became 20 yards or so.  Winds were clocked at 17-18 mph with gusts to 31 mph.  Snow was flying parallel to the ground.

One White-winged Scoter and the two adult female Long-tailed Ducks were the only uncommon birds found before lost of visibility.  

Snow continued east of DIA Airport on our return trip home.

Arapahoe County: Cherry Creek & Aurora Reservoirs

February 14, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Super winter day in Colorado, temperatures reached a comfortable 63 degrees.  Warmer temperatures resulted because of the 11-12 mph winds from the south-southeast.  Anemometer readings reached 25 mph with several gusts to 37 mph.

While out doing chores and having dinner, we passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).  Today the two Long-eared Owls were out in the open.  I put several photos on the Colorado Birding Society's photo library (recent favorite photos link)

http://coloradobirdingsociety.net

Later we scoped Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) for an hour or so.  The high winds produced high waves making finding waterfowl difficult.

Eventually we relocated the two female Long-tailed Ducks however missed the two juveniles.  One of the White-winged Scoters was also found.

South-southeastern winds may have pushed many waterfowl into the northwestern corner of the lake.  We could not see about 1/6 of the reservoir from our vantage point.

Two hundred + Ring-billed Gulls were the only species on the swim beach ice shelf.  We did see one adult and one first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull swimming east of pavilion #4.

Birding Around Denver

February 13, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I searched several hours for the Standley Lake Snowy Owl.  We did not find it.

A drive through Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams) did not come across any uncommon birds.

When we passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) two Long-eared Owls perched on the same branch along the shooting range road.

A few Ring-billed Gulls stood on the remaining ice shelf off the Mountain Loop.  No uncommon birds were encountered.

It was a fantastic winter day.  Temperatures reached 57 degrees.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

Parker & Aurora Reservoir

February 12, 2018

Richard Stevens:

I will not talk about my fractured ankle after today, got to put a shoe on after three weeks!  Someday I hope to walk soon!

Temperatures reached 28 degrees; however it was 17 degrees in Parker at 3:00 pm.  Winds were 5-6 mph with several gusts at Aurora Reservoir at 22 mph.

Rebecca and I had business in Parker.  We checked Salisbury Equestrian Park, Bar CCC Park and surrounding fields.  Only a few White-cheeked Geese were found and no Brant.

Taking the back roads home we passed by Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe).  The Long-tailed Ducks, two White-winged Scoters and a Lesser Black-backed Gull continue at the lake.

I detoured 8 miles to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  A Long-eared Owl was perched on the fence along the shooting range access road.

No Short-eared Owls were encountered along the DIA Owl Loop after sunset.

Aurora Reservoir Again

February 10, 2018

Richard Stevens:

After 4+ inches of snow last night, Terry Michaels and I checked on the Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) birds.  Temperatures only reached 17 degrees.  Winds were 4 mph with gusts to 8 mph.  It was cold.

We found the two White-winged Scoters, the four Long-tailed Ducks out on the lake.  A Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the ice shelf east of the swim beach.