A pair of mature Bald Eagles have been fishing and hunting ducks, geese, and a few fish on Highland Lake for two weeks now. They are usually seen either along the southeastern shore or northern shore areas. They roost in the tall cottonwoods on the north shore, but I see them all the time in my cottonwoods, silver maples, and elm trees along the southeastern curve across the road from the lake.
Depending on the time of day and which day, a fairly large selection of different water fowl can be seen. These include mostly Canada Geese and Mallards, but there are some very small (about 30-40% smaller than the Mallards and very cute, but I don't know what they are since I've never seen them before), ducks hanging around in the weeds along the southern shoreline. Give them even a hint that someone is near and they dive and head for the center of the lake. Mixed in with the Canada Geese are occasionally one or two white fronted geese. These usually fly in about dusk. Of course the gulls are still around, but not as many as there were even a week ago. We had four Tundra Swans spend the night near the northern shore about a week and a half ago. These were identified by a birder (can't remember his name) who occasionally checks out the lake. I think he is on this list, but I never saw a post mentioning the swans here. The American Pelicans moved on about two weeks ago.
The lake is private but open to the public. This time of the year, unless you are fishing, parking is free as is walking around the shoreline. Two sides of the lake are bordered by Weld County Road (CR) 5. They are slowly filling the lake after almost a year of record low water levels. Hunting isn't allowed on the lake property, nor on most of the surrounding properties, but gunfire can occasionally be heard in the distance, which often spooks the birds.
Pauli Smith
Highland Lake near Mead, Weld, CO
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