I arrived at Jackson Lake (Morgan County) at dusk last night, with three other birders from Fort Collins. We were fortunate to find the Curlew Sandpiper where it had been hanging out all afternoon in the northwest shoreline. At 7:38 pm, it took flight with some of the other birds. It was too dark for us to follow it, but we assumed the birds returned, as groups had been flying around and returning while we were there. Unfortunately, by midday today, it had not been refound.
We spent the first hour of daylight in the campground thickets (fee area) and found many Yellow and Wilson's Warblers, and some empidonax flycatchers (probably Willow Flycatcher), and lots of robins, but little else of note. Back to shorebirding, the most noteworthy birds we observed was a second-cycle (i.e. immature) Laughing Gull and a Dunlin in non-breeding plumage, both in the northeast corner, which was the most birdy part of the shoreline.
Photos of the Laughing Gull and a molting Cassin's Kingbird on Morgan CR2 north of Jackson Lake are in my recent pix gallery at the bottom of the page, at www.pbase.com/quetzal.
Thanks to Ira for finding the Curlew Sandpiper and spreading the word so quickly. It was great running into so many birding friends at Jackson today. Jackson promises to be a hotspot for fall migrants in the coming weeks. One can easily spend an entire productive birding day there. Telescope, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water are essential. A State Parks pass is needed for access to west and south sides. Other rarities that we heard about from others but did not see ourselves included Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Mountain Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Sanderling and Northern Waterthrush.
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