Hi Cobirders Saturday my son ask me where I wanted to go birding I said Rocky Mountain Arsenal as it was not far and interesting birds for
the new year were reported. So we left at 10:15 AM and quickly got to turn off at I-70 and Quebec. Going north there was a huge flock of
Cackling Geese to the northeast flying south with thousands of birds.
Taking the auto tour first around the Bison enclosures there was not anything unusual a few Crows, Magpies , Starlings, White-crown Sparrows
and 3 or 4 small flocks of House Finches flew into the tree along the road.
Going south on the road leaving the tour area we came to the woods on the west side which had a huge roost of Crows and a row of lower shrubs
all along the front of the woods filled with Starlings maybe a 1000 and more back west to the another 500. Something caused all these to rise up
at the same time . What a spectacle.
We turned around and took the road going east to the 3 lake area. There was a Red-tailed Hawk flying low as we entered to view the larger Lake
which had open water in front of all the iced over larger portion of the lake.
Here was about 200 Cackling Geese an∂ 35 Ring-billed Gulls with 5 Herring Gulls standing on the edge of the ice. In the open water were
Common Mergansers 5 female and 2 males. Also 4 Common Goldeneyes.
Near here we got a good look at a Prairie Falcon which flew past us and landed on a nearby pole.
All the other nearby water was frozen still so we went out and to the Visitor Center. Around there and near by were many of the Crows and
Starlings coming from the roost area.
Checked a huge field while eating lunch. Nothing showed up.
Continuing on the road east we came to Lake Ladore (?) just to the north. A tour group of 38 birders plus few others were checking this
lake which was mostly frozen but had a lot of open water near the road. This held another flock of about 200 Cackling Geese which we looked
for a White-fronted Goose -no luck. With them were Coots , Shovelers, 2 Redheads and a Lesser Scaup.
Best of all were the 17 Bald Eagles stationed around the northern shore on the ice.
On way out toward the west entrance there was a pair of Furruginous Hawks.
Temp. was in the Fifties and mostly calm. Got home at 3PM. Great Day for a day in January.
Bob Spencer N.E. of Golden
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