Late Saturday afternoon, my wife and I birded the South Platte River corridor from 58th Avenue north to I-76 and back. This stretch of the river parallels the massive concrete landscape of the Denver Metro Wastewater Reclamation District's treatment plant (complete with foamy cascading outfall) and includes its confluence with Sand Creek. This reach was surprisingly birdy with about 22 species observed in two hours. American Robins appeared to be everywhere with a few Magpies, Black-capped Chickadees and Northern Flickers thrown in.
In addition to the scores of Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Canada Goose, and Gadwall on the water were respectable numbers of American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal (the latter all downstream of the Sand Creek confluence). We noted FOY Barn Swallows flitting around the I-270 bridge and a lone Killdeer picking along the shoreline in the same area.
Just upstream of the Sand Creek confluence was a Great Blue Heron standing atop the rock-lined drop structure (with boat shoot). Upon a closer scan of this area we found a FOY Black-crowned Night-Heron along the rocks downstream of the structure crest on the west side of the river.
At the north end of our walk, a quick scan of the gravel pit lake just south of I-76 and west of the river found many distant birds that appeared to be mostly Northern Shoveler and Bufflehead.
On our way back south we observed a handsome Hooded Merganser couple near the foot bridge taking the trail from the west to east sides of the river. And lastly, we were pleasantly surprised to view our first of the year small flock of warblers in just-budding trees north of the railroad bridge and between the So. Platte River and the large diversion canal to the east. There were at least five birds in the loose flock but we only had good looks at two - both FOY Yellow-rumped Warblers. The consolation was that one was a Myrtle and the other an Audubon.
Gary and Lora Witt
Greenwood Village, CO
-- In addition to the scores of Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Canada Goose, and Gadwall on the water were respectable numbers of American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal (the latter all downstream of the Sand Creek confluence). We noted FOY Barn Swallows flitting around the I-270 bridge and a lone Killdeer picking along the shoreline in the same area.
Just upstream of the Sand Creek confluence was a Great Blue Heron standing atop the rock-lined drop structure (with boat shoot). Upon a closer scan of this area we found a FOY Black-crowned Night-Heron along the rocks downstream of the structure crest on the west side of the river.
At the north end of our walk, a quick scan of the gravel pit lake just south of I-76 and west of the river found many distant birds that appeared to be mostly Northern Shoveler and Bufflehead.
On our way back south we observed a handsome Hooded Merganser couple near the foot bridge taking the trail from the west to east sides of the river. And lastly, we were pleasantly surprised to view our first of the year small flock of warblers in just-budding trees north of the railroad bridge and between the So. Platte River and the large diversion canal to the east. There were at least five birds in the loose flock but we only had good looks at two - both FOY Yellow-rumped Warblers. The consolation was that one was a Myrtle and the other an Audubon.
Gary and Lora Witt
Greenwood Village, CO
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