[cobirds] Chatfield region mostly, Nov 18

[Douglas]

Went back to Chatfield Reservoir this morning, hoping something new blew in, but by the looks of it, not much did, except Goldeneye numbers bumped up quite a bit. At the Marina sand spit an adult Greater White-fronted Goose flew in with a flock of Canadas. A female Red-breasted Merganser was near Plum Creek inlet. 

Aurora Rampart Reservoir at the Roxborough entry had 2 female Black Scoters, 1 Pacific Loon, and a fair assortment of other waterfowl in small numbers. A Prairie Falcon made a ceremonial pass.

Platte Canyon Reservoir (near crossing of Waterton Road over South Platte) was fun. Here I had a Common Loon, a female Blue-winged Teal, 11 Greater Scaup, an unexpected Greater Yellowlegs that flew in from the north and circled the lake area, calling, then moved off to the northeast, nice counts (for a small reservoir) of 117 Common Goldeneyes and 62 Hooded Mergansers, and a Say's Phoebe.

[Jefferson]

A Northern Shrike was perched at the Audubon Center feeding station area near the Waterton Canyon trailhead. 

Trailmark Lake was about 85% frozen, but the open hole had a throng of about 1300 ducks frenetically feeding on some aquatic plant (and perhaps aquatic animals living on the plants). These included about 450 American Wigeon, 400 Ring-necked Ducks, 310 Redheads, and others including 2 Greater Scaup, and 2 Nor. Pintail (my only pintails in the general area over recent days). I viewed this lake a couple weeks ago, when there was no ice. There was a moderate number of ducks, but they were mostly loafing or feeding leisurely. I'd have to assume that same aquatic plant (and critters?) was there, and even more available. I wonder what changed to spur the very active foraging I saw today...besides the innate urgency of an ice hole.

Back home, a Harris's Sparrow continues at my Ken Caryl Valley feeding station

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6RorNUiOJQGDesNzgi_-tK6TgiOTAa4Z3py3m_XtFfij8fA%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.