[cobirds] New Larimer County hotspot and possible Siberian Herring Gull

"Walmart Pond" is a relatively new birding location that apparently is under-birded. This is the gravel pit pond adjacent to the Walmart located along Interstate 25 at the Harmony Road/Timnath exit. On Sunday, it was well-stocked with over 10 species of waterfowl, including Greater Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser. A good number of goldeneye attracted numerous gulls, including a young Thayer's Gull.

 

There is now a day-use parking area at the southeast corner of the pond that allows for easy and close viewing of the pond, and access to walking trails along the Cache La Poudre River which skirts the north and east side of the pond. I have not yet explored these trails so I don't know how extensive they are. This will also be a valuable birding spot during spring and fall migration in the riparian habitat along the river.   

A telescope will be helpful to see across the pond, but on Sunday, numerous birds were close to the parking area and easily identified using binoculars. This birding spot is very close to other famous birding hotspots such as Timnath Reservoir and Fossil Creek Reservoir, and should become a routine birding stop when  birding the Loveland-Windsor-Timnath-Fort Collins loop, or even if you are just passing through the area on Interstate 25. It is now recognized as a hotspot on ebird.org, so if birders routinely enter their sightings at Walmart Pond on ebird, before too long, we will have a profound knowledge of the birds of this pond and the adjacent section of the Cache La Poudre River.

On Sunday, one of the juvenile gulls present was a candidate for the Siberian subspecies of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus vegae), also know as Vega Gull (considered a full species in Europe and Asia). This subspecies breeds in western Alaska and has its own page in the Sibley Guide to Birds. There are scattered winter records throughout the western USA. It undoubtedly occurs in Colorado, although has yet to be recognized by the CBRC for the state list. You can check out my (low-quality) photos of the bird from Sunday at www.pbase.com/quetzal/mysterygullai.

 

So, if you are out birding in eastern Larimer County over the Thanksgiving holiday, be sure to stop by Walmart Pond, and then enter your sightings at ebird.org. If any unusual birds are present, post a report to Cobirds. And if you have a camera, please get better photos of this gull (if present) so that we might document a possible first state record of Vega Gull. 

 

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO