Tuesday 2 December 2014

[cobirds] Poudre River in Fort Collins on 2Dec2014 (Larimer)

Took a walk along the Poudre River today, both north and south of Prospect about a mile in each direction.  The river corridor still looks and feels somewhat scoured and raw from last spring's flooding but it is getting better. 

Highlights included:
Thousands (7?) of geese (mostly Lesser Canadas) at the pond just south of Prospect and e of Sharp Point Drive (aka "Feedlot Pond")

Ross's Goose (1a)  "Feedlot Pond"

Hybrid goose (not that it matters, but a Snow X Cackling (very white head and neck, gray body)) "Feedlot Pond"

White-fronted Goose (at least one) "Feedlot Pond"

No Wood Ducks or diving waterfowl of any kind on Feedlot Pond

Hairy Woodpecker (eastern)  south of Prospect, Prospect Ponds Natural Area, north of the east-west stretch of the bike trail where they (City Stormwater Department?) are doing all the earth work (that is, the deep woods 100 yards north of Lynn Hull's adobe blind north of the Water Treatment Plant)

Winter Wren (heard only)  same area (too bad this is out of the CBC Circle).  This had been a traditional spot for Winter Wrens prior to the City Stormwater Department messing with this so-called "Natural Area" by removing much of the large woody debris.  Nature is the best architect and last year's flooding felled some cottonwoods and otherwise put some more habitat pieces back in there, and it is starting to function like a true Natural Area again.  Troglodytes Unite!  Dear Mr. Stormwater, stay out!

Total species: 28

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

No comments:

Post a Comment