[cobirds] Park County foray June 2-3

June 2

Kenosha Pass Pond had 4 Redheads. The pond along CR 34 at 4.3 miles from Hwy 285 had the greatest diversity of waterfowl of any spot I looked at on this outing. 2 Redheads, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 3 Northern Pintails, and 2 Cinnamon Teal were among the less common species for this date in Park. 46 Eared Grebes were gathered, but no nesting activity yet. Tarryall Reservoir had no waterbirds of note. 

The northwest corner of Eleven Mile Reservoir at the South Platte inlet had a pair of Bald Eagles that seemed territorial, which would I think be notable for Park, but I could not get a lead on any thing to suggest a nest. 3 Forster's Terns were unexpected for early June. A Clark's Grebe was among the Westerns. A Lesser Scaup was the only uncommon duck. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were focused on weedy island and are perhaps nesting there. Around 6:50 pm a goodly number of California Gulls were flying purposefully off south away from the south end of the reservoir, going to...?

Skipping over to the Park/Fremont county line at Hwy 9 there was a Virginia's Warbler singing well upslope in the Gambel oaks there (known in this habitat in this borderline region of Park), and a Lewis's Woodpecker flew over from Fremont into Park. 

June 3

I was back at the NW corner of Eleven Mile Reservoir near dawn. The two Bald Eagles were still around (plus a harassing Prairie Falcon), but the Forster's Terns were not in evidence. Western Grebes were dancing. The aggregate number of California Gulls at the reservoir was probably upwards of 3700, and the nesting colony on the island near the reservoir's south end has grown, with about 2000 gulls on the island (I couldn't count nests from afar). The number of Double-crested Cormorant nests has also increased quite a bit over the number 20 days ago. An alternate Common Loon flying past the Howbert Point area was unexpected. A Gray Jay was along CR 59 near 39 Mile Mountain. Pinyon Jays were fairly common along CR 102 northeast of Guffey. A few more Viginia's Warblers were in oak habitat along the south end of CR 104. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was conveniently perched on a power line along CR 104. How he glared at me as I whistled my imitation from within my car! 

Spinney Mountain Reservoir was dullsville, with everything except Canada Geese very far off in the shimmer.

Buffalo Creek Reservoir had a smattering of waterbirds, with 6 Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Lesser Scaup being among the uncommon species. Viewing toward Antero Reservoir from Buffalo I could see about 300 Am. White Pelicans. Antero is no closed for work on the dam, apparently for quite a while.

 

Skipping up to 11,000 feet along CR 8 out of Alma, I encountered Am. Three-toed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Pine Grosbeak, and Golden-crowned Kinglet, among other subalpine species. The road is snowed in 2 miles before Kite Lake.

A feeder at Jefferson had 2 American Goldfinches, a species that has been hard for me to find in Park. A Prairie Falcon over Crow Hill (CR 43A near Hwy 285) near Bailey seemed out of place.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

 

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