Hi all
Firstly, thanks from myself and Al to the couple of folks who suggested where to currently look for gulls– much appreciated. It’s a lot of driving to Denver for a day, and it certainly helped to know where they are (or are not) currently being seen.
South Platte reservoir hosted just two Ring-billed and one Herring Gull at 9:15am
Cherry Creek reservoir hosted about 15 Ring-billed Gulls and at least three Herring Gulls early afternoon
Aurora Reservoir hosted hundreds of gulls mid afternoon – mainly Ring-billed, but also tens of Herring Gulls, at least one adult Thayer’s and at least one 1st cycle. Also an adult Lesser Black-blacked Gull (probably two), and a 1st cycle Kumlien’s (Iceland) Gull or a Kumlien’s x Thayer’s. All the birds were bathing and loafing by a small area of open water in the “middle” of the reservoir. The best place to watch them from was the west end of the dam, and although they were rather distant, even in the scope, the afternoon light was from over our shoulders, so that was good. Unfortunately we had to leave whilst gulls were still arriving at 3.30pm
Other birds seen included
2 fem type Long-tailed Ducks and 6 Greater Scaup and Prairie Falcon (South Platte Reservoir)
American Tree Sparrows : 7 Cherry Creek at East Shades parking lot, and 8+ at Aurora in bushes at edge of lake by west end of dam.
Also, it was impressive to see hundreds of Common Mergansers at Cherry Creek, along with several Red-breasted and a few Hooded, all crammed into the small ice-free areas
It’s certainly whetted my appetite for some more Front Range birding this January
Happy New Year all
Dick Filby
Carbondale, CO
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