[cobirds] Waneka Lake Drawdown: dead fish, rare beer cans, and gulls

Hello, Birders. Even if you're not into gulls, it's worth seeing the spectacle at Waneka Lake, Boulder County. Did I say "seeing"? You will smell it too.

Anyhow, the lake is being drawn down; and, with the recent warm weather, the ice is gone, and the lakebed is covered with pop archaeological treasures of every sort. If you've ever wanted Stroh's beer and Tab cola cans, today is your lucky day. Also old Tonka trucks, turtle carapaces, and shoes.

Gulls, too, if you want them. The flock isn't too huge (ca. 150, I would say), but it's nicely varied. Yesterday, Presidents' Day, Monday, Feb. 15, Hannah Floyd and Andrew Floyd and I saw 1-2 first-cycle lesser black-backed gulls, 2-3 Thayer's gulls (1 first-cycle, 1-2 adults), 40ish herring gulls, and the rest ring-billed gulls. The herrings are impressively diverse: With a bit of imagination, you can turn the first-cycles into hybrids, slaty-backed gulls, or anything else. The gulls allow really close approach; they are intoxicated by the fish. Just don't sink in the mud, a decided possibility.

Also scavenging the lakebed: an adult bald eagle, many American crows, a common raven, a great blue heron, and mallards and American wigeons. The north shore of the lake has had a ruby-crowned kinglet; northern flickers are singing and drumming now, and a great horned owl is often out by day.

Say, can you do me a favor? If you see kids out there beach-combing for car parts and such, they're probably mine. Depending on the time of day, just encourage them to go back to school, or send them home... ;-)

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

P.s. Checklist and pix here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S27610583

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