Yesterday, five observers on a Denver Field Ornithologists field trip (Paul Slingsby, leader) visited the Silverthorne Water Treatment ponds and four Grand County lakes as part of the annual Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Barrow's Goldeneye count. Barrow's were found on four of the five bodies of water in nice numbers.
At Silverthorne, as reported yesterday, the goldeneyes were not on the front pond of the treatment plant. From behind the treatment plant, they were visible on a private lake north of the treatment plant property. There was nice plumage variation among the 20 birds seen. Along with 10 adult males and 8 adult females, there was one male in eclipse or partial eclipse plumage and one juvenal plumage bird.
A stop at Glory Hole Cafe in Hot Sulphur Springs produced no rosy-finches.
Windy Gap Reservoir had 10 Barrow's Goldeneyes, including 5 adult males and 5 birds that appeared to be juveniles/immatures, but may have been females. The light angle was unfavorable; the bills appeared dark but may have had some yellow.
On Grand Lake, we had 10 Common Goldeneyes, but no Barrow's.
Shadow Mountain Res had at least 12 Barrow's, 8 males, 3 females and one juvenile/immature. There were at least 12 Common Goldeneyes as well. The birds were widespread across the lake making distant birds difficult to count. Among the Canada Geese, there were two possible hybrids or partial albinos. The birds were the size of the Canadas with most plumage like the Canada Geese. Exceptions were the necks and heads. On one of the birds, the neck and head were extensively white with traces of black or gray. On the second, the neck was more predominantly black or gray with some white, while the head was predominantly white with some black or gray.
Lake Granby yielded the motherload. There was a large raft of Barrow's Goldeneyes with a few scattered stragglers. We counted 25 males and 24 females, though there may have been more. The birds in the raft were frequently diving almost in unison.
With clear skies and no wind, it was our best goldeneye count in many years on this route.
Chuck Hundertmark
Lafayette
303-604-0531
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