[cobirds] Re: Fort Collins Black Friday Birding Frolic

We had a fabulous turnout for the first annual Fort Collins Black Friday Birding Frolic, despite the windy conditions this morning. Twenty-eight folks turned out, including a few elementary aged birders, a couple scouts working on their badge, and others enthusiastic to be outdoors today. We began on Rigden Reservoir (Arapahoe Bend NA) where a flock of seagulls (the bird, not the band) provided some good views while they fed on small fish and crayfish on the east shoreline. Ring-billed, California, and Herring Gull, sadly no Bonapartes. There were also a good number of Common Goldeneye on the water. By the way, never call a gull a seagull around serous birders, it really gets their goat. :)   Another highlight, particularly for the kiddos, was a Great-horned Owl that was flushed from the riverbank. 

Some of us then headed over and walked the Poudre River Trail between the ELC and Prospect Ponds. We ran into another enthusiastic group of birders looking for the Winter Wren (no luck), The Fox Sparrow (no luck), and the Rusty Blackbird (no luck), but were treated to a close up view of a Red-tailed Hawk snacking on what can only be described as a small furry mammal (too big for a mouse, vole perhaps?). We also had a hybrid Snow-Canada Goose in one of the ponds. 26 species total.

By the end of the morning, the remaining birders were salivating for thanksgiving leftovers and a mid-afternoon nap.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Robert Beauchamp

Fort Collins

On Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 7:15:34 PM UTC-7, robert beauchamp wrote:

Looking to work off those Thanksgiving calories and enjoy a less competitive Black Friday experience? Join us Friday morning for our first annual Fort Collins Black Friday Birding Frolic. 

Let's meet at Rigden Reservoir (Arapahoe Bend Natural Area) this Friday at 8:00 a.m. We'll check out what is on the water and among the riparian corridor. As time permits, we can explore some other local hotspots that have been hopping with good birds these past few days. Feel free to bring the in-laws, or perhaps you are the in-laws, in which this will be a great escape. :)

No need to RSVP. Meet at the natural area parking lot at the corner of Horsetooth & Strauss Cabin Rd., Fort Collins.

Robert Beauchamp

Fort Collins

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