[cobirds] Yellow-billed Loon - Denver Travels

The juvenile Yellow-billed Loon (YBLO) continues today 2/1 at Chatfield. Our largest loon and very rare in the lower 48. It migrated from the High Arctic and missed the lower Alaska coast where most of them go for the winter. There is only one other YBLO currently (last 30 days), according to eBird, being reported in the lower 48. It has been reported at Stone Lagoon on the northern California coast the last 2 weeks. Our YBLO has been in the Denver area almost 3 months.

It was first reported by Ben Sampson at Cherry Creek Reservoir on 11/8. It stayed at Cheery Creek until last reported there on 11/28. The YBLO liked to hang out with a Common Loon at Cherry Creek.

On 12/1 Steve Mlodinow reported a juvenile YBLO at Aurora Reservoir. It continued to be reported until 1/16 at this location. On 1/7 Rick Olson reported a Common Loon associating with the YBLO that had a fishing lure and line in its mouth. I also saw this Common Loon with the fishing gear.

On 1/20 the DFO Field Trip that I led to Chatfield reported a juvenile YBLO from the Handicapped Fisherman Platform and later seen from the North Boat Ramp. It was hanging out with a Common Loon. Rob Raker noticed and photographed the Common Loon with fishing gear in its mouth at Chatfield the next day. Probably the same Common Loon from Aurora Reservoir.

So our Denver YBLO traveled from Cherry Creek to Aurora Reservoir and now is at Chatfield. Where will it go next? Be on the look out. Last year we had a YBLO at South Platte Reservoir for over a month. I know Brandon would be happy to welcome it to Pueblo Reservoir.

Thanks to eBird and all the birders that now us it, detailed analysis of these kind of rare events can be studied with great detail. Thank you all for your reporting on eBird and COBirds.

Gregg Goodrich

Highlands Ranch

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAG23Tou5yc9rsQ%2BBCOwDE%3DtDP49uK2sMGWx%3DE4bGb3MUVLDK_g%40mail.gmail.com.