[cobirds] RE: Surf Scoter/Common Grackle - Chatfield SP

Quick follow up correction.  Heard that some folks had been seeing a pair of White-winged Scoters today out at Chatfield, so will back off my “Surf” identification given I didn’t really fully eliminate White-winged as a possibility.  To be honest, the scoters were sleeping the entire time I watched them, and noticed no white at all except for their white auricular patches (didn’t see their bills either), so made my call on “jizz” alone (seemed short and stocky) but only had a few Eared Grebes for direct comparison, so not a great comparative.  I’ll be entering as “scoter sp.” when I get to uploading to eBird just in case there was more than one pair out there today.  Sorry for any confusion or wild “scoter” chases I may have sparked.

 

Good Birding,

Doug

 

From: Doug Ward <dougward@frontier.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2021 1:04 PM
To: 'cobirds' <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Surf Scoter/Common Grackle - Chatfield SP

 

Stopped into Chatfield State Park this morning (JeffCo-Douglas Co./ 27 Nov.’21) and made a quick check of the lake, ending up with a couple good ones.  First was a pair of immature/female type SURF SCOTERs off of the Fox Run picnic area in with a mixed raft of WESTERN, EARED, and HORNED GREBES.  Also out in the delta were three (3) immature/female type RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.  Best bird though may have been a male COMMON GRACKLE at the Kingfisher Bridge parking area.  Thought folks might like to try for the scoters, so hence this post.

 

Good Birding,

Doug

Denver

 

27 Nov.’21 Chatfield State Park, Jefferson & Douglas Co., CO

Cackling Goose – 20 “Richardson’s”

Canada Goose – 250 (60/40 Gtr:Lsr)

Mallard – 150

Green-winged Teal – 6m

SURF SCOTER – 2 imm/f

Bufflehead – 5

Common Goldeneye – 15

Red-breasted Merganser – 3 imm/f

Horned Grebe – 10

Eared Grebe – 45

Western Grebe – 5

American Coot – 40

Killdeer – 1

Bonaparte’s Gull – 15 ad

Ring-billed Gull – 70 ad 10-1^st

Common Loon – 3

American White Pelican – 10

Great Blue Heron – 2

Bald Eagle – 1 imm

Black-billed Magpie – 5

Common Raven – 1

European Starling – 10

American Robin – 1

American Tree Sparrow – 3

COMMON GRACKLE – 1m