While not near as adventuresome nor interesting as Jack’s great weekend, thought folks might like to hear about a wave of stuff in southwest Denver today (Weds., 6 May’26) which was apparently dropped by our much needed snow.
I’ll start with Huston Lake Park and area (SW Denver, Denver Co.), our local patch. The lake at the park has been dry for weeks due to a couple of factors, but in passing by today noticed the snow had wetted the mudflats as well as filled a couple of pools to the point the place was crawling, so ran back up with the scope. While hoping for shorebirds flitting around out there, was surprised to see that that action consisted primarily of passerines including SAY’S PHEOBE, WESTERN KINGBIRD (3), three flavors of swallow (25), MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (4), Robins (10+), AMERICAN PIPIT (7), VESPER, and SAVANNAH SPARROWs all feeding on the mud and puddle edges. Some waterbirds did join the fray including a nice WHITE-FACED IBIS. The best bird of the day, however, was back at our place a block and a half from the park, a beautiful male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER - will keep the group posted if he returns.
We also swung by the west side of Marston Reservoir (extreme SW Denver Co.) mid-afternoon where a mud spit exists due low water. Today it hosted a nice mix of shorebirds including KILLDEER (2), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (4), LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (7), WILSON’S PHALAROPE, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WILLET (38), LEAST SANDPIPER (5), and a WESTERN SANDPIPER. This spot is worth a check if you are running errands in the southwest metro area as we were.
Hope you have had similar experiences after our storm, always fun this time of the year. If you have any questions about hitting these spots, please let me know separately.
Good Birding,
Doug
Currently Denver
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