Park Co lakes and some Chaffee Co birds

[Scott Somershoe]

Dean Shoup and I made a trip today to bird a lot of the mtn lakes.  We didn't get to nearly as many spots as we hoped. The first couple stops were quite birdy and we spent a lot of time digging through scads of waterfowl. 

Highlights:

Eleven Mile Res -

Oodles of coots with a good variety of waterfowl mixed in

at least 9 Surf Scoters (prob 13)  

3, likely 4, White-winged Scoters

one continuing female Long-tailed Duck

450+ Common Goldeneye 

4 common loons and a loon sp.

Wood Duck drake was unexpected

18+ Bonaparte's Gulls

one late American Pipit

Spinney Mountain Res -

Many thousands of birds, mostly quite far away, and we didn't much spend time there, but we spotted 2 Common Loons.  We could have spent several hours working Spinney.

Antero Res -
Thanks to some intel from Kathy Dunning, we relocated 3 likely Tundra Swans, and a Pacific Loon, otherwise, lots of expected species, incl Bonaparte's Gulls, and a lot of wind.

We were way behind schedule at this point, but the birding was great, so we went to Buena Vista (Chaffee). We were cruising a neighborhood trying to get to the Ice Ponds and I spotted a Lewis's Woodpecker flying by.  Dean wanted to find a Lewis's in town and I think he was skeptical, but he threw me a bone and stopped, and a few seconds later one flew over the car!

Ice Ponds - 

Lots of waterfowl, but the highlight (for me) was 40+ Pinyon Jays working the pines and carrying on.  We watched them for about 15 minutes. I've only seen them a few times, so I was happy to spend some time with them.  They are a fun and interesting species.

Scott Somershoe

Littleton, Jefferson Co.

[Sally Waterhouse]

Please understand that the Ice Ponds in Buena Vista is private property and access without invitation is not allowed.  Thanks for your cooperation.