Found: Yellow-Billed Loon (Chatfield State Park - Jefferson County)

[Joey Kellner]

At 4:07pm I found a YELLOW-BILLED LOON on Chatfield Reservoir. The bird was
seen between the Massey Draw parking lot and the Swim Beach parking lot.
Presumably this is the same Yellow-billed Loon as was previously reported at
Boyd Lake. I was not able to go up and see the Boyd Lake bird, but here is
a description of the Chatfield bird:

Large, "block-headed" loon with large, yellow bill; upturned distal half of
the lower mandible. Head a nice light tan-brown (not the dark
chocolate-brown of a Common Loon). Pale face with small eye and larger
circular "ear spot" behind the eye. Clear "indentations" between the pale
front of the neck and throat and the tan-brown of the back of the neck.
Back feathers broadly edged in buff creating a nice barred appearance to the
back indicating this to be an 1st year bird.

The bird was actively diving during the 8 minutes that I observed it.

Also, seen was the continuing RED-NECKED GREBE best seen from the Lake View
parking area (turn at the Campground Registration office and continue to the
parking lot at the end).


Joey Kellner
Littleton, Colorado