Huerfano county --- probable adult WESTERN GULL, 01/19/14

[Mark Peterson]

COBirders,

I apologize for the late notice, it wasn't until today that I was able to get some photos out to a couple of other people to get their thoughts.  I don't have great photos but they do show most of the things you want to see.

I have let Polly Neldner know and she plans on looking for it today so hopefully she can confirm whether the bird is still around or not.  I saw the bird yesterday mid-morning when I was making what was supposed to be basically a very brief stop at Lathrop State Park while on my way back home.  The bird was on Horseshoe Lake which is the western lake of the two inside the park.  I would say that the lake was about 30-40% ice covered but with the warm temps and "heavy" wind yesterday it may have opened up a lot more.  The same is true for Martin lake.  

There were only two COMMON GOLDENEYE on Martin and no other birds.  Horseshoe had about 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE plus a handful of COMMER MERGANSER.  The only other gull there was a 1st cycle HERRING/THAYER's GULL.  I did not give the bird a lot of time as I had little time to begin with and was more interested in the dark-mantled bird.  

 

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Mark Peterson
Colorado Springs