Weld County Yesterday

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All.

The NEOTROP CORMORANT was the only cormorant on the pond when I was there, and it was swimming amongst an enormous flock of RB Mergansers (>200) and Common Mergansers (nearly 100). That which caught my eye initially, as I was busy tallying mergs, was that it was about the same size as the Common Mergs, definitely unlike a DCCO. There were also > 20 Bonaparte's at the location, but no hangers' on of other species. 

I started the day in the general "Latham Area" from Stewart's Pond to WCR 59 Ponds. All locations were birdy, except for the WCR 59 Ponds. At Stewarts' Pond, there was a spiffy male GADWALL X NORTHERN SHOVELER, which looks utterly unlike either parent (see http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/gadwall-x-northern-shoveler.html). At Loloff Reservoir, there was a nifty ale REDHEAD x RN DUCK. Beyond that, there was a good scattering of Lesser Scaup and dabblers, but little in the way of other divers. Western Grebes are truly back. 

Crow Valley was a total dud except for a calling CANYON WREN in the dense willows and water on the south side. 

And that is about it. No luck with yonder reported Brown Pelican. Not at St Vrain, Firestone, nor Union (Firestone Gravel Pits and Union Res were both quite birdy, though)

Good Birding

Steve Mlodinow

Longmont CO