Aurora Sports Park - worth a look; Stub-tailed Wren, White-throated Sparrow - Arapahoe
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Cathy Sheeter
Oct 2, 2022, 6:04:45 PM10/2/22
to Colorado Birds
Work and a new puppy have kept my birding to a minimum this year, but I was happy to get out for a coupe hours today.
One of my favorite parts of birding is exploring under-birded places. I discovered the Aurora Sports Park this past spring and saw it as a place that had a lot of potential, but at that time was not even an e-bird hotspot (it now is at: Aurora Sports Park, Arapahoe County, CO, US - eBird Hotspot ). The location may seem like a turn off, seemingly in a not great part of Aurora, but this is a very well maintained, large park with what seems to be full-time staff, often seen driving around in golf carts, and the park is heavily used for sporting events during evenings and weekends. Overall, it feels safe, and I have never seen anything to suggest otherwise in my couple of visits.
The majority of this park are mowed soccer fields (not super exciting), but the park has left patches of native, un-mowed vegetation in quite a few areas (which held thrushes and towhees this spring), and between some fields are crabapple trees. The far side of the park is entirely bordered by highline canal with extensive riparian habitat and marshy areas with many mature cottonwoods, willows, cattails and boggy areas. There is a small pond in the middle of the park, which can be viewed from the parking lot. It has had a few ducks at times.
Today's highlights included a frustratingly shy Stub-tailed Wren (Winter/Pacific) and more confiding tan-morph White-throated Sparrow (White-throated Sparrow was also seen here by me in May). Both were observed along highline canal portion of the park. Warblers were not overly active, but a couple Townsend's are always fun to see. YOu can see my checklist at: eBird Checklist - 2 Oct 2022 - Aurora Sports Park - 40 species (+5 other taxa)
At any rate, if you happen to find yourself looking for an under birded place to check out, I say give this one a shot. If the front gates are closed, I have been told that you are still welcome to park and walk in.
Cathy Sheeter
One of my favorite parts of birding is exploring under-birded places. I discovered the Aurora Sports Park this past spring and saw it as a place that had a lot of potential, but at that time was not even an e-bird hotspot (it now is at: Aurora Sports Park, Arapahoe County, CO, US - eBird Hotspot ). The location may seem like a turn off, seemingly in a not great part of Aurora, but this is a very well maintained, large park with what seems to be full-time staff, often seen driving around in golf carts, and the park is heavily used for sporting events during evenings and weekends. Overall, it feels safe, and I have never seen anything to suggest otherwise in my couple of visits.
The majority of this park are mowed soccer fields (not super exciting), but the park has left patches of native, un-mowed vegetation in quite a few areas (which held thrushes and towhees this spring), and between some fields are crabapple trees. The far side of the park is entirely bordered by highline canal with extensive riparian habitat and marshy areas with many mature cottonwoods, willows, cattails and boggy areas. There is a small pond in the middle of the park, which can be viewed from the parking lot. It has had a few ducks at times.
Today's highlights included a frustratingly shy Stub-tailed Wren (Winter/Pacific) and more confiding tan-morph White-throated Sparrow (White-throated Sparrow was also seen here by me in May). Both were observed along highline canal portion of the park. Warblers were not overly active, but a couple Townsend's are always fun to see. YOu can see my checklist at: eBird Checklist - 2 Oct 2022 - Aurora Sports Park - 40 species (+5 other taxa)
At any rate, if you happen to find yourself looking for an under birded place to check out, I say give this one a shot. If the front gates are closed, I have been told that you are still welcome to park and walk in.
Cathy Sheeter
Arapahoe County
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