Birding Harriman Lake - Jefferson County, CO

[Regina King]

Since Bear Creek Lake has been devastated by the flood, I've gone back to birding Harriman Lake.  This small Denver Water reservoir was drained in 2011, dam rebuilt, and refilled with water last winter.  There was a nice variety of spring water fowl, but not much in the way of fish to feed them.  Then it was stocked by DOW in late spring, so I'm hoping fall waterfowl are even better.  Here's is what I've seen in the past few days:

Sept 28-29:

Pied-billed Grebe (family of 7, with adults still feeding the young)

Eared Grebe

American Wigeon

American Coot

Mallard

Belted Kingfisher

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Spotted Sandpiper (winter)

Rusty Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird (flock of females with a single Yellow-headed Blackbird)

Audubon's Warbler (large flock of immature males), searched in vain for other warblers but none were seen

Barn Swallow (scores catching insects over the lake)

Lesser Goldfinch

House Wren

Flicker

Magpie

BC Chickadee

Plus today, Oct 1:

Redhead Duck (7 males)

and no swallows

Regina King

Littleton, CO

[modise]

Might try to chase the rusty blackbird!  Can you post where, exactly, you saw it?  Thanks!

Bryan Arnold

[Regina King]

The Rusty Blackbirds were on the rip-rap along the west and north sides of the lake.  They were picking along the water's edge.  I saw them (about 5 or 6) on Saturday and Sunday but not since.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2013 12:44:14 PM UTC-6, Regina King wrote:

[modise]

Thank you!