Larimer County gulls

[Nick Komar]

Horseshoe Lake in northeast Loveland is currently a gull hotspot. Late Saturday afternoon, the muddy southeast lobe of the lake hosted:

California Gull – 600 adults, many in pairs, some copulating

Franklin’s Gull - 80+ pink-breasted adults

Ring-billed Gull – 15 or 20, various ages

Herring Gull – 6 immatures, all brown first-cycles except for one gray-mantled second-cycle

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 4 (2 adults, 1 blackish-mantled second-cycle, 1 brown first-cycle).

Viewing is a challenge as birds are distant, and not easily viewed from a single viewing spot. The east end of Engelman Place off of Monroe is the best spot. Digiscoped photos of some of these can be viewed online at http://www.pbase.com/quetzal/gulls04122014.

 

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO