Christmas Day - South Platte
Cathy Sheeter
The sun was inviting so I birded a couple of stretches of the South Platte. First section I did was going north from 88th and Colorado parking area. The day started with a Gadwall x Northern Shoveler hybrid, followed by a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD (surprisingly found in the company of a couple of Red-Winged Blackbirds), a male Barrow's Goldeneye, an unexpected winter Loggerhead Shrike, and a second Gadwall hybrid (not sure what the other half is yet). A wide variety of normal ducks (almost every species we get in Colorado!) dominated the scene. A single snow goose was sighted flying with Canada Geese.
The second section of the Platte I walked was the section along Overland golf course in Denver County. Along this segment Cackling Geese (almost all Richardson's) numbered in the thousands. I did pull out a single Greater White-Fronted Goose and a Canada x Greater White Front hybrid. I also found a Minima Cackling Goose (for the three people on the list that care ;). A stunning Gadwall x Mallard hybrid was also seen along this stretch... A returning bird from last winter found in the exact same spot on the river last year.
I hope everyone has a joy filled day!
Cathy Sheeter
Fort Lupton