Hooded Merganser breeding in Colorado / Jeffco (I think)

Dave Cameron

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Jun 1, 2020, 10:51:41 PM6/1/20

to Colorado Birds

I believe I read here recently some speculation as to whether Hooded Merganser nests and breeds in Colorado. Forgive me if this isn't news.... But on a bike ride Sunday on the Bear Creek Trail, between Estes and Kipling (which I'm pretty sure is Jefferson County), we saw a female and one tiny little chick, both sitting on a log in the middle of the Bear Creek. This was right off the iron foot bridge/bike bridge about halfway between Estes and Kipling. No male in sight. There's also a Mallard pair with 5 new hatchlings. A pair of Muskrats also use this 'pond' by the bridge.

Dave Cameron

Denver

Charles Hundertmark

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Jun 1, 2020, 11:38:55 PM6/1/20

to dave...@msn.com, Cobirds

The second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas had 8 Hooded Merganser records including 4 confirmations. 4 of the records including 1 confirmation were in priority blocks.

Chuck Hundertmark

Lafayette

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Ben S

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Jun 2, 2020, 3:12:28 PM6/2/20

to Colorado Birds

In May 2019, I also had a female Hooded Merganser at South Platte Park with chicks. Interesting stuff

Ben Sampson
Centennial CO

David Gulbenkian

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Jun 27, 2020, 11:39:41 AM6/27/20

to Colorado Birds

Hooded Merganser Fledglings Jeffco WRGB

Saw 3 half-sized fledglings sitting on a log at the edge of Tabor Lake in the Wheatridge Greenbelt.

Mother sitting placidly next to them on the bank.

Considering the huge horde of Cormorants nesting on the island (as well as several pairs of Great Blues and some Night Herons)

Tabor Lake must be a hugely productive lake for fish!!

Other surprise sighting: a TV headed east over Bass Lake, being chased by a Red-winged.

Other nesting behaviour: Rough-winged Swallow entering a hole in the bank of Clear Creek. Couldn't see if mouths were full