Aurora Reservoir Gulls

[Glenn and Laurie]

Aurora Reservoir is now about 90 percent open.  It is one of the few south metro lakes with significant ice, which happens to be relatively close to shore on the south and west edges.   This afternoon there were several thousand gulls, similar to my experience last Friday.  I found 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 2 of them adults, an adult and 2 immature Glaucous Gulls, several Thayer's and California Gulls and at least one 1st cycle bird with some Glaucous-winged genes.  I suspect it was a Glaucous-winged X Herring hybrid, large, pale overall but with darker outer primaries and the hint of a tail band..  There were many gulls I could not see well enough to ID and probably more goodies to be found, at least while some ice remains.  The best viewing is looking east from the main swim beach parking lot, preferably in the afternoon.

 

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO