Urban shorebirds, Denver County

[Tom Wilberding]

Friday afternoon I lugged my heavy camera and bins to Chatfield State Park’s S. Platte River inlet, Marina sandspit, and Plum Creek inlet. Long treks, very natural habitat, but just a few Killdeer at each place.

This afternoon Barb and I were strolling along the S. Platte River just south of the Cherry Creek Confluence, halfway between the aquarium and REI. No camera, no bins. City habitat. There were shorebirds on gravel islands in the South Platte, and I don’t think they were all Killdeer.

I hope these shorebirds stick around to be identified by peep-loving Denver birders.

 

Good birding,

Tom Wilberding

Littleton, CO

[Dave Cameron]

We hit Chatfield yesterday afternoon just to look for shorebirds as well, with almost the same results.  We did have 5 winter-plumage Avocets on the sand spit by the old marina, among the pelicans.  Also two Forster's Terns there.  Otherwise, as you said, both there and at the inlet by the Heron Overlook, it was nothing but Pelicans and Killdeer, a Herring Gull, several Ring-billed, and a smattering of Cormorant. 

Dave Cameron

Denver