Long-tailed Duck, Rocky Mtn Lake, Denver county

[Chip Clouse]

COBirders,

I dropped by I-70 & Lowell and confirmed Bob Canter's Long-tailed Duck amongst the white caps this morning around 10 am.  It was hanging with Ruddy Ducks.  It appears to me to be a female that hasn't quite completed the molt into alternate plumage but my experience with this species is also limited so I can't be sure if it is leaving juvenal plumage or just basic plumage.  The wind sure didn't help either as she stayed tucked most of the time. 

As windy as it was, there were also quite a few swallows (200?) on the lake.  Most were Cliff and Barn with at least 2 Northern Rough-winged and more Violet-greens than eBird liked (at least 8.)  No Tree or Bank Swallows that I could discern.  A few usual suspects brought the list to 19 species in 20 minutes.

Happy spring,

Chip Clouse

Olde Town Arvada, CO

[Chris Rurik]

Hi all --

The Long-tailed Duck continues as of 4:00 this afternoon.

Shameless pitch: Bluff Lake's bird walk is this Saturday, 8 - 10 am. Should be good -- I've had a gnatcatcher, hermit thrush, cowbird and several other migrants there in the last week.

Chris Rurik

Denver, CO

[small.j...@gmail.com]

Hi all,

The Long-Tailed Duck female is still there as of sunset today.
I took a grainy picture for those looking to admire her:

http://i.imgur.com/hoOK4SE.jpg

Jen Small
Denver, CO