Blue Morph Ross’s Goose Denver

[Steven Rash]

My girlfriend spotted what she thought looked like a Ross’s Goose at Vanderbilt Lake in Denver. I was able to stop by on my way home from work to find that it was indeed a BLUE MORPH version of Ross’s which is kinda cool. Can be seen well, mixed in with a large gaggle of cacklers on this little lake that has good birds from time to time.

Have to say this is my first Ross’s here.

Happy birding,

Steve Rash
Denver, Co.

[Joe Roller]

Way to go, Steven!

(Gentle readers, consider filing this note in your "there he goes again" section).

Vanderbilt Lake is an under-birded hotspot in the underbelly of Denver County.

IF you have never seen a Blue Morph Ross's Goose, I'd urge you to look for one there. You might have to walk

all of 20 feet from your parking spot to see the pond.

As most of you know, Blue Morph Ross's Goose is not common in Colorado.

I first learned that factoid from a mentor, Joe Himmel, who in his time looked at a lot of geese in the Greeley area over many years,

never seeing one... until he did! 

Joe was excited when he found his first Blue Morph Ross's in the early 90's.

(Might have been on Carbody Lake? Cant even find that on a map of North Greeley today).

I consider myself lucky to have seen a Blue Ross's here and there, each time fondly remembering Joe. The most memorable sighting was of 

a half dozen in a pure flock of 200+ Ross's (NO Snow Geese among them) at THE playa at Phillips CR s 2 & 29 aka Lake Linfield, aka, Peterson's Playa 

on the Phillips-Yuma County border.

Reminiscing is great, just have to indulge in it some days. Joe Himmel was the first recipient of CFO's coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

In fact Tony Leukering conceived of the award in 2007 when it seemed to be a great way to honor Joe, the first recipient.

Joe Roller, Denver

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[Ira Sanders]

Birders

The Barr Lake SP birders also had a blue morph Ross's this morning along w/ 3 Sandhill Cranes standing on the sand and 5 WF Geese near the banding station. We had 5 species of goose.

The DFO trip leaders training group had a Common Loon and 2 LB Dowitchers. There is also a rufous morph RT Hawk hanging around Barr Lake.

Ira Sanders

Golden

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