McIntosh Reservoir -- Dec 1 (Boulder County)

[Bryan Guarente]

CoBirders,

I went to McIntosh Reservoir this morning (http://coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name=Boulder#356) looking for the reported goodies (Long-tailed Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, and Lesser Black-backed Gull).  Found only one of the three.  There is a huge flock of Common Goldeneye in the middle of the lake that is being followed by most of the gulls.  Keep your eyes peeled for the three female Barrow's out there by looking for the females with all yellow beaks.  Full list follows.

Dec 1, 2013
McIntosh Reservoir
Traveling
0.8 miles
63 Minutes

114 Canada Goose
2 Gadwall
17 Mallard
11 Bufflehead
320 Common Goldeneye -- Counted halfway through the flock before encountering the Barrow's. Estimated from there.
3 Barrow's Goldeneye -- Females. Yellow beak (1 with black dot around nostril). Head shape different than Common.
18 Common Merganser
2 Eared Grebe
1 Bald Eagle
1 Merlin
5 Bonaparte's Gull -- Small gulls. Pink legs. Black beak. Black auricular patch. Checked for Little and Black-headed without luck.
360 Ring-billed Gull
3 California Gull
12 Herring Gull
5 Eurasian Collared-Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
9 Blue Jay
4 American Robin
4 European Starling
2 Dark-eyed Junco
30 Red-winged Blackbird
3 House Finch
2 American Goldfinch
4 House Sparrow

Bryan Guarente