Mystery mother Goldeneye and ducklings at Echo Lake Clear Creek County

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W. Robert Shade III

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Jul 16, 2013, 10:41:05 PM7/16/13

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On a DFO trip today to the Mount Evans area, eight of us saw and studied at very close range a female Goldeneye and five cute little ducklings. The bill was entirely dull orange (not yellow). The forehead slope was that of the Common Goldeneye, not the more nearly perpendicular slope of the Barrow's. I think Barrow's bred on Echo Lake last year. So is this female goldeneye a hybrid COGO X BAGO? See photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrshade3/ Please give me your expert opinions.

Other highlights: 8 Red Crossbills at a meadow clearing on Squaw Pass Road seen at very close range on the ground. 4 Brown-capped Rosy Finches at Summit Lake within ten minutes. Strategy: Walk to the far west end of the lake to where the Mount Evans trail starts to ascend. Set your timer on one hour and just wait. This has worked three years in a row in July. Two small Mountain Goat kids delighted us all.

We saw no Rufous Hummers at Echo Lake Lodge but after supper at home in Lakewood we had a Colorado hummingbird slam, including Rufous and Calliope for the first time!