South Platte and McClellen Rezzes, plus continuing Trumpeter Swan, etc 1/10

[David Suddjian]

I made it out to South Platte Reservoir at sunrise. It was a pretty place to start the day (see photo below). Ice had reformed over 50% of the Arapahoe Co. portion, where there was none yesterday afternoon. A small gull flock had 1 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, along with 1 California Gull, some Herrings and Ring-billeds. One female Greater Scaup was the only highlight among a small number of ducks. A Prairie Falcon zoomed past.

Next I went to McClellen Reservoir (Arapahoe), which I seldom visit, but I am vowing to do so more often. A scope is needed for this location. I pulled off on the wide shoulder along County Line road west of Lucent Blvd. The reservoir had a large area of open water near the dam, where there was a moderate variety of ducks. There was a large gull flock, but with no unusual species. There were almost 4000 white-cheeked geese (majority Cackling), many of which were flying out toward the east and southeast by 8 am, among which I spotted 2 Greater White-fronted and 1 Snow. 

I, too, followed Joe's footsteps along Highline Canal and viewed the continuing Trumpeter Swan in the pond south of Chatfield Reservoir. The pond was about 90% iced over. A Bald Eagle on the ice near the Kingfisher Parking Lot in Chatfield was lovely in the morning light. 

Back home, a young Northern Harrier was hunting in the open space along Massey Draw below my home, for my first sighting there outside of a few fall migrants that I has seen passing over.

A 3 pm DFO field trip (dfobirds.org) met at South Platte Reservoir. The morning's ice in the Arapahoe County portion had melted off, but the main shelf from the JeffCo corner extended a short way into Arapahoe Co. and a gull flock immediately east of the county line had 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (adult and 3rd cycle). We went over to McClellen for sunset and did not find anything out of the ordinary, but there was again a decent-sized gull flock when we arrived near 4:10 pm, and it was pretty to watch the geese returning after 4:30 pm.

Sunrise at South Platte Reservoir

post sunset at McClellen Reservoir

DFO birders at So. Platte Reservoir
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David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Valley

Littleton, CO