Belmar Park & Ken Caryl Valley, Jefferson 4/13

[David Suddjian]

I visited Belmar Park specifcally to look at a hybrid goose that was recently photo'd at the lake there, and in consideration of some recent reports of Greater White-fronted. I did see the hybrid goose, which is apparently a Canada x Graylag (domestic), which bears some semblance to a Greater White-fronted due to some uneven white around the base of the bill and brown coloration. Thanks to Steve M. for helping to clarify the parentage. I did not see any other geese besides Canadas.

Some other birds in the park of interest to me were two alternate-plumage American Avocets (wading near the island), 1 Wilson's Snipe, migrant swallows including 1 Barn and 2 Nor. Rough-winged together with some Trees, my first House Wren of the season, and a male Great-tailed Grackle. 

Back home at Ken Caryl Valley I watched "my" Bushtit pair gathering threads of bark, confirming their intent to nest. A female Cassin's Finch visited the feeder; they have been mostly absent for a month now, but occasionally appear even on nice days. A Chipping Sparrow at the feeding station was my 1st this year. 

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO