Harriman Lake Park plus a couple more 12/5

[David Suddjian]

DFO's field trip to the Southwestern Metro Area visited a few lakes and other goosey places. Our highlight was what I think is a Least Flycatcher at Harriman Lake Park (photos and notes in eBird checklist: 

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40932085

I'm sure it is the same bird I saw yesterday very briefly in challenging windy conditions. This morning it was much calmer. We did not see the bird as we were walking out shortly after 9 am, but coming back thru after 10:15 it had warmed from 21 to 33 degrees and the bird was evident. On 12/4 it was right along the path, and today it flew from near the path the boundary fence line just to the south, where there is a row of pines and junipers (immediately west of the fire station). The bird foraged along that fence line and in the neighboring yard and was easy to study. Other highlights at Harriman were a juv. Harris's Sparrow in the area near the water facility structure, with a down-mountain Mountain Chickadee and a Spotted Towhee there, too. The lake had 2 Wood Ducks and 3 Canvasbacks amid the other regulars, and a Bald Eagle.

Robert A. Easton Park had a first of season Greater Scaup. Clement Park had three Snow Geese.

David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Valley

Littleton, CO