Chatfield region (Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe) 2/16

[David Suddjian]

Open water is increasing in the Chatfield region. 

Trailmark Lake (JeffCo) had a moderate cross section of ducks, including 3 Canvasback as the most uncommon.

The Douglas County portion of Chatfield Res has about 60% open water and 40% ice. Common Merganser is the reigning duck there, with nearly 800 today. Also 3 Red-breasted Mergs and 5 Hooded Mergs. Three flying Canvasback were maybe the same that were earlier at Trailmark. Also 3 Greater Scaup. About 450 gulls in the morning were nearly all Ring-billed, but I also noted 1 Lesser Black-backed, 1 Thayer's (JeffCo), and 4 Herring. Late in the afternoon the gull numbers had grown to over 500 (with many arriving after I left, see below), and they included a 1st cycle Glaucous Gull near the tower in JeffCo. Also a male Nor. Pintail and female Redhead in the Jeffco portion were not evident in the morning.

A visit to South Platte Reservoir shortly before sunset confirmed the continued presence of the 3 Long-tailed Ducks (far off in the NW corner of the Arapahoe portion), and 1 Ruddy Duck. There were no gulls at the reservoir itself, but many were flying in from the north and northeast and heading to Chatfield. During 25 minutes of watching, these included about 950 Ring-billeds, 13 Herring, 2 Lesser Black-backed, and a number left unidentified.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO