South Platte Park area and Chatfield SP 12/10

[David Suddjian]

At South Platte Reservoir this morning an adult PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on a pole at the southwest corner of the road that skirts the reservoir, and a PRAIRIE FALCON was perched where the road first comes alongside the reservoir. 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on the reservoir, which had a moderate assortment of other waterfowl, including 12 REDHEADS. A BALD EAGLE flew over heading north. Seven BALD EAGLES were perched in trees around Eaglewatch Lake, a MERLIN flew over to the southeast, and a nice adult HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK was along the river.

Along the entry road to Chatfield SP there was a SAY'S PHOEBE and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and a male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD flew over the area. A PRAIRIE FALCON flew over, perhaps the same as seen earlier at South Platte Res., but maybe not. A juv. NORTHERN SHRIKE was near the North Boat Launch, 7 BALD EAGLES were standing on the ice at various parts of the frozen reservoir. No gulls were near the boat launch.

The Model Airplane area had a juv. PEREGRINE FALCON, and juv. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, both heading south. The only gull around the marina area was a lone BONAPARTE'S GULL that came in for a look see and moved on. A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the small area of open water with many other birds, and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flew in with a group of Cacklers. 

A MERLIN flew over West Coal Mine between Kipling and Wadsworth.

David Suddjian

Littleton