Jackson Lake SP, Tufted Duck update (no)

[Scott Somershoe]

All,
I’m sure many of you are saying “wait, what?” to that subject line. The report from Norm Lewis yesterday got a little lost in the hubbub of the bluetail and the mythical Gyrfalcon (big gyr dipper here!).

Anyway, Norm nicely photo’d one of the Long-tailed Ducks at Jackson Lake SP, Morgan Co. on Sunday and inadvertently photo’d a TUFTED DUCK! I was reviewing flagged reports in eBird and spotted the Tufted Duck next to a Long-tailed Duck! I’m thrilled Norm added a lot of photos of the Long-tailed!! Well done sir! Bittersweet though. There are 4 previous accepted records of Tufted Duck in CO.

Anyway, I spent several hours today scanning the lake after the frozen fog lifted about 945. I gave myself a headache scoping the lake and looking at every scaup and finding various species here and there. There were a lot of Lesser Scaup, a couple Greaters, and a lot of other birds around the western and southern half of the lake. I never found the Tufted in spite of ideal viewing conditions. It was clear, sunny and calm. Beautiful day and a well spent day regardless (of the Gyr showing well!!).

I did relocate one Long-tailed duck and every time I saw it (on maybe on 1/5 of my scans as it was diving a lot), I was waiting for the Tufted to appear. Alas that never happened.

Another joy was watching a Merlin give a flock of starlings fits. So fun to watch Merlin’s hunt (or play/tease with potential prey). A Barn Owl was in the Russian Olives, but I didn’t find any Long-eared owls. A gray catbird was calling and carrying on as well this morning.

I hope someone can relocate this Tufted! Please report here on CO-Birds about success or otherwise.

Cheers,
Scott Somershoe
Littleton CO

Sent from my iPhone