RFI - Black tern and yellow-billed cuckoo

modise

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Aug 17, 2020, 2:54:39 PM8/17/20

to Colorado Birds

All,

My wife and I were planning a mountain day Wednesday but, with all the wildfires, we decided to venture northeast from Denver along the I-76 corridor. Two birds we are missing from our life list are black tern and yellow-billed cuckoo.

If anyone has recommendations for good spots along the way for these birds, I'd love to hear them!

We have the Holt book "A Birder's Guide to Colorado" and are thinking to start at Dodd Bridge SWA and work our way back towards Denver.

Thank you in advance!

Bryan Arnold

Littleton, Jefferson County

Bil Ford

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Aug 17, 2020, 4:29:15 PM8/17/20

to Colorado Birds

I saw Black Terns (starting to molt) 2 weeks ago at Prewitt Res. You might try more recent posts from there to see if they're still around. Water level was way down and mud flats expansive for lots of shorebirds.
Bil Ford, Lakewood.

Dan Stringer

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Aug 17, 2020, 4:56:41 PM8/17/20

to Colorado Birds

Bryan,

To Bill Ford's comments, I saw Black Terns at Prewitt Res last Tues the 11th,

Prewitt Res inlet canal (dirt road S of the reservoir with numerous turn-ins toward the canal) is where I most often see Yellow-billed Cuckoos, in the more open fields with russian olives and other deciduous bushes / smaller trees. I didn't see them last Tues but it was a hot mid-day. I'm not sure if they're vocalizing now, early might be best.