Osprey @ Walden Ponds

[Kyle Medina]

Was hiking along the farthest west trail (north/south direction) of Ricky Weiser Wetland Ponds. The osprey came out of the tree line on the far side of the pond on the west side of the trail and flew back into the same tree line. If you see the floating deck he back into those trees. I am guessing that is private land/pond? Since all entry points were barred off.

Kyle Medina

Westminster, CO

[Jeff Parks]

Yes, the property to the north and west of Ricky Weiser Wetland is private property.  There are some good birds there at times, though, which you can see from the trail that runs around the perimeter of RW.  There is a Harlans hawk that likes to hang out in those trees to the north, and the reservoir to the west has some good ducks in the winter months.  The goldeneyes and other diving ducks seem to like that pond.  If you do a google search on Walden Ponds Boulder CO, you will find a web page that has lots of information about Walden Ponds, including a trail map.  Sawhill Ponds is just south of Walden Ponds, although managed by the county rather than the city, so there is a different web page for that one.  There is a man-made osprey nest on the SW section of Sawhill, which has a pair on the nest already.  Between the two, there is around 250 acres of property to roam around on, with lots of different habitats for birds. 

Happy birding -

Jeff Parks
Boulder CO

[Kyle Medina]

Thanks Jeff, really appreciate the information.