Stearns Lake, migratory shorebirds

[John Tumasonis]

All:

        With a brief respite in the weather this morning, I went out to Stearns Lake, Boulder County Open Space.  

The water has been drawn down quite a bit, exposing good sections of mud flats and shoreline good for birds.  

At least a dozen Baird's Sandpipers, several Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeers, and other species were foraging in the mud flats.   Unfortunately, I did not have a scope so I could not ID the dozens of other shorebirds on the northwest shoreline.   Many groups of "peeps" were moving in and out of the area between 8 and 9 a.m. on Sunday.  Somebody with a good scope will be able to get a better look than I did. (assuming these flocks are still there).  

Other species seen:  bald eagles, cooper's hawk, turkey vulture, red tailed hawks, snowy egrets, double crested cormorants, a flock of chipping sparrows (early migrants), a few says phoebes, a sora, and one common yellowthroat still singing.  

Good luck, 

John T (Tumasonis)

"I'm not a real birder.  I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."