Jaegers Chatfield SP

[MARK CHAVEZ]

Today, I went to Chatfield to hopefully see the jaegers found by Myron Gerhard on Sunday afternoon.  We were able to identify 2 Long-tailed (one light and 1 intermediate juvenile) and 1 Parasitic Jaeger(dark juvenile) on the same body of water on the same day.  Are you kidding me!!!!  A great thanks to Myron getting the word out on this great find!  Photos of the birds can be seen below:

https://jaeger29.smugmug.com/BIRDS/RARE-AND-UNCOMMON-2018/

Mark Chavez
Lakewood-Green Mtn
http://jaeger29.smugmug.com/

[mvjo...@gmail.com]

Great shots of the Jaegers. Those are nicely detailed and will help with our determination of the road killed Jaeger we found last week in the San Luis valley.

[Gregg Goodrich]

Mark

Thanks for all the excellent photos. Good job!! I see the dark cinnamon on the undertail of your dark Parasitic juvenile photo. So nice!

Gregg

[Kevin DeBoer]

I observed all 3 birds this afternoon from 1:45-2:15 from the north boat launch. Originally, the birds appeared to be up against the dam adjacent from the Marina Sand Spit but as boaters moved around the lake they moved further toward the north where identifiable marks could be seen with binoculars from the point at the boat launch. 

Although identifiable marks could be seen that allowed me to compare the larger, dark-morphed bird to the photos obtained by Mark, I'd love if someone could help point out what features of the bird that can be seen from a distance, or even in the photos, point toward Parasitic and not Pomarine. I've had some experience with both, but the behavior I observed today reminded me more of what I've seen from Pomarine. I'm sure someone with more experience has a reason for the ID of Parasitic - can you please share with the group? Is it the dark cinnamon undertail noted by Gregg?

Thanks,

Kevin DeBoer

Lakewood, CO

[Santi Tabares Erices]

Refound all 3 jaegers today at 7:00 pm. Watched them for about 15 minutes from the North Boat Launch area. When first found, two were in water together with the third somewhat nearby and were later seen all flying together for quite some time. 

Santiago Tabares

Littleton, CO