Jaeger, Thayer's Gull, Late Burrowing Owl at Chatfield SP, 10-21, Douglas County

[Mel Goff]

Hi, Cobirders.

 

Eight of us carpooled up from Colorado Springs today to see what was what at Chatfield State Park.

 

Our first surprise was a very late Burrowing Owl in the prairie dog town just outside the south park entrance. We got to the marina at about 8:45am and began scanning the lake. Our major finds from the marina fishing point were the POMARINE JAEGER and a THAYER’S GULL. We also had a distant SABINE’S GULL. By 10:00am we had moved to the Herony Overlook. There we found two HORNED GREBES and ten EARED GREBES. Across the lake we also saw two elk wading in the willows, just past a group of about 100 Redheads. We went to the swim beach at about 10:30am and had great views of the POMARINE JAEGER and a BONAPARTE’S GULL. Before leaving the park we returned to the marina and saw a small group of three CHIPPING SPARROWS.

 

We had a total of five grebe species, but not the Red-necked Grebe.

 

All in all, a fine day to be at Chatfield State Park. One final note, we saw Joe Roller entering the south entrance but did not realize it in time to wave, so “Hi, Joe!”

 

Mel Goff

Colorado Springs