South Platte Reservoir Feb 9

[David Suddjian]

I visited South Platte Reservoir near sunset today. The area of open water has grown, but is all still in Arapahoe Co. The icy Jefferson portion featured a Bald Eagle having something for dinner. In Arapahoe Co, the three Long-tailed Ducks remain, all on the far northern side during my visit. A flock of 24 Greater Scaup flew in from the direction of the South Platte. A goodly number of gulls were present when I arrived, with a steady arrival of others from the east, some seemingly from nearby McClellen Res. Then just as the sun was dipping behind the Front Range horizon the gulls began to leave and within 10 minutes they were all gone. Most went off in the direction of McClellen, but some south toward Chatfield, which has some open water in the Douglas portion. Anyway, among the Ring-billed and Herring, I spotted 3 Lesser Black-backed (2 first cycle, 1 third cycle) and 2 1st cycle Thayer's.

Old news, ho hum.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO