Barr Lake Christmas Bird Count, adams and Weld Counties

[Charles Hundertmark]

33 volunteers fanned out from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Environment Education Center Sunday for the Barr Lake Christmas Bird Count Sunday. Most standing water was frozen reducing numbers of waterfowl. Despite overall low waterfowl numbers, one Greater White-fronted Goose was found in a flock of grazing white-cheeked geese. Also found were four flying Snow Geese.Though ducks were few, they included 6 Hooded Mergansers on the South Platte.

Firsts for the count were a Lesser Black-backed Gull and Peregrine Falcon. Say’s Phoebes (2 or 3) also put in an appearance for a second year and a White-throated Sparrow appeared for only the fourth time on the count. Great-tailed Grackles at 3519 broke the previous high by more than 6 times. Notably absent were Rough-legged Hawks.

Other highlights:
Merlin 6
Virginia Rail 1
Northern Shrike 4
Marsh Wren 2
Lapland Longspur 1
Brewer’s Blackbird 300
Great-tailed Grackle 3519

Thanks to Bird Conservancy of the Rockies for hosting the count and to all of the volunteers.

Chuck Hundertmark
Compiler
Lafayette, CO
303-604-0531