Chatfield Res. Franklin's Gull & Eastern Bluebirds

[Bill Schmoker]

Folks- My dad Jim & I spent several very pleasant hours at Chatfield Res (Douglas/ Jefferson) today.  The Marina Spit hosted plenty of lingering American White Pelicans and a decent variety of gulls with a tardy Franklin's joining Ring-billed, California, Herring, and 3 Bonaparte's.  It took a while but we eventually tracked down a continuing Red-necked Grebe looking out from the Swim Beach.  On our way into the Swim Beach area I saw a bird flash a lot of blue as it flew away to the right- we parked in the adjacent Jamison Picnic Area and immediately heard the distinctive call notes of an Eastern Bluebird as we stepped out of the vehicle.  6 or more Eastern Bluebirds were foraging in leaf litter and flying up to cottonwood branches as they worked their way through the area, a pretty nice surprise for an otherwise very slow day for land birds.

Enjoy- Bill Schmoker, Longmont

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Bill Schmoker             
bill.s...@gmail.com 
http://schmoker.org
*http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/us-arctic-geotraces 
<http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/us-arctic-geotraces>*
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