Boulder County gulls, geese, doves, and shorebirds, Jan. 1

[Ted Floyd]

Hello, Birders.

There were lots of gulls this morning, Thurs., Jan. 1, 2015, at Waneka Lake, Boulder County. With Randy Siebert, I saw at least 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 1 second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull; so at least 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls there, the most I've ever seen at the site. Also present was a large, dark-backed gull that some folks are calling a Great Black-backed Gull x Herring Gull hybrid. Non-gulls included a quite vocal adult Greater White-fronted Goose, a Killdeer, and an African Collared-Dove in the great throng of Eurasian Collared-Doves.

In the late afternoon, Hannah Floyd and I gulled at Valmont. The gulls were plentiful but quite distant. Still, we were able to make out at least 5 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and at least 1 first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, so at least 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in total. The merganser flock is immense, with all 3 species present. In the raptor department, we saw 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Ferruginous Hawk, and 4 Bald Eagles.

Gazillions of geese at both sites, mainly parvipes Canada Geese ("Lesser" Canada Geese), but also some hutchinsii Cackling Geese ("Richardson's" Cackling Geese). One of the Waneka Lake Cackling Geese appeared to be of the taverneri subspecies ("Taverner's Goose").

Photos of many of these birds are here:

http://tinyurl.com/BoCo-2015-01-01

Would love to get some feedback on the mystery gull at Waneka Lake.

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado