Took a slow walk around the southern and western shores of Highland Lake (Weld County Roads 5 and 34 3/4).
About 15 or 16 Killdeer, appeared that several were courting the ladies. I, Chukar (There is a hunt club up the road on WCR 5 that raises both Chukars and Ring Necked Pheasants, so they are rather plentiful around here). 6 pairs - maybe more of what appear to be Western Grebes. Long slender necks with white down the face and front. Black running from the top of the head down the back of the neck. Body is grayish/brownish with more under the water than above. Also a very long, slender neck, and fairly long, slender, yellow bill. 3 pairs of Mallards, and one pair of what at first looked like Mallards but are larger than the others and marked somewhat differently. Couldn't zoom in close enough with my binoculars to get good detail. There is a very large nest at the top of an old cottonwood tree just west of the inlet ditch. I could see a large bird, whether is is a hawk or owl, I couldn't tell, as it was too far away from my vantage point. I'll have to head over to that side of the lake tomorrow and see if I can get a closer look. 2, Great Blue Herons (although there are four currently here right now, I only saw two). My big thrill was: 5, Double-Crested Cormorants. These were perched on semi-sunken logs and a little ways into the trees on the northwest shore of the lake, west of the inlet ditch. While most of the shore line around the lake is easily accessible, this area is difficult to get to as this is where the underground springs come up and it is marshy with lots of trees and thick underbrush, and is bounded on the east side by the inlet ditch to the lake - which is running full right now. I was able to get to within 200 feet of them and see them clearly with the binoculars. One was quite a bit darker than the others, although since it had its back to me and the others were more side views, it is possible that it was only an illusion. Their orange beaks were clearly visible as they were preening. There was a Great Blue Heron just a few feet north of the northernmost of them, so it was easy to compare size as well. Almost as tall as the Great Blue, much heavier in body. They stood still like statues. Highland Lake is a private lake, but is free and open to the public between dawn and dusk. If you want to rent a boat or fish, there is a small charge. I don't recommend you come to see birds here on the weekends starting about now as the fishing season is starting and there is just too much activity. But at least until June, weekdays are usually pretty quiet. Pauli Smith Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
