Dear Cobirders, Although ice-cover is still low, the number of gulls at Thomas Reservoir is increasing. There were about 500 gulls in total this morning (12/5) with the vast majority being Ring-billed Gulls and California Gulls. At least three Herring Gulls rounded out the mix with continuous turnover between the lake and the nearby landfill. The gulls are mostly one species and are very close to shore making Thomas Reservoir an ideal location to utilize that Key to Western Gulls I posted before Thanksgiving.
Additionally, there is a super-dark female Wigeon at Thomas Reservoir that has very little rufous coloring. The bill is blueish, but has a dark smokey hue that gives it a black appearance from a distance. The area where the bill meets the face has an obvious black line (when seen in a scope) which should rule out female Eurasian Wigeon. On the way back, I spotted a dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk at Erie Reservoir. I would assume this is the same individual that was present here last year. Last year, he would often be found along the east side of 287 anywhere from the Erie Reservoir parking lot northward to a point about half-way to the next traffic light. A Golden Eagle and a large falcon (Peregrine or Prairie) rounded out the mix on 287. Cheers, Walter Szeliga Boulder, CO -- Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ 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
