There are a couple of things I want to mention. Birders drove all night from Chicago and Wisconsin and saw the Ross's Gull today. Others drove from Lubbock, Texas. As has been posted elsewhere, Cherry Creek State Park/Reservoir is only a 30 minute drive from Denver International Airport, especially if you drive at "gotta see a life bird" speed. The Ross's Gull was seen today, Sunday, at about 8:30 AM by Kara nee Lewantowicz ( I did not catch her married name) of Colorado Springs. It was seen from the west side (Lake Loop) walking along the beach at the base of the dam. In today's bright sunlight the legs show their true orange color, in contrast to the dark appearance the legs had during observations and photos on cloudy days. Glenn Walbek found the bird in flight about 9 and the excitement spread. At about 9:30 it flew to a thin sandbar near the west side of the base of the dam. After posing there for 20+ minutes, it flew all over -- way east, then west near the marina, always on the north part of Cherry Creek Reservoir. If I were going back, I would scan from the Lake Loop or walk east along the base of the dam, from the gravel parking lot closest to the west end of the dam, hoping that it would revisit that sandbar for the closest views and photographs possible. I'm hoping it sticks around even longer. Colorado's first Ross's Gull, found by Inez and Bill Prather stayed for 10 days after being found at Jumbo Reservoir on April 27, 1983. As I recall, Bill Schmoker found the second accepted record in Boulder County, but it was a one day wonder. The birds Latin name, Rhodostethia rosea, means Rosy rose-breasted, sort of redundant or said twice or repetitious or too much. Rhodo from the Greek meaning rosy, stethia meaning chest and rosea meaning rosy. An earlier name for the bird was Ross's Rosy Gull. Ross was a British explorer. If you hear it's call, double-check, because it is supposed to be silent in the winter. Joe Roller, Denver -- 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.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
