I'm visiting for a couple of days in Estes Park in Larimer County. This afternoon I decided to go down to Lake Estes to see what was around. As I walked from the parking lot at the Visitor Center at the west end of the Lake at about 2:40 pm, I saw a gull flying from the west toward the Lake. It had very distinct dark wing tips with an interesting pattern of black and white areas in the wings. My mental note was that the black areas formed a "v" shape on each wing with a bright white area behind the black "v". At several points I left the paved walking trail to view the open areas of water, but no gull. Back on the trail I saw the gull again, flying back west toward the power plant water outlet at the head of the lake. I hustled back and left the trail to view the open water below the water outlet. The gull was on the water about 100 feet away from me. I noted the white head and black bill with a blackspot behind the eye and a vertical black line at the back of the head as well as a lot of black in the folded wings. I checked my field guide and quickly realized that I was looking at a first winter Black-legged Kittiwake -- a life bird!!
Being from out of state, I had only one potential contact to tell about the bird and seek confirmation of my i.d. As I was viewing the bird, I called Scott Roederer who I had met on Saturday when I helped out on the Rocky Mountain National Park Christmas Count. Scott was not in Estes when I called on his cell, but he promised to call someone to come to the Lake. Just as he and I were talking, the Kittiwake flew back toward the Lake and out of view. I hustled toward the Lake as the snow storm intensified and looked at the open water from several vantage points, but did not see the bird again. I went back to my car and drove to the south side of the Lake where I encountered Scott Rashid and Judy (didn't get Judy's last name). Scott Roederer had called them, and they had arrived in time to see the Kittiwake and confirm my i.d. I understand Scott also got pictures. We were joined by two other folks in cars, and we drove up and down the south side of the Lake, but no one had seen the Kittiwake again as of the time I drove away. I walked to the power plant outfall one more time to see if the bird was back there (the area can't be seen from the driving area on the south side of the Lake), but the Kittiwake was not there when I left about 4:20. I hope it hangs around so others can see it. Jim Nelson Bethesda, Maryland -- 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.
