The Long-tailed Duck first reported by Aran Meyer from Fort Collins' North
Shields Pond Natural Area (Larimer) on 1/18 is still present as of today,
25January. I found it today about a half mile north of where the path going
west from the NSPNA parking lot meets the river. The duck was by itself in a
pool of water below a dam north of the Sterling Natural Area, which is just
north of NSPNA (our City Natural Areas people are fond of names and signs).
From the NSPNA parking lot, walk west to the river (dam/spillway here) and then
north on the dirt path out of NSP NA into Sterling NA (a painless, unnatural
transition) and keep going north to a green bridge which crosses the river
("Notice - No Trespassing" sign on the west side of this bridge). Look north
from the middle of the bridge to a distant dam marked by considerable orange
tarping. The bird was in the river pool just south of the orange-tarped dam.
The bridge is public, the riverbank next to where the duck was sitting is not.
The long-tail was NOT with the Common Goldeneyes, as it consistently was during
the early days of its discovery. If you find goldeneyes, go thru the flock but
if the long-tail is not present, it still may be around somewhere feeding solo.
I should also note that the bird, without apparent cause, took off and flew
northwest along the river. I suppose it could hang out on the Poudre River
anywhere from North Shields Pond to the town of LaPorte.
Also present along the river were 1 American Dipper (at the spillway due west
of the parking lot), 11 Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, and a flock of 9 Cedar
Waxwings.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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