I did some long lunch-hour birding along the South Platte River in Denver --
between about Mississippi Avenue and about Evans Avenue in south-central
Denver. It is not a particularly bucolic location -- but it's still an oasis
in the city.
I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the previously reported Long-tailed Duck --
but on both days, no luck. Waaggh! If anyone gets new info, please let me
know.
But, this is what I saw as an amalgam of both days (Saturday and Sunday) -- and
I had a great time looking around:
1) Northern Shoveler -- scores
2) Mallard -- scores
3) Canada Goose -- about 50
4) Bufflehead -- about 30 (males, females, juveniles)
5) American Dipper -- one -- hangs out near the Evans or Florida Street
Bridges -- underneath near the paved bike path
6) Belted Kingfisher -- one pair -- mostly between Florida and Mississippi
7) Great Blue Heron -- one -- either along the river or some of the tiny areas
of open water on the ponds in Overland Park
8) Common Goldeneye -- about 12 females in the river -- and males often heard
and seen flying overhead
9) Red-tailed Hawk -- one -- particularly over the nearby golf course
10) Ring-neck Duck -- 8 -- particularly near the Evans Bridge on either side
1/2 mile
11) Rock Pigeon -- scores -- particularly under the bridges
12) Green-winged Teal -- 6 pair -- scattered
13) Killdeer -- 2 -- seem to like the sandbar north of Florida and before the
bike-foot bridge
14) American Wigeon -- 3 pair -- seem to hang closer to the Evans bridge area
15) Gadwall -- 10 pair
16) Hooded Merganser -- one pair usually just north of the Florida bridge
17) Black-billed Magpie -- 2 -- no particular location
I might have been able to see a little more if I had more than a long lunch
hour -- but it's always great to get out for a little while. Winter isn't
over, but I can feel it's hold breaking now!
Ben Kemena
Denver, Colorado
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