Yesterday I visited most of the ponds and reservoirs in Park County that might be worth a look, with noted exceptions of Buffalo Creek Reservoir and the remnant of Antero (still closed to access).
Spinney Mountain Reservoir had 4 *Surf Scoters* (2 adult males together and 2 females together), all sleeping, and all off the southwest end of the dam. Two *Common Loons* were in the same region of the reservoir. *Bufflehead* numbers are increasing, with about 1,280 present...minus one, since an adult *Peregrine Falcon *(late for Park) nabbed one out of the air at the end of an amazing dive. Also 2 late *Baird's Sandpipers*, 1 lingering *Am. White Pelican*, 1 female *Red-breasted Merganser*, and about 6,700 *Am. Coots*. Eleven Mile Reservoir had 6 *Common Loons* in the southern third of the lake, but nothing else of special note. There were about 900 *Bufflehjead *here, plus about 4,250 *Am. Coots, *1 *Horned Grebe* and and 23 *Eared Grebes*. Most of the other bodies of water had hardly any waterbirds, but for a smattering of *Sandhill Cranes* here and there. However, the pond along CR 34 had a flock of 11* Wood Ducks* resting on the shore, which were seasonally, numerically and geographically out of the ordinary for Park County. And a pair of *Hoodeed Mergansers* at Lake George were uncommon for Park County. The most unexpected landbird was a late *Gray Catbird* at a small willow corridor along CR 98 south of Eleven Mile Reservoir. This road also had moderate numbers of Type 2 *Red Crossbills*, and 4 *Evening Grosbeaks*. Some stops near Fairplay had *Rough-legged Hawk*, *Pine Grosbeak*, *Gray Jay*, and Type 5 *Red Crossbills*. Another *Rough-legged Hawk* was near Jefferson. An *American Dipper *along Tarryall Creek near the Ute Trail head (downstream of Tarryall Reservoir) was the first I'd seen along that stream. An *American Three-toed Woodpecker* was at the eastern campground at Kenosha Pass. I was surprised by the paucity of *Horned Larks*. Long stretches of roads that should have had 100s had none, and I only found them in small numbers in a few spots. *Mountain Bluebirds* have nearly vacated the area (total of just three noted), leaving many roadsides feeling lonely as I drove along David Suddjian Littleton, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6Ror_FPx5E8Gdr0wdTSBuUgADMGrJSCvm%3DO126fY8rs_KUA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
