[cobirds] Jim Baker Reservoir and Surrounding Area, Adams County, April 5

Cobirders,

 

I birded several locations near Jim Baker Reservoir (60^th and Tennyson) Thursday. There are several neighborhood lakes and ponds in the area that are usually productive with courting and/or nesting water birds.

 

Jim Baker was quiet but the island heron rookery in Lake Sangraco, the small lake across Lowell from the reservoir, had Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night Herons on the nest.

 

At Rocky Mountain Lake Park I saw Ruddy Ducks, a female Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Canada Geese, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, Ring-billed Gulls and American Coots.

 

Berkeley Lake was a real surprise. It has been almost completely drained but was an attractive feeding location to about 15 American Avocets, on the east end near Tennyson, and a large group of Northern Shovelers on the west side.

 

Hidden Lake, close to 70^th and Lowell, had six pairs of Common Mergansers.

 

I'll be co-leading a field trip in this area on April 28th. This has become an annual trip and we usually see Clark's and Western Grebes engaging in their water dance courtship ritual. Think about joining us. Details can be found on the Denver Audubon web site: http://www.denveraudubon.org/programs/local-field-trips/

 

Marilyn Rhodes

Evergreen, CO