[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
Cobirders, Horseshoe Lake in Loveland is still a local hangout for thousands of gulls. Numbers peak at dusk once the landfill closes and the birds are preparing to roost communally. Last night I noticed that the California Gulls and some Franklin's roosted locally just off-shore, whereas the Ring-billed Gull flock heads east, presumably to Boyd Lake for roosting at night. The Ring-billed Gull flock can reach 150 birds, mostly immatures, as the adults have flown north to breeding colonies. The California Gull flock numbered 1500 birds on Tuesday night, but was about half that number last night. These are mostly adults, with many pairs copulating. Only a few (literally) immatures have been present. I suspect these adults will eventually head out to nearby breeding colonies. The Franklin's Gull flocks (all adults) exceeded 500 birds last night. This massive concentration of larids attracts rarities as well. Last week, an adult Thayer's Gull was present. Small numbers of straggling Herring Gulls are sprinkled throughout the throng, with at least 6 present last night. On Tuesday, a first cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull appeared; last night, a second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull joined the roost. On Tuesday, a Whimbrel and a Marbled Godwit were present. Last night, a Forster's Tern and a Caspian Tern joined the show. Distant photos have been archived via eBird (Horseshoe Reservoir is an eBird hotspot). Viewing requires a telescope. The show is accessible from the city utility property at the southwest corner of the lake, along Monroe Ave. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/638012643.13484712.1493303583873.JavaMail.zimbra%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County Gulls (Great Black-backed Gull)
I visited the local gull hotspot this evening (5:45-7 pm) and was not disappointed, as 800 gulls lounged on the mudflats and shallow waters of Horseshoe Lake's southwest corner, located in northeast Loveland, just west of Boyd Lake State Park. Most (95%) of these gulls are staging adult California Gulls which will eventually move out to a nearby nesting colony, either in Jackson or Weld County. Today, there were about 35 (4%) Herring Gulls, many in adult breeding plumage. There were 8 (1%) Lesser Black-backed Gulls, half of which were in adult breeding plumage, and half immature of various ages. Amazingly, there were only 2 Ring-billed Gulls, which apparently have moved out in search of greener pastures, literally. And last, but certainly not least, was a first-cycle Great Black-backed Gull. One had been reported here about a month ago which I had missed, so I was especially happy to see it. A photo of this monster of a gull is below, on the right, with Herring and California Gulls to its left. There was no sign of the first spring Mew Gull or the adult Franklin's Gull which have been tripping the eBird rarity filter all month. You can view these birds through a telescope from a city utility easement just north of the inlet canal. I parked on a side street to the west, across Monroe St. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2D3E1E92-D207-4A84-9A7F-9D0F385F95F7%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2D3E1E92-D207-4A84-9A7F-9D0F385F95F7%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls (ICELAND Gull)
A tour of Loveland and vicinity today found gull concentrations at the county landfill and Horseshoe Lake. Both sites had hundreds of California and Ring-billed Gulls and a dozen or so Herring Gull. The landfill also had 4 Franklin's Gull and a 3rd-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull (in the morning). In the afternoon, Horseshoe Lake also had an adult Thayer's Gull and an adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull. I posted a photo of the Kumlien's on the Loveland Birding Facebook page, and a brief video on the CFO Facebook group page. These gulls were in the southwest lobe of the lake, with poor afternoon viewing conditions. Morning light should be much better. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1C57468E-12B2-4A85-BCDC-5F05AFFB2A14%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
Here are some random observations of gulls from this past 3-day weekend: Saturday afternoon- Horsetooth Res: 600+ Ring-billed Gulls, 1 juv LBBG circling over south end. Saturday evening- Horsetooth Res: 100 gulls arriving to roost near center. Sunday midday- College Lake (restricted access): 1 LBBG subadult Sunday evening-dozens of gulls departing Lake Loveland headed west. Monday morning- College Lake: subadult LBBG continues Monday afternoon- Landfill: 50 Ring-billed Gulls. Horseshoe Lake: 265 RB Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 adult LBBGs. Lake Loveland: 265 RB Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 1 juv Thayer's Gull. Most lakes still >90% frozen. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/948BE15B-EB60-4BB5-B2F8-FB0B3723FB7C%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls this past weekend
About a thousand gulls were reported on Larimer County Christmas Bird Counts on Jan 1. On Saturday, Jan 2, I visited the Larimer landfill for gull viewing (check in at front gate for permission and parking instructions). Highlights included an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, juvenile Glaucous Gull and a small juvenile/first winter California Gull, plus some Herring Gulls and about a hundred Ring-billed Gulls. Most interesting was a putative 4th cycle Cook Inlet Gull (Glaucous-winged x American Herring), which in the field appeared as a Herring when sitting, and a Thayer's in flight. Photos told a different tale. On Sunday afternoon, 3 January 2016, I watched gulls assemble for the nocturnal roost at Carter Lake's ice-free north end (fee area). Several hundred Ring-billed Gulls were accompanied by a dozen American Herring Gulls (mostly adults and a couple first-cycles), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (a large first-cycle, a 3rd-cycle, 2 adults), 2 Glaucous (the juvenile and a magnificent adult), 1 juvenile Thayer's and the small 1st-cycle California. Birds were arriving from the south and the north. Telescope required at both sites (more so at Carter Lake). Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/677328113.11567512.1451927901011.JavaMail.zimbra%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
I spent an hour at the Larimer landfill yesterday afternoon, February 28, after receiving permission at the entrance kiosk. Cropping photos for online posting now. Gull tally was : Ring-billed Gull - 1000 Herring Gull - 20 California Gull - 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 8 Thayer's Gull - 4 The landfill is closed on Sunday's. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO Sent from my iPhone -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/B7815FA1-BB22-4B6F-BF74-A79E7993D625%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
Horseshoe Lake in northeast Loveland is currently a gull hotspot. Late Saturday afternoon, the muddy southeast lobe of the lake hosted: California Gull – 600 adults, many in pairs, some copulating Franklin’s Gull - 80+ pink-breasted adults Ring-billed Gull – 15 or 20, various ages Herring Gull – 6 immatures, all brown first-cycles except for one gray-mantled second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull – 4 (2 adults, 1 blackish-mantled second-cycle, 1 brown first-cycle). Viewing is a challenge as birds are distant, and not easily viewed from a single viewing spot. The east end of Engelman Place off of Monroe is the best spot. Digiscoped photos of some of these can be viewed online at http://www.pbase.com/quetzal/gulls04122014. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/48EF225FC11945B7AFCB9ABB16D237AD%40ideaPC. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
On Friday, Lake Loveland's afternoon gull flock was large (300 birds, 90% Ring-billed) and had a variety of species, but the reported adult Glaucous and possible immature Great Black-backed from Thursday were no-shows. Singleton adult Lesser Black-backed and California were the only darker species. Two adult and one juvenile Thayer's were good study subjects alongside Herring Gulls of similar ages. One big brown gull was a mystery as it didn't fit the textbook description of any one species. If you want to read my description, it is embedded in my ebird report (link is below) under gull sp. If I see it again this weekend, I will try to get photos. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16031064 The gulls were loafing on the ice in the northwest corner of the lake between the swim beach and the west shore. Telescope needed for decent viewing. The gulls hang out here when they are not sleeping overnight at Carter Lake, scrounging for food at the county landfill, or bathing at Horsetooth Reservoir. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/551833313.895463.1387612208552.JavaMail.root%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls - possible adult Vega Gull
I visited the Larimer County landfill this afternoon expecting to find the mother load of gulls, but was disappointed. There was a decent flock of 500 or so, with a couple of adult Lesser Black-backed and good numbers of Herring and California accompanying the throng of Ring-billed Gulls. I ended the day at Horseshoe Lake in Loveland, which continues to be excellent for gulls. There were 3 Lesser Black-backed (2 adults and a first-cycle) and plenty of Herring, California and Ring-billed, plus a pod of 35 Bonaparte's Gulls. Of note was a dark-mantled adult Herring Gull that fit the description for Vega Gull (Larus argentatus vegae). This bird would be a vagrant in Colorado although single adults that resemble this species have been showing up annually. It breeds mainly in Siberia. The Europeans consider it a full species separate from Herring Gull. There is a page dedicated to it in the Sibley Guide on p. 217. The Horseshoe Lake bird was a dead ringer for the Adult Nonbreeding plumage depicted in the Sibley Guide. Hopefully it will stick around and pose for documentation photos. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1442213683.963110.1385607397519.JavaMail.root%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls and swans
Horsetooth Reservoir's south end hosted 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a juv. Glaucous Gull was at Horseshoe Lake's northeast corner late Friday afternoon. I also heard from Cole Wild that two Tundra Swans were at Houtt's Reservoir, where the Brant continues as well. Nick Komar Fort Collins 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/590667622.2091644.1385194370853.JavaMail.root%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Larimer County gulls
Cobirders, I checked out a bunch of lakes in the Loveland area this afternoon (Saturday, March 30). Upper Hoffman Lake and Cattail Pond were both notably chock full of waterfowl with good variety, but nothing rare. The Trumpeter Swan apparently has moved on. The best gull action was at Horseshoe Lake’s west side, best viewed from the end of Engelman Place, off Monroe St. Lots of pink-breasted Franklin’s Gulls, and 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were among hundreds of California Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls, with a smattering of American Herring Gulls. Gulls were fairly close for viewing, but a telescope is needed for quality views. I have posted photos in my Recent Sightings gallery at www.pbase.com/quetzal. Nick Komar Fort Collins, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
