Tag: Front Range Birding Company

Saturday, September 13, 2025 Bird Walk to Twin Lakes Open Space with Jamie Simo and Dave Kwasnick

Posted on September 16, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

Our bird walk this past Saturday morning to Twin Lakes Open Space in Gunbarrel was predictably quiet. Now that the hustle and bustle of breeding season is over, birds are more subdued and secretive, much more concerned with building up their fat reserves for migration or to make it through the Colorado winter than advertising for a mate or to protect territory.

One stark reminder of this was watching two Northern Flickers, both male, eating berries from the same Virginia creeper vine. Flickers are usually protective of food and territory, but these two were eating companionably next to each other. Flickers are primarily insectivores, but as the weather cools and berries become more available than insects, they will eat more fruit and seeds.

Red-breasted Nuthatch. Photo by Jamie Simo

We were also able to watch Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches visit some spruces heavy with cones. It appeared they may have been caching the seeds because they would fly to the trees, grab a seed then fly off and come back a few minutes later. An article in Science News last year suggests that Black-capped Chickadees store memories of each food cache in a unique location in their brain. When the chickadee wants to retrieve a store of food, the neurons associated with that particular cache are activated, kind of like accessing a file folder.

Warblers are on the move right now, and we caught several glimpses of Wilson’s Warblers flitting through the trees. Warblers never stay still, so we brought along Swarovski’s newest AI binocular, the AX Visio, which allowed us to stream what I was seeing through the binocular to a tablet connected via Bluetooth using its “live view” setting. That capability makes the AX Visio ideal for leading bird walks or nature outings, especially when it’s difficult to get participants on a bird. It also has the ability to identify species using AI technology.

In all, we had 21 species of bird. It’s always interesting to watch how animals react to the change in the seasons and it’s fun to anticipate who you might see or not see in another month. We hope you’ll be one of those we see on our next bird walk!

Twin Lakes (Boulder County)
21 species

Mallard 8
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Barn Swallow 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 4
Cedar Waxwing 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 1
Spotted Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Brewer’s Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 4
Wilson’s Warbler 5

August 1-3, 2025 North Park Weekend with Reefs to Rockies and Front Range Birding & Optics

Posted on August 12, 2025 by frbcadmin - Reefs to Rockies

Summer in the high country of Colorado means cool and crisp mornings, warm and sunny afternoons, and baby birds galore. Oh, and moose. Our early August Reefs to Rockies trip to North Park provided all those things and a whole lot more.

The three-day adventure began just west of Denver on a Friday morning, when guide Carly Crow and a group of intrepid travelers climbed into a custom safari van dubbed the Roaming Bison and headed straight to the mountains. A stop at the majestic Berthoud Pass gave a first taste of Rocky Mountain birding, with gems like broad-tailed hummingbirds, pine siskin, mountain-chickadee, and mountain bluebirds dutifully tending to their nest.

After soaking in the Rockies, the group headed down to Rand, CO where they enjoyed seeing the first of many sagebrush vistas and the scars of an ancient glacier that once covered North Park. There were many new birds also to be found including four species of swallow (barn, violet-green, cliff, and tree) and our first American kestrel.

The group made their way up to Walden We raised the pop-top of the van and spent the next few hours soaking in the landscape in true safari style. The group was greeted by many sparrows, rafts of waterfowl, family groups of Swainson’s hawks, and a cow moose at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Other mammalian highlights included the range-limited white-tailed prairie dog, Wyoming ground squirrel, and American pronghorn.

During our time at Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge we used multiple citizen science apps – eBird, Merlin, iNat, and Seek – as part of a volunteer project focused on environmental education through wildlife observation.

Evening brought nighthawks, a surprise Williamson sapsucker, and dinner. The next morning, we returned to exploring and enjoying the Walden area. North Park supports diverse wildlife habitats, including sagebrush steppe uplands, grassland meadows, willow riparian areas, and wetlands. In other words, there was a lot to see (and eBird and iNat). A bull moose delighted us when we spotted him lurking in the willow. A silk moth caterpillar was spotted from the van – the biggest caterpillar anyone in the group had ever seen. More baby birds than could be counted with the time the group had. Arguably the most impressive was a golden eagle sitting on a post right next to the road.

On the final evening the group opted for one more drive in the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge to soak in the sunset and gorgeous rain clouds drifting in. In the light of dusk, a long-tailed weasel came out to hunt in the white-tailed prairie dog colony. It searched burrow after burrow for over 10 minutes – and even brought its prey above ground before retreating from the gaze of the sentries. Unbothered by the van, the weasel checked out the road for any prey it could find before slipping back into the sagebrush. It was truly a spectacle that left the group speechless.

The final morning was spent enjoying Walden Reservoir which proved just as fruitful with loads of eared and western grebes, rafts of ducks of several species, two species of phalaropes, avocets, coots, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, herons, and ibises. The sheer numbers of water birds on and around this reservoir at this time of year is mesmerizing. Forster’s terns still in breeding plumage treated us with amazing hunting views. Our route back to Denver took us to Cameron Pass and down through Poudre Canyon, and we picked up a few more montane species including a rufous hummingbird and orange-crowned warbler.

Pleasant weather, great company, and lots of birds and other wildlife made this a memorable tour through north-central Colorado. We cannot wait to do it again in August 2026!

Saturday, July 12, 2025 Bird Walk to Lichen Loop at Heil Valley Ranch with Jamie Simo

Posted on July 13, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

After the previous sweltering hot days, it was a relief that this past Saturday was cool and overcast, especially since the 2020 Cal-wood fire burned most of the trees along the Lichen Loop. Also, the last time I led this walk the trail was severely encroached upon by thistles and mullein, but I was happy to note that wasn’t the case this time.

Bullock’s Oriole bringing food to nest. Photo courtesy of Bruce Raup.

We had an extremely birdy morning! Not only did we get to see and/or hear all of our target species (Blue Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Lazuli Bunting), but we were treated to great looks at not one, but two sets of parents feeding nestlings. A pair of Bullock’s Orioles and a pair of Western Kingbirds had set up shop in nearby trees so we were able to watch the parents coming and going as they brought in breakfast for the kiddos.

Bullock’s Orioles weave their nests primarily out of grasses or rootlets and, on average, lay 4 or 5 eggs. It seemed a little late for this pair to still have babies in the nest, but apparently they may re-nest if something happens to the first clutch. Rarely, they may also have a second clutch.

Western Kingbird on nest. Photo courtesy of Bruce Raup.

Unlike orioles that make pendulous nests, Western Kingbirds construct cup nests, many times in the crotch of a tree, which is exactly where this nest was. They lay a similar number of eggs to Bullock’s Orioles (usually between 3 and 5). We could see at least one baby when either of the parents came to feed and before mom would plop down onto the nest. From how frequently feedings were happening for both nests, it seems like there are plenty of insects at Heil Valley Ranch this summer!

Other than the nesting birds, the highlight of the walk was definitely the Lewis’s Woodpecker. This woodpecker is unusual in that it acts more like a flycatcher, sallying forth from a branch to catch insects in mid-air, versus drilling them out of bark, although they will sometimes also do that. About the same size as a Northern Flicker, Lewis’s Woodpeckers are also unusually colorful for a woodpecker. Their pink and green coloring makes me call them the “watermelon bird.” I’ve heard that Lewis’s tend to show up about 7 years following a burn so 5 years after the Cal-wood fire is about on-schedule.

In all, we had 31 bird species, a great showing for a non-riparian area in July. We hope you can join us on a future bird walk! No matter what we see, we always have a great time!

Lichen Loop Trail, Boulder, Colorado, US
31 species

Mourning Dove 5
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 3
Lewis’s Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 5
American Kestrel 2
Western Wood-Pewee 4
Western Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Say’s Phoebe 1
Western Kingbird 4
Blue Jay 1
Black-billed Magpie 3
Violet-green Swallow 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Rock Wren 1
Northern House Wren 3
House Finch 4
Lesser Goldfinch 3
American Goldfinch 3
Lark Sparrow 5
Vesper Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 6
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Western Meadowlark 9
Bullock’s Oriole 4 Feeding in nest
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Western Tanager 2
Blue Grosbeak 3
Lazuli Bunting 4

Saturday, May 10, 2025 Bird Walk to Meyer’s Gulch at Walker Ranch with Jamie Simo and Gabbie Lochbaum

Posted on May 11, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

This past Saturday was a gorgeous day for a bird walk up at Walker Ranch. Settled in 1865 by James A. Walker, Walker Ranch is on the National Register of Historic Places not just for its historic buildings dating back to that time period, but also for several archeological sites from indigenous peoples, including the Arapahoe.

Before we even got very far on the trail we were greeted by the first of many singing Vesper Sparrows. Male Vesper Sparrows are easy to see during breeding season because they will sit on an exposed perch in the grassland and sing continuously. Their name comes from the fact that they will sing into the twilight hours, vesper meaning “evening” in Latin. They can be distinguished by their white eye ring, streaky breast, white outer tail feathers, and pale “mustache.”

Female Western Bluebird with nesting material. Photo by Jamie Simo.

Further into the scattered Ponderosas we encountered several Western Bluebirds and we were lucky to see a female bringing nesting material to one of the bluebird houses along the trail. Female Western Bluebirds are the nest builders and most nests are made out of grasses or pine needles with softer materials lining the nest. Interestingly, like Bushtits, sometimes previous Western Bluebird young will act as helpers, bringing food to their younger siblings.

Other birds of note that we saw were all three species of nuthatch (Red-breasted, White-breasted, and Pygmy), Mountain Chickadee, Pine Siskin, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a lone male Mountain Bluebird, and my favorite of the day, two Red-naped Sapsuckers. Sapsuckers are a type of woodpecker that has a specialized tongue to lap sap from trees. They also eat berries and insects and are often found in aspen groves.

We ended up with 28 species, which was a respectable haul for early spring during what has felt like a slow migration year. We hope you can join us on our next walk on June 14th. Until then, don’t stop birding!

Walker Ranch–Meyers Gulch, Boulder, Colorado, US
26 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-naped Sapsucker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Steller’s Jay 1
Black-billed Magpie 2
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Mountain Chickadee 4
Tree/Violet-green Swallow 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Pygmy Nuthatch 9
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern House Wren 4
Western Bluebird 4
Mountain Bluebird 1
American Robin 10
Pine Siskin 2
Chipping Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Vesper Sparrow 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s) 1

Saturday, April 12, 2025 Bird Walk to Plaster Reservoir with Jamie Simo

Posted on April 15, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

Saturday was a perfect day for a bird walk: warm and sunny with all the birds singing and trees blooming. Even better was that I was able to introduce people to a place they had never been before!

Plaster Reservoir is a hidden gem tucked away in a neighborhood in Broomfield, Colorado. This little lake bordering a golf course was formerly used for irrigation, but now functions primarily as storm water management and open space. With over 200 species of bird recorded there, it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.

When I had scouted out for the walk there was only 1 pelican on the reservoir, but we were treated to 9 on Saturday. These enormous, white birds have wingspans of about 9 feet, making them one of the largest birds in North America. Right now, during breeding season, American White Pelicans of both sexes grow a bony protrusion on their beaks called a “caruncle.” They are the only pelican species that exhibits this and scientists don’t entirely know what it’s for. Because it only appears during the breeding season, the thought is that it is somehow involved in courtship.

There were still quite a few ducks on the reservoir, including Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked, Gadwall, and American Wigeon. We also saw a pair of Cinnamon Teal, named for the male’s deep red breeding plumage. We didn’t see very many shorebirds, however, which are also currently migrating to and through Colorado. The sole representative of that group was a Killdeer, a large member of the plover family that can be found in grasslands and parking lots as easily as on a mudflat.

Killdeer on golf course. Photo by David Belenky.

Finally, not a bird, but we had great looks at a little muskrat toodling through the water toward us. I’ve heard some people mistakenly identify a muskrat as a baby beaver, but while they’re both rodents, muskrats are more omnivorous than the vegetarian beaver. Muskrats, weighing on average 1.25 to 4.5 lbs are also much smaller than beavers, which average 24 to 66 pounds. Of course, muskrats also have a rounder “rat” tail while beavers have a paddle-shaped tail.

Thanks to everyone who came on the walk and I hope to see you on the trail next time!

Plaster Reservoir, Broomfield, Colorado, US
33 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 5
Cinnamon Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 4
Gadwall 35
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 4
Ring-necked Duck 5
Lesser Scaup 20
Bufflehead 9
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 6
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 2
pigeon/dove sp. 2
American Coot 12
Killdeer 1
Ring-billed Gull 3
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Snowy Egret 1
American White Pelican 9
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Say’s Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 4
swallow sp. 2
European Starling 12
American Robin 6
House Sparrow 2
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 5
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 10

Saturday, March 8, 2025 Bird Walk to Walden Ponds with Carly Crow

Posted on March 12, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

Last Saturday, we had a beautiful morning bird walk at Walden Ponds. The day started off chilly with frost clinging to the trees and ground, but as the sun rose, the chill melted away giving way to a warm early spring day.

We were immediately greeted by the rowdy calls of Red-winged Blackbirds who were fighting to stake their territory claims in the cattails. Moving away from the water, we heard the first Song Sparrow songs of the season for nearly the whole group. This was an exciting moment as their song is a sure sign that spring is truly beginning to take hold in the Front Range.

Common Goldeneyes engaging in courtship display. Photo by Jamie Simo.

As we continued our walk, we admired a collection of dabbling and diving ducks spread throughout the ponds. When we reached one of the larger ponds in Walden, we found a great mix of Ring-necked ducks, Mallards, and both Cackling and Canada geese swimming and foraging. A highlight among this mixed raft was a small group of Common Goldeneye that were actively engaged in courtship displays and copulation. To continue to add to the theme of early spring this morning, we observed what could have been the first Great-blue herons inspecting nests in an old rookery across the pond. Witnessing the possible first return of herons to the rookery for their breeding season was an exciting moment for everyone.

Female Belted Kingfisher. Photo by Carly Crow.

As we made our way down the trail, a very vocal female Belted Kingfisher caught our attention. She perched beautifully in the morning light and gave us a front row seat to a successful hunt. Everyone enjoyed watching and photographing this exceptionally charismatic individual.

For our last stop, we searched for Walden Ponds’ frequently spotted Eastern Screech-Owl. Unfortunately, the owl eluded us that morning — perhaps tucked away for a mid-morning nap. But nature always finds a way to offer surprises, and as we headed back toward our cars, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings passed overhead, their sharp calls adding a final high note to an already wonderful morning.

Though our bird list for the day totaled only 25 species, our walk was packed with early spring behaviors of singing, courtship, and other subtle shifts marking the changing of the seasons. With the warming weather ahead, I hope everyone has the chance to step outside this week to soak in early spring, and maybe even witness a few seasonal wonders of their own.

You can view our full trip list here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S217268120

Saturday, February 8, 2025 Bird Walk to Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve with Jamie Simo

Posted on February 13, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

This past Saturday morning was blue-cold, but it was definitely worth getting out for the birds. More water was open at Waneka than during my scouting mission, but there were still few water birds around because of the Bald Eagle sitting on the ice busily plucking an unlucky goose. It wasn’t clear whether the goose had already been dead prior to its defeatherstration, but given that Bald Eagles will happily scavenge when given the opportunity, and the rampancy of avian flu in goose populations right now, it’s more than likely.

What was also pretty cool to watch were the Common Ravens coming within inches of the Bald Eagle, a mortal enemy, to take what they could get from the carcass. The Bald Eagle was unbothered, but that wasn’t the case for one American Crow that kept dive-bombing and chasing one of the ravens; ravens will definitely prey on smaller songbirds like crows despite being in the same family group (Corvidae).

White-throated Sparrow (third from left) surrounded by White-crowned Sparrows. Photo by Jamie Simo.

With few ducks and geese about, we spent most of our time looking at songbirds. Sparrows were particularly abundant and it was great to be able to compare White-crowned Sparrows to House Sparrows. At the Greenlee feeders we also were lucky to see the White-throated Sparrow that’s been hanging around and see the difference between it and the White-crowned. Both species are in the Zonotrichia genus, but White-throated Sparrows are mainly found in the east and along the west coast. More are being found along the Front Range every winter, however. While both species have head stripes, White-throated Sparrows have the eponymous white throat as well as yellow lores.

For a cloudy, bitterly cold morning, we had 24 species, which wasn’t bad at all!

Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve, Boulder, Colorado, US
24 species

Canada Goose 28
Green-winged Teal 1
Ring-necked Duck 1
Common Goldeneye 1
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Ring-billed Gull 15
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Northern Flicker 5
Blue Jay 8
Black-billed Magpie 1
American Crow 3
Common Raven 5
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 15
American Robin 7
House Sparrow 6
House Finch 2
White-crowned Sparrow 12
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 6
Red-winged Blackbird 15

Saturday, January 11, 2025 to White Rocks Trail and North Teller Farms with Carly Crow

Posted on January 21, 2025 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

What better way to get through the winter months in Colorado than by taking a sunny birding walk with friends to share the experience? That’s exactly what we did this past Saturday at Teller Lake Ponds.

The Teller Lake Ponds are named after a Colorado senator who once owned a significant amount of farmland in the area. Today, the land is managed by Boulder County, offering miles of trails and plenty of nature to enjoy. Birding here is exceptional year-round.

Prairie dog in the snow. Photo by Jamie Simo.

We had several highlights from our walk this Saturday. We kicked off the morning by watching prairie dogs warm up in the sun, keeping an eye out for any birds in the field. At this time of year, these little rodents have a thick layer of fat and fur, making them appear almost round when they’re above their holes. It’s always a joy to watch the prairie dogs go about their daily routines.

After checking out the colony for sunning raptors or meadowlarks, we made our way north to Boulder Creek. Despite the wind, there was plenty of bird activity to appreciate! We had excellent views of two raptor species: a Red-tailed Hawk and, even more exciting, a Ferruginous Hawk flying overhead. In addition to the birds of prey, we sifted through a flock of Canada Geese and found a trio of Cackling Geese nestled within the group.

Male Hooded Merganser. Photo by Jamie Simo.

Heatherwood Lake had a small patch of open water, where a few Hooded Mergansers and many more Canada Geese were gathered. Across the pond, we spotted a bald eagle nest, where two adult eagles visited during our walk. It’s incredibly exciting to witness the start of the eagle’s breeding season.

Once we reached Boulder Creek, we encountered a mix of diving and dabbling ducks, including Common Goldeneye, Gadwall, Mallard, and a trio of Green-winged Teal. On our walk back, the wind calmed, and we were able to spot a few passerine species, including American Robins, American Goldfinches, and a surprising Brewer’s Blackbird. It was a beautiful walk, and we’re already looking forward to our next outing. The link to our eBird list can be found here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S208882905

Sunday, December 15, 2024 Bird Walk to Sandstone Ranch

Posted on December 17, 2024 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

On a beautiful, but windy, Sunday morning, we convened at Sandstone Ranch in Longmont. Sandstone Ranch is named for the sandstone cliffs in the area which formed when Colorado was part of an inland sea. The ranch itself was owned by the Coffin family back in the 1860’s. The original house, which still stands, is currently in use as the park’s visitor center.

Non-breeding American Goldfinch. Photo by Jamie Simo.

Wind is some of the worst weather for birding because it tends to suppress the movement of smaller birds but, happily, around the windbreak of the cliffs we did see some White-crowned Sparrows, an American Goldfinch, and a Northern Flicker. A common misconception is that American Goldfinches migrate because in the winter they’re less visible, being more of a drab olive-brown color rather than yellow. However, they’re resident birds here along the Front Range. Listen for their squeaky little chirps or their “potato chip” flight calls.

Kiting female American Kestrel. Photo by Matt Eagen.

We had several raptors on our walk, including three Red-tailed Hawks, a Northern Harrier, and a very obliging female American Kestrel. Kestrels, our smallest falcon, are one of the few raptors known to hover, meaning they will rapidly flap their wings to remain in place in the air. Hummingbirds also do this as will Belted Kingfishers. However, this particular kestrel wasn’t hovering, but kiting, which is using the wind to stay aloft rather than flapping.

Snow Goose flock. Photo by Matt Robinson.

Finally, we had some great waterfowl. While the majority of ducks we saw were Mallards, we did see both a pair of American Wigeon and Wood Ducks. We also had several thousand Cackling and Canada Geese, a couple of Ross’s Geese, and a good number of Snow Geese in the agricultural fields next to the Peschel Open Space, another natural area adjacent to Sandstone Ranch. Snow Geese are named for their, often, snowy-white plumage, but Snow Geese can also come in a “blue” color phase, where the majority of their feathers are a slatey-grey or “blue” color. Because of the warming of the arctic, Snow Geese are increasing in number rather than declining like many other bird species.

Because of the wind we only saw 18 species, but it was a beautiful day and great company. Hopefully you can join us next time!

Sandstone Ranch (Weld Co.), Weld, Colorado, US
Checklist Comments: Also included Peschel.
18 species

Snow Goose 10
Ross’s Goose 2
Cackling Goose 2000
Canada Goose 100
Wood Duck 2 Pair. Seen last Sunday as well.
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 215
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 2
American Robin 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 105

Sunday, November 10, 2024 Bird Walk to Lagerman Reservoir

Posted on November 12, 2024 by frbcadmin - Bird Walks, Blog

We had to push off our usual second Saturday bird walk by a day due to our first snow storm of the season, but I’m so glad we did! It was a perfect bluebird day with sunny skies and a ton of amazing birds!

Lagerman Reservoir is always great for waterfowl and raptors in the fall and winter and it provided the perfect venue for trying out some of our spotting scopes, namely Swarovski’s ATS 65 and Opticron’s new MM4 77. Both scopes provide crystal clear viewing of distant birds. In fact, they were instrumental in determining that the raptor we saw perched out on a fencepost was a Ferruginous Hawk rather than a Red-tailed Hawk. What told us it was the larger Ferruginous Hawk rather than the more common Red-tail, even from far away? The extensive white on the bird’s chest and belly, unbroken by any dark speckling or “belly band,” pale feathers on the head rather than a solid brown head, and a flash of rusty color on the shoulder.

Another special bird of the day was a juvenile Golden Eagle. We could tell the bird was a juvenile Golden Eagle and not a young Bald Eagle by the neat, white patches on the underside of its wings and the way it soared with its wings in a slight V (dihedral). Juvenile Bald Eagles are a messy mix of white and dark brown and soar with their wings flat. While Golden Eagles tend to nest on cliffs or bluffs, they can be found in open country when not breeding, especially in the winter.

For ducks we had quite a few, with the most common being Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, and Northern Pintails. We even had a late shorebird: a Long-billed Dowitcher, a medium-sized shorebird that passes through Colorado in the spring on its way to breed in the arctic and then back through again in the fall to winter in the southern US and Mexico. Their feeding behavior, which is sometimes described as like a sewing machine, allows them to probe into mud and sand with their long bills in search of invertebrates and mollusks.

With 30 species for the morning, the walk was a great success! We hope you can join us on a future walk!

Lagerman Agricultural Preserve–Lagerman Reservoir, Boulder, Colorado, US
Nov 10, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM
30 species

Cackling Goose 70
Canada Goose 20
Northern Shoveler 2
American Wigeon 8
Mallard 10
Northern Pintail 25
Green-winged Teal 35
Redhead 15
Ring-necked Duck 4
Lesser Scaup 5
Bufflehead 8
Ruddy Duck 40
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
American Coot 50
Killdeer 6
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Ring-billed Gull 4
Eared Grebe 2
Golden Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Ferruginous Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Prairie Falcon 1
American Crow 1
Horned Lark 4
European Starling 30
American Pipit 1
American Goldfinch 1
Western Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5

Feeders By Type

Feeders By Food

Baths

Parts & Supplies

Birding With FRBC

Learn About Optics