Saturday, November 29, 2014

Partly cloudy, warm and windy. 55°F. 5-35 mph. 15 participants.

We had a real mixed bag weather-wise this morning. At times, it was sunny and at other times a wave cloud would arise and block out the sun. Also, it was breezy all day, but when we first arrived at Waneka Lake the wind was howling. We had a real ocean-like experience then because the ring-billed gulls all started kiting and calling over the dam (see slide show). Thankfully, the wind did not continue at this level for our whole time at Waneka.

View our Regular Saturday, November 29, 2014 Bird Walk

Slide Show

Baseline Reservoir:

Nov 29, 2014 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM

Protocol: Stationary

12 species

Canada Goose 20

Mallard 4

Redhead 1

Lesser Scaup 2

Common Goldeneye 10

Common Merganser 20, see Bird of the Day

Pied-billed Grebe 2

Clark's Grebe 1

Ring-billed Gull 10

Eurasian Collared-Dove 1

Blue Jay 1

American Crow 1

Sombrero Marsh & Pond:

Nov 29, 2014 8:05 AM - 8:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling

0.25 mile(s)

15 species

Canada Goose 30
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 30
Ring-necked Duck 4
Bufflehead 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Marsh Wren 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 2

Red-winged Blackbird 4

House Finch 6

American Goldfinch 2

House Sparrow 2

Waneka Lake & Greenlee Preserve:

Nov 29, 2014 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.5 mile(s)

24 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 80

Mallard 60

Green-winged Teal 5

Bufflehead 2

Common Goldeneye 10

Hooded Merganser 2

Common Merganser 10, see Bird of the Day

Western Grebe 1

Great Blue Heron 1

American Coot 1

Ring-billed Gull 30
Eurasian Collared-Dove 6
Northern Flicker 5, all digging for insects
Steller's Jay 3
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
American Robin 20
European Starling 20
White-crowned Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 4

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1

Red-winged Blackbird 4

House Finch 6

American Goldfinch 2

House Sparrow 4

Valmont Reservoir Complex:

Nov 29, 2014 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Protocol: Stationary

8 species

Canvasback 10

Common Goldeneye 6

Hooded Merganser 2

Common Merganser 100, see Bird of the Day

Western Grebe 2

Double-crested Cormorant 1

American White Pelican 2

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Total species seen: 40

Note: Species in bold are birds that were special on the walk for
reasons like a great view, out-of-season, great numbers, or rarity.

Every Saturday Morning

- From 7:30 a.m. (promptly) to 10 am -

Meet at Wild Bird Center of Boulder

1641 - 28th St., Boulder, CO 80301

(303) 442-1322

Every Saturday year-round. No reservations required. Every last Saturday of the month we travel further afield than normal and return a little later. Bird Walk locations are determined on the morning of the walk. All ages and birding abilities are welcome!

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--Thanks, Steve

Wild Bird Center of Boulder, CO

NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Wild Bird Center

Boulder, Colorado

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Slide Shows of Photos taken by participants on our Saturday Bird Walks

2014 (all photos)

2014 (grouped by Walks)

2013 (all photos)

2013 (grouped by Walks)

2012 (all photos)

2012 (grouped by Walks)

Bird of the Day
November 29, 2014
Saturday Bird Walk

Common Merganser

Mergansers of all kinds are around right now. This morning we had the pleasure of seeing them at several locations. The common mergansers at Waneka Lake put on a nice show. Several were successful in their diving attempts and we enjoyed watching them choke down large fish. Mergansers of all types are rather shy so we were lucky to get the views that we had. We saw mostly females at Waneka. Look for their bright white chin patch.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
All About Birds

Common Merganser

Birdfellow

Common Merganser

Youtube Video by cutlerylover

Local Wildlife : Common Merganser Diving Duck