Saturday, December 20, 2014

Cloudy and cold. 28°F. 2-10 mph. 10 participants.

In the bleak midwinter, birders make a moan; earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. My apologies to Gustav Holst and Christina Rossetti for butchering their hymn, but I was singing it as we went for our walk this morning. The weather was bleak this morning and we had folks dropping out as we travelled because it was too harsh.

I would like to wish all Happy Holidays and Good Birding!

View our Regular Saturday, December 20, 2014 Bird Walk

Slide Show

Dodd Reservoir:

Dec 20, 2014 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
5 species

Cackling Goose 300
Canada Goose 60
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 14
Northern Flicker 1

Left Hand Creek @ Nimbus Rd:

Dec 20, 2014 8:05 AM - 8:20 AM

Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
11 species (+1 other taxa)

Cackling/Canada Goose 100
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
American Kestrel 1
Blue Jay 2
Black-billed Magpie 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 1
European Starling 10
Dark-eyed Junco 4
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1

Lagerman Reservoir:

Dec 20, 2014 8:25 AM - 9:05 AM

Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
8 species

Canvasback 1
Common Merganser 200
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 5
Black-billed Magpie 3, eating a road killed rabbit, see slide show!
Common Raven 1

Niwot Loop Trailhead:

Dec 20, 2014 9:10 AM - 9:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
3 species

Great Blue Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
European Starling 1

Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat--Cottonwood Marsh:

Dec 20, 2014 9:25 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
14 species

Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 80
Mallard 20
Northern Shoveler 2
Ring-necked Duck 30
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 20
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 100
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 1
Prairie Falcon 1
Black-billed Magpie 1

Total species seen: 30

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!

To Sign Up for our "Saturday Bird Walks" List or "Monthly eNewsletter"

simply Click Here. Note: The "Saturday Bird Walks" list is a separate list from our "Monthly eNewsletters." You can update your preference to receive one or both.

--Thanks, Steve

Wild Bird Center of Boulder, CO

DECEMBER 20, 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
December 20, 2014
Saturday Bird Walk

Common Mergansers

©Jack Klase
Click to Enlarge

Common Mergansers

The numbers of mergansers in Boulder County right now are amazing. It was fascinating to see common mergansers feeding at Lagerman in large groups that "press" across the water presumably herding fish for easier hunting. There was a lot of movement both on the water and in the air. Mergansers look like darts or guided missiles when flying because of their elongated, straight bodies and fast pace.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
All About Birds

Common Merganser

Birdfellow

Common Merganser

Youtube Video by cutlerylover
Local Wildlife : Common Merganser "Diving Duck"