Winter months can be a fantastic time for viewing waterfowl along the Front Range, but opportunities can vary with our wild winter weather. Warmer temperatures can mean more open water, especially on shallow reservoirs, offering opportunities to see species that prefer those conditions, compared to streams and riparian habitat.

On Saturday, February 21, 12 Evergreen Audubon members and guests assembled at the Southwest corner of South Platte Reservoir for a morning of birding excitement. As we started to scan the reservoir, two rare Colorado visitors, eight Long-Tailed Ducks and a pair of Surf Scoters, appeared directly in front of our group. This year the South Platte Reservoir has hosted both these species for the winter. Both these species are Arctic and Subarctic breeders that more typically winter along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Although previously reported, they are often far out on the reservoir and difficult to see without spotting scopes. We were truly fortunate to be able to see these birds unaided and able to study them in detail with binoculars. Male and female Long-Tailed Ducks were quite distinguishable in their winter plumages, as were the male and female Surf Scoters, especially the white, black, and orange bill and white head patches of the male.

After scanning the rest of the reservoir from the southeast corner, we proceeded to walk into South Platte Park, birding the shores of Eaglewatch Lake, where Hooded and Common Mergansers were abundant, along with many Common Goldeneyes. Near the northern end of this lake we crossed over to observe furious activity on Red Tail Lake. There Northern Shovelers were engaged in vortex feeding, with Buffleheads trying to feed at the edges of the packed shoveler flock. Several Lesser Scaup floated off to the side of this turbulent activity.

Just north of Eaglewatch Lake an observation blind sits at the south end of Bufflehead Lake, and our group saw more than twenty Redheads, a strikingly handsome duck, intermixed with American Widgeons, Buffleheads, Ring-Necked Ducks, and Common Goldeneyes. The blind provided good views but we were able to get closer along the western edge of Bufflehead Lake, where Bushtits, Black-Capped Chickadees, and White-Crowned Sparrows were loud and abundant in the shrubs of the adjacent private properties.

Walking along the South Platte south (upstream) back to our cars, we saw additional waterfowl but raptors drew our attention, with a Red-Tailed Hawk giving us excellent views of how it takes advantage of thermals to circle aloft. A Peregrine Falcon perched in the adjacent cottonwoods challenged our identification skills, requiring multiple viewpoints to clearly ascertain the head feather patterns that confirmed our identification.

As we stopped for a final look at waterfowl congregating in a slow-water section of the South Platte flowing under the CO-470 bridge, we were rewarded with spotting a female Wood Duck amongst American Widgeons and Mallards, a gratifying end to a long and productive bird morning.

South Platte Park can be a rewarding birding location throughout the year, readily accessible and providing a diversity of habitats that are not present in Evergreen. So the next time you have a free morning, consider driving down and checking out this handy urban wildlife sanctuary!

See you out there birding!

Ed Furlong
Evergreen Audubon

South Platte Reservoir and South Platte Park, Littleton, Colorado
Feb 21, 2026 8:00 AM – 12:43 PM
40 species

Canada Goose 231
Wood Duck (Female) 1
Northern Shoveler 97
Gadwall 19
American Wigeon 7
Mallard 38
Green-winged Teal 1
Redhead 20
Ring-necked Duck 3
Lesser Scaup 5
Surf Scoter 2
Long-tailed Duck 8
Bufflehead 52
Common Goldeneye 17
Hooded Merganser 15
Common Merganser 8
American Coot 15
Rock Pigeon 5
Killdeer 2
Ring-billed Gull 11
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
American Kestrel 4
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-billed Magpie 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Bushtit 29
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 1
Pine Siskin 6
White-crowned Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 5
Spotted Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2