The peak of waterfowl migration is roughly March through April. During this time we lose the majority, if not all, of certain species who, having spent the winter with us, head north for the breeding season. Those who mostly leave us include Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup. Those who pretty much totally abandon us include Greater Scaup, the three Scoter species, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Red-breasted Merganser. Then, there are some species of which we always seem to have a few year-round: Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Common Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. Finally, there are two species that are only found here during the breeding season: Blue-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal. It was these last two that I hoped we might see on our outing at South Platte Park.
I have seen Cinnamon Teal in Colorado as early as February 21, though mostly you can’t expect one until around March 1. Then, the Blue-wings tend to start showing up around mid-March, though I do have sightings from as early as Feb 19 and March 9. We, unfortunately, saw neither species on Saturday, but I encourage folks to be on the lookout for them. Watch out though, as they can tend to knock your socks off. No joke! We did see ten other duck species so that was good compensation.
The weather on Saturday was incredibly mild and we had a great stroll past five reservoirs of various sizes as well as the mighty South Platte River, which looked pretty tame, but will soon gain in strength and volume.
I hope that you’re all making good plans for getting out and greeting the arriving migrants. A few shorebirds are already making their presence known, and the rest should all be present as they pass through on their way north by the last week of April. Tree Swallows are starting to show up, and the rest of the swallows should arrive by the second week of April. Vireos and warblers arrive around May 1, and the flycatchers around June 1. And that’s not half of the arriving migrants. What about Broad-winged Hawks? You guys have some homework to do!
Chuck
South Platte Park
Mar 9, 2024
33 species
12 participants
Canada Goose 112
Northern Shoveler 120
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 1
Mallard 30
Green-winged Teal 6
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 1
Bufflehead 62
Common Goldeneye 22
Hooded Merganser 5
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
American Coot 31
Ring-billed Gull 6
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 16
Blue Jay 2
Black-billed Magpie 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 18
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
European Starling 2
American Robin 3
House Finch 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) 1
Song Sparrow 7
Spotted Towhee 5
Red-winged Blackbird 10