Spring Migration-2024-Second Wave
A second wave of Spring’s bird migration brought numerous species of otherwise unseen birds to Colorado as well as some old, familiar friends. And our not particularly overly exciting Chatfield State Park shed that pejorative description this Spring with unique sightings that brought wave after wave of awe-inspiring exclamations from me and a whole lot of other observers.
Last month I wrote about the first wave of migratory birds, including some summer residents like the pelicans and the Mountain Blue Birds. Since then, returning birds such as the Snowy Egrets have been mixed in with transitory birds on their way up north, as in Canada and even the Arctic Circle. The gem of these was the White-Faced Ibis, which was reported to be seen at both Chatfield and also nearby Cherry Creek State Park. They eluded me the first time I searched for them, but I hardly came away empty-handed that day as I found a flock of beautiful American Avocets frolicking in a small pond at Chatfield. Within a couple of days, they were already gone. As an added bonus, a Cinnamon Teal was mixed in with the Avocets. (As always, it’s best to click on any image to enlarge)
Above - These two American Avocets seem to be performing synchronized napping
Above - This American Avocet is getting a good stretch in
Above - A solitary American Avocet broke off from the pack and walked right by me
Avocets are one of a group of birds that are colloquially referred to as “shorebirds”, birds that hang out on shores. Colorado is not known for its ocean shores (mainly because we don’t have an ocean in or remotely bordering our state) so it’s a treat to see shorebirds, however fleeting it may be. For some reason our large reservoirs seem to suffice for at least a decent stopover for them heading from places like the Gulf of Mexico north to the Pacific Ocean or Hudson Bay. I was afraid the Avocets would be it – little did I know they were only the start! Check these other shorebirds out below, all of which I found at Chatfield State Park within a couple days of each other.
While lying on my stomach to photograph that row of Willets, I noticed the circling of an unfamiliar colorfully textured bird slowly descending. I thought it might land near the Willets, but it somehow landed in the Willets who grudgingly made a little room for it to squeeze in. I consulted my bird ID app (Merlin) and found this is a Marbled Godwit
I was ready to call it a (really) good day when, still in that prone position (it takes me a loooong time to get up!), a flock of the elusive White-Faced Ibises landed about 20 feet away. Much larger than the small shorebirds I had been photographing, I had trouble keeping my autofocus on them since they were actually almost too close for the lens I had on. I could barely get one at a time and they left after about a minute, simply flying to the other side of the lake. You will note that these are not the more familiar White Ibises that are indeed all white – these have a very small white streak on their face and thus are labeled the somewhat misleading White-Faced Ibis. I guess someone figured that was enough to warrant a full name.
Now I could call it a (really, really) good day once I could figure out how to get up on my own and head home when one last surprise unfolded. A small group of Western Grebes floated by in the water, a distance away. One broke off to fish and came much closer. He was successful and I got this humorous photo of him swimming past a group of jealous pelicans as he taunted them with his prized catch.
Above - This Western Grebe seems to smirk at the nearby pelicans
Speaking of Grebes, just days before spotting the Western Grebes, I stumbled upon a never before seen for me Horned Grebe primping itself in a nearby small reservoir.
Above - I had never seen a Horned Grebe before this
And rather incredibly, days later I found a Solitary Sandpiper roaming the “shores” of Ashbaugh Pond near my house all by itself (hmm, as if it were “solitary”).
Above - I was surprised to find a Solitary Sandpiper in a local pond
Then there are the summer residents finally returning from their winter homes down south including, yes, my favorite, the Snowy Egret. Here are some photos of them below.
I have also seen returning Downy Woodpeckers and Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
Above - Downy Woodpeckers were finding flowering tree buds this Spring
Above - First sighting of a Yellow-Rumped Warbler this Spring
Well, that’s it for now but I’m still waiting on Nat and Flora, my Black-Crowned Night Heron and Broad-Tailed Hummingbird, respectively, to return so stay tuned…