Recent cold weather has iced over most of the ponds and lakes along the Colorado Front Range and the South Platte River has become a magnet for wintering waterfowl, especially through the night. The moving water is relatively warm and sandbars offer protection from fox and coyotes.
Early this morning, huge flocks of Canada geese and smaller groups of cackling geese clogged the stream, joined by a host of wintering ducks; mallards dominated the latter group but gadwalls, greater and lesser scaup, buffleheads, common goldeneyes, ring-necked ducks and common and hooded mergansers were also present. A stoic great blue heron stalked the shallows while a bald eagle surveyed the scene from a cottonwood, no doubt watching for any sign of injury among the congregants.
Shortly after sunrise, the geese became restless and began to disperse to nearby fields, golf courses and crop fields where they will feast on grass, seeds and waste grain. Most of the ducks will stay on the river while some might head for larger lakes that are now partly open. Come evening, they'll all return to their refuge on the river.
Early this morning, huge flocks of Canada geese and smaller groups of cackling geese clogged the stream, joined by a host of wintering ducks; mallards dominated the latter group but gadwalls, greater and lesser scaup, buffleheads, common goldeneyes, ring-necked ducks and common and hooded mergansers were also present. A stoic great blue heron stalked the shallows while a bald eagle surveyed the scene from a cottonwood, no doubt watching for any sign of injury among the congregants.
Shortly after sunrise, the geese became restless and began to disperse to nearby fields, golf courses and crop fields where they will feast on grass, seeds and waste grain. Most of the ducks will stay on the river while some might head for larger lakes that are now partly open. Come evening, they'll all return to their refuge on the river.
