Since the ponds and lakes in the South Platte Valley are at least partly frozen over, wintering waterfowl are congregating along the river. As a result, they are easily observed (even without binoculars) from the adjacent hike/bike trail.
On this cool, cloudy day, mallards dominated the scene, joined by smaller numbers of green-winged teal, buffleheads, common goldeneyes, ring-necked ducks, gadwall, American wigeon and hooded mergansers; a couple of pied-billed grebes and a lone coot also fed on the river. Multiple flocks of Canada geese and a small squadron of cackling geese flew overhead and the usual mix of winter songbirds moved through the cottonwood groves. A red-tailed hawk was the only raptor to grace the scene and, despite the shallowness of the South Platte, no herons were observed.
This retreat to the South Platte will likely continue until late February or so when the lengthening days and higher sun angle take a toll on the frozen ponds. By then, the earliest spring migrants will appear along the Front Range, just in time for our spring snowstorms.
On this cool, cloudy day, mallards dominated the scene, joined by smaller numbers of green-winged teal, buffleheads, common goldeneyes, ring-necked ducks, gadwall, American wigeon and hooded mergansers; a couple of pied-billed grebes and a lone coot also fed on the river. Multiple flocks of Canada geese and a small squadron of cackling geese flew overhead and the usual mix of winter songbirds moved through the cottonwood groves. A red-tailed hawk was the only raptor to grace the scene and, despite the shallowness of the South Platte, no herons were observed.
This retreat to the South Platte will likely continue until late February or so when the lengthening days and higher sun angle take a toll on the frozen ponds. By then, the earliest spring migrants will appear along the Front Range, just in time for our spring snowstorms.
