As a friend and I discovered at South Platte Park this morning, yesterday's northerly winds brought down the first significant number and variety of migrant waterfowl. Following a sluggish start to the autumn migration, these travelers, most of which will likely spend the winter along the Front Range, were a welcome sight.
Among the species observed were pied-billed grebes, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, gadwall, American wigeon, northern pintails, ring-necked ducks and a lone canvasback; they joined year-round residents, including mallards, wood ducks and ring-billed gulls. Observing these flocks were an osprey and a pair of bald eagles, perched in a treeline west of the lakes.
Since I will be returning to Missouri in a few days, it was good to witness the early stages of this inspiring annual transition. Hopefully, the Midwestern version will greet my arrival.
