Field Trip Report

November 2, 2003
Kelp Gull Field Trip

The Kelp Gull field trip this morning was successful, with 24 participants, and excellent views of the Kelp Gull. It was seen briefly by scouts Chris Wood and Brian Gibbons at Larimer County Landfill and then refound about noon for the rest of the group (by Chris again) at Horsetooth Reservoir (yes, Horsetooth Res., not Horseshoe Lake). Other highlights include:

Larimer County Landfill:
Lesser Black-backed Gull-1 ad
Mew Gull- 1 juv

Horsetooth Reservoir (from CR 38E, south end of reservoir near Spring Creek dam):
Lesser Black-backed Gull-1 ad (same scope view with Kelp Gull)
Thayer's Gull - 3 first-year birds (I think; I only saw 1 for sure)
Herring Gull-many

Lake Loveland:
Thayer's Gull-1 ad

Horseshoe Lake:
Common Loon-4

Boyd Lake:
Common Loon-5
Pacific Loon-1
Mew Gull- 1 juv.

Rist Benson Lake, Loveland:
Hooded Merganser-7
Black-crowned Night Heron-1

It was a great group of people, including some from as far away as Trinidad, CO and Santa Fe, NM.

I suspect that almost all the gulls of the area are continuing to roost each night at Horseshoe Lake, with good viewing at dusk from CR28.

Special thanks to co-leader Beth Dillon, eagle-eye scouts Brian Gibbons and Chris Woods, and trip sponsors Fort Collins Audubon Society and Colorado Field Ornithologists. Watch for news coverage of the hunt for the Kelp Gull in tomorrow's Loveland Reporter-Herald.