American Dipper near Lowell Ponds returns

[Bob Canter]

I found an American Dipper in Clear Creek, Adams Co., on Nov. 12. I've relocated it yesterday and today. It is down stream from Lowell Blv'd as far as beyond the bike path bridge.This the earliest I've seen a dipper at this location. The latest date was March 1 this year. The oldest record I have is from Dec. 22, 2008.  Usually there is only one bird, but in 2010 there were two birds part of the time. Once present, the dippers are regularlly found below the I 76 bridges over Clear Creek.

Bob Canter

Denver

[Bob Canter]

The American Dippers (2) I've been watching in Clear Creek at Lowell Blvd. (Adams Co) have been present for four months now. Dippers seem to hold a strange position in Colorado. They are one of our specialites, butecaus seldom show up on the list-serves. Is it because they are so expected in the counties that have mountains, that sightings aren't considered note worthy? Reports from counties without mountains are single sightings that aren't repeated.

I suspect Dippers spend the winter in lower elevation counties that have rivers flowing out of the mountains. The S. Platte River in Denver has a sighting almost every year. Last year there was a report from Cherry Creek State Park in Arapahoe Co. I've been told of breeding records from Morgan and Sedgwick Counties. So where are the winter sightings from Weld, Douglas, Crowley, and other couties with east flowing streams?

Bob Canter, Denver