Another large South Park reservoir just east of Spinney, Eleven Mile State Park & Reservoir can be better for deep-water birds and shorebirds than Spinney, but usually has smaller numbers overall. Double-digit scoter numbers have also been recorded here, and adult males of all three species have even been seen. The mudflats at the NW end of the reservoir can often hold large flocks of shorebirds, and gulls often abound in this area as well. Look for flocks of Horned Larks that sometimes have Lapland Longspurs among them in any of the grassy areas along the SW shore of the lake. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch has been seen around the lake in winter. Rarities that have been seen at Eleven Mile include Red Phalarope, Red-necked Grebe, Snow Bunting, Thayer's Gull, and even Yellow-throated Warbler.

The road between Lake George and Eleven Mile passes through the most extensive ponderosa pine forest in the county. All the birds normally associated with ponderosa pine can be found, with very good chances for Clark's Nutcracker and Williamson's Sapsucker. The small pond called Plamann Lake along this route can occasionally have a few interesting birds on it, and often has a few Western Grebes and dabblers in the fall. Even a rarity or two could show up here, as two Cattle Egrets demonstrated on a November day, so keep an eye out!

Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest

Directions: From Colorado Springs, head 38 miles west on US 24 through the town of Lake George to CR 90 (FR 247). Turn left (south) on this road and follow it about five miles, then turn left (south) onto CR 92 (the continuation of FR 247). From here it is about five miles to the reservoir.

Acknowledgments: Hotspot information was originally compiled on Birding Colorado, a service of Colorado Field Ornithologists. CFO thanks all the original contributors.