Folks, I birded around Fountain Creek Regional Park today with my dad and we stumbled upon a very nice flock. It certainly didn't seem December-ish as we found first a *Pine Warbler* (a bright adult male, no less), then a *Pacific Wren*, followed briefly by a *'Red' Fox Sparrow*, and finally, of all things, an *Ovenbird*. They were all basically in the same flock with Juncos, Chickadees, Kinglets, 1 or 2 Yellow-rumps, Creepers, Nuthatches and the like. We tried to re-find the Fox Sparrow but it evaded us.
These birds were all on the north end of the park, just south of the sewage ponds. Further south, there was an adult *Harris's Sparrow* feeding along the pathway near Rice's Pond with Juncos, Song and White-crowned Sparrows. A duck that was black (not to be confused with a Black Duck) flew from the river and over to Rice's. I believe it was a melanistic female Mallard, but what seemed odd was the bill was dark also. I always thought melanism does not affect bill or leg color. Any thoughts? Cheers, -- Daniel Maynard Manitou Springs, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
