I believe that I (we - 2 other birders were present) saw a Hoary Redpoll at 
the Disvovery Center at 10:50 for about 5 minutes.  About 50 Common 
Redpolls were present when the gal said there is a really white one.  We 
all looked at it and it was obvious without binocs which one she was 
talking about.  It had very little streaking on the sides, minimal, if any, 
pink on breast (I have a hard time discerning light pink), and all white 
undertail coverts (got to look at this several times for a few minutes 
from 50 feet and for about 10 seconds at about 25 feet away on the wire 
railing on the edge of the feeding area).  I asked the other birders if 
they saw any streaking at all and they too could not see any.  It was much 
lighter than even the pale Common Redpolls (I could see streaking on most 
of these on the undertail coverts for the ones I was able to observe and 
streaking on the rump - there were several).  I saw the rump for only a 
flash and it appeared white without streaking, but I did not get a 
great view, just a flash.  The wingbars seemed much bigger and the area 
around the black bib very light, almost white (I did see this on some of 
the Commons).  The streaking on the sides was fairly minimal so I would 
believe it was a male, but there was some.  Unfortumately, none of us had a 
camera.  This bird was obvious compared to the others. I have only seen 1 
Hoary Redpoll in my life and it too was obvious in the mass of Common 
Redpolls, even pale ones.  However, that is why I put the ?? because of my 
limited experience with redpolls and knowing that even Common Redpolls can 
be very pale.  
 
Something, a squirrel was most likely, spooked all the Redpolls, and they 
disappeared in the trees to the west.  I had to leave, but informed a few 
others (e.g. Nick K.) that one might be present.
 
Thomas Hall  
Livermore, CO

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