I started early at the mouth of Waterton Canyon to revisit the *Black
Phoebe* and *Eastern Phoebe*, hoping to get some further info on possible
nesting. Both birds were in the same spot where they have been enjoyed of
late. They continued to behave in near proximity to each other as a pair
would, but I saw no evidence of nesting during my time with them. At one
point they were both perched about 15 feet away from me, one on either side
and both calling continually - a great comparison of the call notes. And I
saw a *Say's Pheobe* on the walk in for the Sayornis trifecta.
The walk in was very birdy indeed early in the morning. Buntings were
everywhere along the trail and especially in the weedy field on the south
side as I walked in (much less activity on the walk out), with lots of
Lazuli, but also Indigo and hybrids. Flocks were flushing up in the field
and many queued up along the fence line. There were many adult males. My
conservative estimates of numbers were 46 *Lazuli*, 3 *Indigo* (2 adult
males, 1 female type), 3 *hybrid* ("Lazigo"; all adult males; 2 singing),
and 21 unidentified Lazuli/Indigo. Also noted were 31 *Chipping Sparrows*
(migrants), 14 *Lark Sparrows*, 5 *Blue Grosbeaks*, 28 *Gray
Catbirds*, 4 *Western
Tanagers*, and about 13 *Yellow-breasted Chats*. A female *MacGillivray's
Warbler* near the Black Phoebe spot was maybe of note down out of the
hills. A *Least Flycatcher* was in that area, too, and as I began on the
trail a *Greater Yellowlegs* was flying high over, looping around the
general area before continuing northeast out of view.
Water levels at Chatfield Reservoir continue to drop, but shoreline areas
are still flooded. The Swim Beach had 2 *Greater Yellowlegs*, 1 *Lesser
Yellowlegs*, 9 *Spotted Sandpipers*, a herd of 28 *Killdeer*, plus
*California* and *Ring-billed Gulls*.
An *Eastern Phoebe* was visible from Kingfisher Bridge on the downstream
side, while the area upstream of the bridge had no less than 7 *Least
Flycatchers* (most noted calling simultaneously in varied directions from
one spot along the cement path on the Douglas side that is now free of
flooding. One *Red-eyed Vireo* there, too.
The last reach of the road to the "Plum Creek Nature Area" had a
number of *Lazuli
Buntings*, 1 male *Indigo Bunting* and 1 male "*Lazigo*" hybrid. Also a
singing *Grasshopper Sparrow* still present and two *Blue Grosbeaks*. Near
the marsh along Plum Creek upstream of the end of the road I saw a *Savannah
Sparrow*, which I don't recall encountering there in the nesting season on
prior visits. The creek has really eroded a big channel through the marsh
area, but the *Common Yellowthroats* (9) and other marsh species seem happy.
The Marina Sandspit has some islands and shoreline now exposed, but remains
largely flooded. Gulls, cormorants, pelicans were loafing there, and Great
Blue Herons were plentiful. Seems like a spot to watch as the water
continues to drop and new margins and shallows appear.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
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