DFO's trip to the Southwestern Metro Area ended up focusing on Chatfield SP. We did not see the Red Phalarope, but enjoyed a nice cross-section of birds. We visited the Marina Sandspit just after sunrise. We had 6 White-faced Ibis, 5 *Yellow-headed Blackbirds*, but none of the rarer species were present then. When we came back at 10:45 am a juvenile Sabine's Gull was off the Plum Creek inlet and the continuing *Lesser Black-backed Gull* was at the end of the spit. It later flew off. An *Osprey* out standing in the water off Plum Creek, close by a wading Great Blue was odd. A *Bald Eagle* was near Massey Draw on the JeffCo side.
The South Platte inlet area was very fun, and helped us overcome a dearth of landbirds. Suddenly there were *Vespers*, all three *Spizella*, and *Savannah sparrows* that came down to bathe and drink, *Western Kingbirds *were flycatching, and more. A *Hairy Woodpecker* flew in and landed right overhead, and a wandering *Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay* moved out of place through the willows and mudflats. *Killdeer* were abundant, but other shorebirds here were only by 4 *Least* and one *Semipalmated Sandpiper*. A female *Hooded Merganser* and some male *Am. Wigeon* were first of the season for me, and there were some eclipse male *Wood Ducks.* At the Swim Beach we refound the continuing *Black Phoebe*, and two *Eastern Phoebes*. A *Loggerhead Shrike* was at the Model Air Field. Overall, although we hit a pocket of sparrows, landbird migrants were very sparse. David Suddjian Ken Caryl Valley Littleton, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6Rop4q_17LiMfxQnWB4X08PmQ9H4kV-Y%2BZv0BH_m0gdVUgA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
