[cobirds] Boulder Sandhills; did they breed locally?

Hello, Birders.


Yesterday morning, Monday, Sept. 3rd, I was surprised to see six Greater Sandhill Cranes standing in a field just northwest of Clover Basin Reservoir. (View from Nelson Road, and be careful of traffic.) Given the early date, I wonder where they came from. Could they have bred nearby?


Most--and I believe all--showed the red crowns and extensive rust on the gray plumage typical of adults in late summer. So no obvious juveniles in the group, and, again, I believe all were adults.


As to Clover Basin rez proper, water is low on the west end (best place to try for the cranes), but there wasn't a whole lot out there: 1 Least Sandpiper, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Killdeer, and 1 Snowy Egret. Alas, the rest of the lake was the self-proclaimed domain of a couple of obnoxious water skiers.


Ted Floyd

tedfloyd57@hotmail.com

Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

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