[cobirds] Rusty Blackbirds, Boulder

Folks- I had a most enjoyable day birding with Jeff Gordon and John Barr in E. Boulder today.  We spent most of our time on private property along Boulder Creek just west of Walden Ponds.  Our biggest delight was watching a pair of Rusty Blackbirds feeding in a running slough, flipping over sodden cattail fronds to get at invertebrates in the shallow water.  In one impressive feat, the male abducted a small crayfish (Virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis? )  and dispatched it on the ice for lunch  (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9047968@N02/11504194684/).  Later, John Barr photographed the female doing her best to swallow a small fish! 

We also enjoyed a flock of 14 Evening Grosbeaks feeding in Russian Olives, a Golden and several Bald Eagles, an inky Harlan's Hawk, and other winter birds of the Boulder Creek riparian strip.

While the property we birded is private, the Rusty Blackbirds were nearly within spitting distance of the section of Boulder Creek which can be birded from the Walden Ponds side.

Enjoy- Bill Schmoker, Longmont

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|           Bill Schmoker              |
|  bill.schmoker@gmail.com  |
|       http://schmoker.org         |
| http://brdpics.blogspot.com |
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