First we stopped at the banding station, where Meredith McBurney gave her usual fact-packed analysis of the birds she held in her hands. She managed to present in checklist order (or at least the 4 warblers, then the others). I always marvel at the lift I get from her banding discussions. (This time I learned, among other things, that the Myrtle Warbler's throat patch extends farther back towards the back of the neck than does Audubon's. And that helps sometimes in IDing hybrids as such.)
When we viewed the reservoir the spectacle awed us. The reservoir has more water in it than we usually see in late September. The racket from at least 1000 Western Grebes (or more) on the water, continued all morning long. Among them we saw numerous families, many of the chicks tiny. We wonder how they can grow big enough to migrate before the reservoir freezes over -- and find enough food. Someone confirmed that they did next at Barr this year. Then about a couple of hundred White Pelicans dotted all sides of the reservoir -- close and far. A few Snowy Egrets, 3 Great Egrets, a few Killdeer & dowitchers. All in all, a memorable day.
Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO
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