The *Red-necked Grebe* continues (assuming it is the same) at Chatfield SP. Early this morning it was near the dam among about 500 Western Grebes. 2 *Sanderlings* flew in to the Marina sandspit, and a late *Spotted Sandpiper* (with a hurt leg or foot) was on the Marina tires. These shorebirds later disappeared when an unusually low-flying hot air balloon drifted over and scattered all the birds in the sandspit area. I saw the Sanderlings fly around the point heading toward the Platte inlet, while the Spotty seemed to just move into the boat basin. No other birds of special note at the reservoir that I saw but I enjoyed *Hooded Mergansers* in several spots, plus a *Bald Eagle*. A *Western Scrub-Jay *at the Old Heronry Overlook was good for that spot. *Gray-headed Juncos *on the sandspit were a form I haven't seen in the park too often. Three straggling *Chipping Sparrows *there, too.
I went to Red Rocks Trading Post to see if the Golden-crowned Sparrow might have returned. I did not see that sparrow, but a *White-throated Sparrow *was in the drainage below the Trading Post. Singing *Townsend's Solitaires* were ubiquitous, and a *Prairie Falcon* cruised over. In my Ken Caryl yard a tardy young male *Broad-tailed Hummingbird *made a short appearance at one of the feeders I have left out. The last I noticed was on 10/12. A little reflection on what birds might think or feel...yesterday a juvenile male *Cooper's Hawk *was under fire from a mob of 20-25 *magpies* at Massey Draw near my home. They had the hawk "trapped" in a large juniper, and then in other nearby trees. The hawk would try to fly out and the fluster of magpies immediately drove it cackling back into the tree. This went on for about 40 minutes. The hawk didn't seem to know how to get away, and the magpies, clearly with nothing better to do, were relentless. So I wondered what the hawk might be thinking or feeling. Did it feel bullied, or tormented, or annoyed, or desperate, or just mad? Being a young hawk, I imagine it might have felt hungry, and maybe it was thinking it might like to eat one of those big magpies. One day...one day. David Suddjian 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6RoqpQecvYdL000Xpe%3DOfsOtBum%2Bjh_NY8e2yx8F%2Bnjv3Bw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
