RMA Harris Sparrows and

[charles...@gmail.com]

A pair of first year Harris's Sparrows are with a small group of Mt and Gambel's White Crowned Sparrow by the parking lot for Lake Mary at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Refuge.  All were very focused feeding on 3 wing saltbush seeds. 

The refuge is snow-covered and all water bodies are frozen over so no waterbirds.  Few raptors observed though great views of those that showed up.  An adult male Harrier allowed approach to about 10 feet from the edge of the road, an immature put on a great shows hassling a group of starlings, an adult Prairie that hangs out on the northern end of the refuge sat quietly only 30 feet away as we stared at each other.  And a very distinctive Ferruginous was harassing the prairie dogs in the NE corner while a couple of young eagles were watching from a nearby tree.  I envisioned they were making critical comments on its hunting technique.  Not a single Red-tailed put in an appearance.   A couple of flocks of horned larks were busy gravelling on the road which is the only bare ground at the moment.  Try as I might, none converted to white tail flashes or the tinkling call of a wandering longspur.

Hopefully some melting will open the water and ground up a bit before the CBC on Sunday.

Charlie Chase

Denver