Sandhill cranes, hummingbird, juncos, Steller's jay, Douglas County

[John Ealy]

Three waves  of Sandhill cranes  flew high overhead on Oct. 14 at around 5:15 p.m. Couldn't count them but am estimated 100-plus. Also I also saw another group of about 40  today near Rampart Range and Waterton roads. Yesterday and today,  we had a hummingbird at feeders we still hang with fresh nectar. No positive ID, but we think it was a black-chinned.

Today's backyard birds include  the first Steller's jay we've seen this fall, as well as two blue jays, three Woodhouse's scrub jays, and  five slate-colored and two Oregon juncos.

We are seeing a slightly larger  number of nuthatches, mostly red-breasted, but also white-breasted. It's a tin-horn orchestra out there.

John Ealy

Roxborough Park, Douglas County, CO