A fun time along the Platte river, Arapahoe County

[Brian Johnson]

I went to my usual patch along the South Platte River between Bowls and the begging of the Northern Wildlife Area. I found some rather nice and exiting patch first patch records for me. The first excitement was the large flock of American Pipits feeding in the river along the many river rocks, moving downstream and back up stream between the south end of Hudson Gardens and Reynodl's Landing Park. There was probably about 30 of them, but exact numbers where hard to come by with them flying all over the place. At the end of the walk I came across the most exciting first patch record, a lone Sandhill Crane circling over Cooley lake and gaining altitude quickly. It was by it's self, maybe separated from the main flock, and bugling constantly. I later saw a lot more cranes at Clement Park in Jefferson County, which gave me a more unobstructed view of the hogback. Along with the birds it was nice and cold, my preferred weather.

Good Birding,

Brian Johnson

Englewood CO

[Michael Robinson]

I observed a hugh flock of sandhills cranes flying south above the hogbacks near Chatfield reservoir at 11:45 AM on Monday, Oct 28.
Estimate at least 500 in three waves. Appears this sighting has been reported earlier and just confirming my observation.