Roger's Grove Heron's and a Down Feather

[Carl Starace]

About 10 this morning I found both Little Blue and the Green Heron at Rogers Grove Pond in Longmont. The Little Blue was at the southern side of the island and Green along the north edge of the pond itself. It is not so easy to see both these species on same day/venue in Boulder County. But even though the Green Heron was a first state for me,it was the sight of a Heron's feather in the breeze on Sunday that I will long remember . As my wife Sally and I strolled along Old South St. Vrain Road , we had spotted a Great Blue Heron high in a dead Cottonwood busily preening underwing. We were well past the big bird when I noticed a large down feather floating high above the creek. One of the many Violet Green Swallows coming off the cliff face caught it, then dropped it. A second swallow quickly snagged the down and it was gone.   Carl Starace,   Niwot