Franktown, Douglas

[Hugh Kingery]

The Franktown pits have finally collected some water birds. Walker and McClain both had both Cackling & Canada Geese (many more Cackling, especially at Walker - 210 birds). Between the two pits, we saw 10 duck species; mostly Mallards but also Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers at Walker, 2 at McClain. McClain had Pied-billed, Horned, & Western Grebes -  a handful of each.

We spent an hour or two walking various places in Castlewood Canyon State Park (both west & east sides). A total of possibly a dozen birds, six species. Hardly any action along the three paths that we checked.

At our feeders, yesterday we counted 60 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5 or so Tree Sparrows, a couple of White-crowned still hanging around, and the usual woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, & nuthatches. And flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds & turkeys.

Like Bryan Guarent we have had, most of the week, one female-plumaged Cassle Finch (he calls them Purssin's) -- but IDd as a Cassin's Finch. Our neighbor 4 miles east has a flock of them, along with crossbills (both kinds at least occasionally) and Pine Siskins.

Another, startling, observation - in Arapaho & Denver counties: an extensive, very brown, cloud covering the whole Denver basin to the north of us. Down here, we have hazy air, probably a fraction of the stuff that makes up Denver's chocolate air.

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO