The Big Sit! Franktown

[Hugh Kingery]

    We've conducted a The Big Sit! on the roof of our house for 16 years. The one last Sunday produced more species than we have had in any of the previous ones -- 42. We tallied 29 raptors, of 7 species, including a Goshawk that eBird didn't like. It flew into a ponderosa pine at the top of the cliff and provided adequate views through the scope.

    We always hope for strings of migrating Sandhill Cranes, and we did have one flock of 30 cranes, far away. Another flock of 23 birds that we expected to be cranes banked in the sunlight and turned into Am. White Pelicans.

    Otherwise, our typical fall assortment, although it included all three nuthatches and did not include the Lesser Goldfinches that we saw here the day before (nor have we seen any since).

    We have acquire two female & one cock Ring-necked Pheasant; we have several theories about their progeny. 

     As we looked & scoped, we also enjoyed a quiche, deviled eggs, croissants, and Tiramisu.

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO

[Cindy Ann Hutchins]

What a fun idea. Thanks for sharing; love that you got good birds and had a picnic too!