early September

Smoke from the big wildfires in California and Washington covered Denver with blue-grey haze for more than a week.  I was reminded of the old saying  "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning."  What about a red sun in the morning ?
     Local bird experts say migration has barely started.  Warm temperatures are keeping birds to the north longer than usual. Sunday a week ago I joined a day-trip to NE Colorado visiting Prewitt and Jackson Reservoirs as well as several playa ponds.  The leader did a proper ebird report and used 8 checklists !!  Highlights were Baird's Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Franklin's Gulls. A Dickcissel and a Long-billed Curlew had wandered in from another state. They are not usually found here.

     Labor Day weekend I went out each morning. Saturday with a small group at Cherry Creek State Park. A group of Forster's Terns was fun to watch. Other highlights were a Sora who came out of the reeds to be seen, a Solitary Sandpiper, and 3 species of Grebes (Western, Eared, and Pied billed).  Swainson's Hawks are gathering for their trip south.
     Sunday to Pawnee Grasslands, also in NE Colorado.  In the Cottonwood groves Wilson's and Townsend's Warblers were foraging for insects, along with the Flycatchers.  This is a well known stopover for Hammond's, Dusky, and Cordilleans.
     Monday I took Dolphin-kayak to Barr Lake State Park.  That poor boat has not been in the water for a long time.  It spent the winter and spring in a barn on my friend Sandy's property.  I was able to bring it to Denver a few weeks ago.

No photos of shorebirds or warblers.  :(   The top picture is a pond behind the library, home to a successful Cormorant and Snowy Egret rookery.
     Belmar Park has a boardwalk/ gazebo area on shoreline that is home to several Barn Swallow nests.  The 2nd photo is the only picture I was able to capture of the adult Swallow feeding a fledgling. 
     These 4 little ones are almost ready to try their wings.