Despite the crystal-clear sky and brilliant sunshine, it was rather cool along the South Platte this morning, with a temperature near fifty. But, if anything, the coolness seemed to increase wildlife activity across the floodplain.
Red-winged blackbirds and killdeer provided a steady background chorus while great blue herons, black-crowned night herons and double-crested cormorants moved along the river. A mother wood duck ushered her brood across a marsh-lined pond and a lone beaver cruised one of the larger lakes. A flock of cedar waxwings moved through the riverside woods and mixed squadrons of tree and barn swallows swooped above the floodplain, feasting on clouds of insects. Though we didn't find snakes on this cool morning, six-lined racerunners were abundant, scurrying into the leaf litter as we approached. Other sightings included yellow warblers, American kestrels, red-tailed hawks and a lone white pelican.
The highlight of the morning was a mother common merganser with her six rambunctious youngsters. Following mom across a broad meander of the South Platte, they took turns hopping onto her back and bumping one another into the water. Sporting mom's reddish head feathers (the males will molt to their father's plumage by next spring) they huddled close to their protector when other birds flew by; at one point, a great blue heron landed too close for comfort and the mother charged, sending the intruder into squawking retreat.
