Add American Widgeon to that-- another duck. "Duck" doesn't do them justice, though. This guy has a cool, wide white streak up the beak that somewhere past the crown of the head -- close to level with the eye on the back of the head-- turns to emerald green. The a splash of white on the shoulder, white and black on the butt, but mostly brown body. Great colors. Much more handsome than they appear in the Peterson guide.
Found a whole mess of 'em below the dam, Bear Creek Lake State Park, mixed in with hundreds of mallards. Some Common Goldeneye in there as well, Hooded Mergansers, Canadian Geese flying by (maybe headed to the lake itself).
Also saw a Green-Winged Teal last Wednesday in Clear Creek, just east of I-70. "Green-winged", he's named, but better would be "Sexy Duck with rocking green bandit bandana across the eye"-- the eye markings much more significant (to me) than anything on their wings.
And came across a group of Cedar Waxwings in the bushes east of there, eating berries. Named these guys "the Martinez bird" in lieu of not knowing at the time-- reminiscent of the hairstyle of one of my colleagues at work, with a little ponytail tuft off the back. Also distinctive about these guys: not skittish, they hung around eating berries even in close proximity of me as I watched, and tail feathers end with a half centimeter of bright yellow. More triangular head, as opposed to rounded. Hang out in groups, like those berries. Also saw a pair preening, picking out puffy tufts of something, standing shoulder to shoulder, almost as if they were kissing a bit, quick pecks on the cheek back and forth...
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