[cobirds] Snake eating newly hatched pygmy nuthatches near Eldorado Springs

Saturday a.m., a photographer, myself and another birder observed a
snake that was probably either a Bull Snake or Rat Snake in a
coniferous tree feasting on newly hatched Pygmy Nuthatches. We
actually saw the snake with an open mouth, nestling hanging partially
out and then later fully ingesting one of the birds. It was coiled
around a tree trunk and branch about 40 feet off the ground in a large
Ponderosa Pine. The stressed out nuthatches could do nothing to
dissuade the carnage. Can anyone tell me if it was possibly a Bull or
Rat Snake? The photos and behavior mostly match this species. Does
anyone know if this is common behavior and/or how did the snake
detect these nestlings. The habitat was dry, rocky, coniferous and
adjacent to the road and near the hogback where the Red-headed
Woodpecker was spotted, as recently as this a.m., by Peter Gent.
Unfortunately, I did not get the photographer's email so that I could
post the photos. Many other people observed this event during a 30
minute duration.

Laura Osborn
Boulder

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