The Gray Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and multiple Western Wood-Pewees continued today at Grandview Cemetery (GC). I spent most of my time in Section 8 in the southeastern corner of the cemetery. Also present today in the southeastern corner (near the Pump House and White-winged Crossbill nest tree (2009-2010)) was a small group of perhaps 8 Bushtits and a FOS at low elevation juvenile Dark-eyed Junco (gray-headed race). Since Outlook "improved" itself, I can't figure out how to insert photos in this kind of email anymore. I submit reports on Grandview Cemetery to eBird where photo attachment is not an issue, if anyone's interested.
Of note today, I had a Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida) damselfly on the cemetery south boundary road, which is a long way from any body of water where it could have developed. This is the only damselfly in the dancer group I have ever seen at GC. The only other damselflies here have been a very few Familiar Bluets, no doubt coming into the cemetery via the irrigation ditch. Dragonflies are much more common, mostly Blue-eyed and Paddle-tailed Darners, but I have also seen Striped Meadowhawks, Saffron-winged Meadowhawks, Variegated Meadowhawks, Wandering Gliders, some of the common skimmers and even an Ocellated Emerald (several years ago). Dragonflies are prominent in the diet of the various large flycatchers at this site.
On the subject of what birds eat, the pewees are feasting on yellowjackets and European paper wasps, which have had a VERY good year along the Front Range. If you are not fond of these pesky wasps that get a little feisty this time of year, thank a pewee for their pest control service.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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