[cobirds] Trading Post Birds, Falcons & Swifts, Red Rocks, Jefferson County

Good Saturday evening, everyone,

I visited Red Rocks Park Friday, May 3, from about 4-7:30 pm. Saw the usual suspects at the Trading Posts plus a male AND female Lazuli Bunting, a Green-tailed Towhee and a Broad-tailed Hummingbird. The Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows were present; no sign of the Fox Sparrow.

I heard the male Prairie Falcon call and saw him fly in to Park Cave Rock to dine on his unfortunate prey. When finished, he flew to Frog Rock to digest dinner. I assume the female was on the nest.

At the South Lot, I saw no sign of the Peregrines on their favorite roosts at Ship Rock or Creation Rock. I did see dozens of White-throated Swifts cruising the sky above and by Creation and Ship Rock. Suddenly, there was an explosion of White-throated Swifts as one Peregrine, I assume the male, buzzed the flock. I continued to watch for the falcon after he flew away, but he did not return while I was there.

I prepared to leave as sunset approached, but the ensuing mass of White-throated Swifts…HUNDREDS of White-throated Swifts…that descended between 7-7:30 pm to roost for the night in giant vertical crevices in the rocks…became the highlight of the day. I tried to count them by taking sequential photos of the flock as it flew in, but they were so high above me, coming in wave after wave, I finally gave up. You'll just have to trust me when I say there were HUNDREDS. A huge portion of them flew into a massive crack on Ship Rock, close to where the Peregrines have nested. The rest disappeared into roosting locations behind Ship Rock, out of my line of sight. I have watched thousands of Vaux's Swifts fly into chimney stacks to roost in northern California but I have never witnessed this phenomenon at Red Rocks. Guess I just haven't been in the right place at the right time. It will be interesting to see if this is a regular occurrence. It certainly was a spectacle to behold.

On the way back to Evergreen, I stopped to see if I could see the Golden Eagles on the nest in Bear Creek Canyon. It was twilight by then so viewing was difficult. I put my scope on the nest and thought I saw a head peeking out…not certain, though…and then the light was gone.

 

Marilyn Rhodes

Evergreen, CO