This morning's DFO field trip focused on the Deer Creek Canyon area and adjacent South Valley Park. It was a short morning trip, and weather panned out pretty nice: cold and cloudy, but at least the snow had let up and it was calm. We added 5 species for the Big Month:
High Grade Road without Ovenbirds
-- (select the Big Month May 2017 report from the top left of the page to view progress so far)
There turned out to be a big gradient of snow from the Deer Creek inlet at Chatfield extending up into the upper canyon areas (of which, see the photo below).
Our meeting spot at W. Deer Creek Canyon Road x Wadsworth began well with 8 Western Tanagers in one shrub. We made one stop at Chatfield - the Swim Beach, which was very birdy, with lots of tanagers, sparrows, Spotted Sandpipers, Mountain Bluebirds, grounded Western Wood-Pewees, clouds of swallows (vast majority Violet-green), and more. We could have done more in the park, but I decided to stick with the program and go up the canyon.
Birding at Buckhorn Road began slow, but as we strolled along many birds became active and we had a good variety including Dusky Flycatcher. A pair of calling Prairie Falcons was nice. Being 35 degrees, the White-throated Swifts stayed tucked in their crevices. The area along South Valley Road along side the park had lots of birds along the road and in scrub, including a Willow Flycatcher, Savannah Sparrows, both bluebirds and lots more.
We shot up the canyon to High Grade Road, where it was winter in spring. Not Ovenbird weather today (see photo), but there were Red Crossbills flying and it was so lovely. I wonder what happens during such conditions to the returning migrants like the Ovenbirds that were plentiful up there when I visited the other day -- do they somehow stick it out, or do they move downslope out of the snow? Clearly bluebirds and swallows go downslope, and one Townsend's Solitaire that were had in the lower canyon today, but what about the rest?
Anyway, I have scheduled a new field trip to Deer Creek Canyon for Friday May 26. Weather should be completely different, and I'll bet we'll get those ovenbirds! Registration is open, but spaces are limited:
After the trip I made a short foray at Massey Draw beside my home (no public access). This was very good with both bluebirds, Virginia's Warbler (8), Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo (3), Chipping Sparrow (30ish), Savannah Sparrow (3, a first for my home area), Lincoln's Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing (9), Audubon's Warbler (10), Black-headed Grosbeak (9), Lazuli Bunting (4), Western Wood-Pewee and Dusky Flycatcher (2). At dusk my feeders hosted Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and 4 Lazuli Buntings.
High Grade Road without Ovenbirds
David Suddjian
Ken Caryl Valley
Littleton, CO
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