[cobirds] Around Centennial (Arapahoe)

Memorable week or so for me around Centennial. A Bobcat sighting along a riparian corridor in Centennial; the cat appeared a bit after dusk, balancing in a too small tree, not far from where I happened to be standing. Nearby, I'd previously found scat and some possible scratch marks, but was remarkably lucky the cat popped up when I happened to be looking. Two or three subsequent visits haven't yielded any other sightings.

Bird reports...

On Sunday (1/2), at Willow Spring Open Space, I've continued watching the Northern Shrike hunt voles along the dam. I saw it fetch one during a 30-45 minute observation period on Sunday. I missed, however, my best chance of a photo of this bird. Right as I took a phone call, it flew just behind me, hovering over the dam for a strike. Alas.

I've yet to see the shrike take any of the many sparrows in the dam; however, I can't be sure of what it's hunting when it drops into the grasses.

While watching the shrike, a stunning male Northern Harrier coursed over the dam. It flew away, then toward, then away from me. None of the songbirds on the dam -- American Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, nor the shrike -- risked an exposed perch during the harrier's visit. I saw it drop once, into the grasses of the dam, but I could not tell if it retrieved anything. (I don't think it did, though.) It disappeared into the marsh at Willow Spring, seeming to follow the creek through it. I rushed away from a stranger talking to me about the beaver dam at the open space to get a photo.

Yesterday (1/3), at the Streets of Southglenn shopping complex, a Say's Phoebe in a small landscaping tree. A few winters ago, I spotted one pulling food from 2nd or 3rd story windows at the shopping center. This one was just resting at dusk, though.

Also, the ever-present pair of Ravens. They nest on a Macy's sign there. The city has voted to allow the Macy's to be turned into apartment housing. I don't know if the construction would effect this or next year's nesting, but if anyone has advice on how to try to ensure an active nest, with eggs or young, isn't destroyed, please email me directly.

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO

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