Yard Bird-Poorwill, SW Denver, Denver Co.

[Doug Ward]

As Libby pointed out yesterday, reports from folks yards are fun, and with the current situation forcing more backyard birding, some great stuff is being seen...Summer AND Scarlet Tanagers, Black and Whites, ...come on seriously, great birds!  Our most recent new yard bird came last night (11 May'20) around 10:30pm as a female COMMON POORWILL flew through the back yard (Huston Park area, Denver Co.) and dropped over the fence into the alley.  Put the dogs in, grabbed my wife and a flashlight, then ventured into the alley for what probably looked like some nefarious behavior (guess it kind of was).  Anyway, there sat the Poorwill in the alley just in the dark near a street light probably hunting insects attracted by its light.  Guess I shouldn't have been so surprised and excited as an alley in essentially central Denver is perfect habitat for these guys.

The Poorwill wasn't our only Covid Avid of the day, as a couple of BREWER'S SPARROWs showed up in the yard during daylight hours.  Had one last year up at the park, but these guys were a first for the yard proper (Yard List, subsection 1c).  

Please keep the yard posts coming as the vicarious birding through your experiences helps break the monotony.

Good Birding,

Doug

Denver

11 May 2020  Huston Park (Athmar neighborhood), Denver, Denver Co., CO

Canada Goose – 2

Mallard – 1m 1f (still hunting a place to nest in someone’s garden)

Rock Pigeon – 10

Eurasian Collard-Dove – 3

Morning Dove - 2

COMMON POORWILL – 1f

Broad-tailed Hummingbird – 1m ho

Northern Flicker – 3 “Red-shafted”

Blue Jay – 5

American Crow – 2

Black-capped Chickadee – 2

European Starling – 3

American Robin – 4

House Sparrow – 2

House Finch – 10

BREWER’S SPARROW – 2

Chipping Sparrow – 5

White-crowned Sparrow – 1a “Gamble’s”

Red-winged Blackbird – 5

Common Grackle – 10

Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1 ho “Audubon’s”