Jeffco Birding 4/22

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markc...@comcast.net

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Apr 22, 2015, 9:06:30 PM4/22/15

to Cobirds, Steve Miller, OBrien Daren

Today, I had three hours to bird. There was definitely a push of spring migrants working through Jeffco. Belmar had an early young male Western Tanager, 7Yellow-rumped Warblers(Audubon's), 6 American Avocets, 2 Blue-winged Teal, a Wilson's Snipe,a Say's Phoebe, and 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds. A 15 minute stop at Denver West had a Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Wren, and several Yellow-rumped Warblers. Bear Creek Lake Park had Yellow-headed Blackbirds, 3 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Blue-winged Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Eared Grebes, and 2 Willets. I finally ended the afternoon at Red Rocks and had 35-40 White-throated Swifts. In the 3 hours I had an enjoyable 52 species!

In my yard, I have a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches that have take up residence in a birdbox! Unfortunately, the Mountain Chickadees (who nested in our yard last year) are losing the battle of trying to nest in last year's bird box. It is too close to the nuthatches that are proving dominant. I would have never guessed that these two mountain/foothill species would be battling for a nesting spot here in Lakewood. The poor Black-capped Chickadees have no chance!

By the way, as I was writing his email, the first Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the year visited my feeder!