Black Phoebe (and phoebe trifecta), Waterton Canyon, Jeff Co.

[Scott Somershoe]

All,

I headed out this morning on a wild phoebe chase to see if I could refind a Black Phoebe at Waterton Canyon, Jefferson Co. that was posted by someone on the Colorado Bird Photography Facebook page the other day.  After some serious wandering around trying to find the spot in the photos, I found an Eastern Phoebe along the river by a water control structure and returned 90 min later and refound the Eastern in the same spot and saw the Black Phoebe across the river!  I had a Say's Phoebe on the hike in for the phoebe trifecta on one list!  The spot where I found the Black Phoebe is the same place it was found a few days ago, so it might hang around.

Directions for the Black Phoebe: from the parking lot for Waterton Canyon, cross Waterton Rd and walk the trail for about 8 min (brisk walk) and at the first split, follow the dirt road off to the left (this takes you towards the rivers edge and the open field is on your left with a low chain link fence).  In a couple hundred meters there is a small brown shed and a second shed with water control structures behind tall fencing on the left.  Both phoebes were at this spot.  I only saw the Black Phoebe across the river perching on low snags about 20m upstream of the small dam, but it was previously photographed on a railing on the near shore.

I managed some photos of the Black and Eastern Phoebe that start here: http://www.pbase.com/shoeman/image/160741682

I also included photos in my gallery of what I guess is a hybrid male Indigo-Lazuli Bunting.  It was around a couple other male Lazuli's and a gang of females/juveniles.  I never saw a wing bar, but the unusually white breast and belly had me wondering (not quite right for a second year male Indigo either). The song was not spot on for Indigo either. The bird was in a wet draw on the right about half way to the phoebe spot.  Thanks in advance for any feedback on this one.

Good birding!

Scott Somershoe

Littleton CO

[David Suddjian]

Thanks to Scott's lead I saw the Black Phoebe at 1 pm. It was focused around the small fenced area past the second shed. It seemed like it might be paired with the Eastern Phoebe, which I saw carrying food to a likely nest site within that smaller fenced area.

Also had a male "Lazigo" bunting just past the first shelter walking in from the trailhead, labeled Mule Deer. Singing and scene along both sides of the trail. Good number of Lazulis, plus chats and a Blue Grosbeak close to the phoebe spot.

David Suddjian

Littleton, Co

Sent from my iPhone

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJmtx%2BUpfQ1gRRbQpuxBeE3zi783baJ2usGe6CrW_T8%3DLH-bcQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.