Chatfield SP and Ken Caryl Valley 5/12; plus one 5/11

[David Suddjian]

Driving home from Elbert on 5/11 I stopped at Walker Gravel Pit at Franktown DOU and enjoyed an alternate plumaged Black Tern. 

Early this morning (5/12) flocks of warblers, Spizella sparrows, and some Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers were flying over my Ken Caryl Valley home, so I was hopeful with plans to head over to Chatfield. I stopped at Hildebrand Ranch Park first, where Deer Creek was roaring. I did not find too many migrants, but there was a Red-eyed Vireo, several Lazuli Buntings and Swainson's and Hermit Thrushes.

The scene at Chatfield Reservoir was dramatic. It has risen some 6 feet (my guess) in recent days, flooding (and closing) most of the access points, and areas along the South Platte and other feeder streams were all flooded, too. Forget the waders. ..bring a boat. 

Along Deer Creek upstream of the perimeter road there was a continuing Eastern Phoebe and a Northern Waterthrush (heard only). a Spotted Sandpiper flew in and perched atop one of the BBQ grills poking above the waters in the flooded picnic area. 

I stopped along the perimeter road south east of the horse stables and birding there was a novel experience, since the reservoir now extended on the upland side of the lake shore riparian, flooding the grassland. A Cattle Egret was there in breeding finery, and Am. White Pelicans and Western Grebe were among the species feeding in the now flooded grassland. The trails along the South Platte are all flooded, but stopping at Kingfisher Bridge I found one of the local Eastern Phoebes, and the waters did not hush the voices of the Yellow Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats.

I tried the road to Plum Creek Nature Area and found mostly expected species, with highlights of my first Blue Grosbeak of the season and one singing Grasshopper Sparrow.

I went back to the South Platte and walked paths on the east (DOU) side that stayed mostly in the uplands away from the flooding. This area had a lot of birds, including a big sparrowish congregation just south of the Platte River parking lot. Some totals of these from this whole area were ~90 Green-tailed Towhees (one loose flock of about 50), 1 White-throated Sparrow, 39 White-crowned Sparrows,~150 Chipping, 14 Clay-coloreds, 17 Brewer's, 4 Lincoln's, 9 Lark Sparrows, 30 Lazuli Buntings, and one male Indigo Bunting. My walk in this region of the park also had 12 Dusky Flycatchers, 3 Leasts, 1 Gray Flycatcher, 1 male Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 American Redstart, 1 MacGillivray's, 1 Wilson's, 1 Cassin's Kingbird, lots of Chats, and an out of place Rock Wren. A neat pair was provided by an an adult Bald Eagle that was led by a Broad-winged Hawk, moving north and soaring right over me. It was fun to have both in the same binocular view.

Back in Ken Caryl Valley I had 4 more Dusky Flycatchers. I walked part way up the Lost Canyon Trail and heard my first Ovenbird of the season, back in breeding territory. 

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO