Some birds from Ken Caryl Ranch, Jefferson

[David Suddjian]

[Note: there is no general public access to Ken Caryl Ranch]

Aug 15

Birding around the pond on Massey Draw below my home at Ken Caryl Valley produced an adult Ovenbird that was either a migrant or a local dispersant down from the forested breeding habitat not too far away. An adult female Lazuli Bunting was feeding a juvenile, and was generally very excited and agitated. By all appearances the circumstances suggested a nesting in the immediate area, but I am pretty sure that these two traveled to this spot from elsewhere for reasons I won't elaborate here. But it gives pause to be careful in ascribing the feeding of young as proof of nesting in the immediate area. 2 Wilson's Warblers were my first this season for the local Ken Caryl area, and 11 Yellow Warblers was my first encounter of more than a few migrant Yellows for this season. 

A female type Orchard Oriole made a brief appearance in my yard for the 2nd occurrence of the species there this summer, and my third for this season at Ken Caryl Ranch.

Aug 16

This morning a Gray Flycatcher was at the Lyons Formation hogback north of Massey Draw. A Steller's Jay there in both grassland and Gambel Oak scrub/woodland was an oddity for the habitats. The swale between the Lyons and Dakota formations had a Loggerhead Shrike and Northern Harrier, both of note for Ken Caryl Ranch. Rock Wren numbers increased from one week ago (to 8) and all three Spizella sparrows were present, but otherwise migrant numbers were down from my survey here last week. A Peregrine Falcon passed over my home.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

[David Suddjian]

I wanted to add that the Gambel oaks in the Ken Caryl Ranch region have a huge crop of acorns, following much poorer crops locally the prior two years. Most are still green, but today I saw my first that were turning brown and ripening. I guess it will be a good fall to be a Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO
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