two unexpected species for the Ken Caryl Valley area, JeffCo, 6/12

[David Suddjian]

This morning I was surprised to see a Yellow-billed Cuckoo fly over between riparian stands at the Docman Gulch wetlands in southern South Valley Park. It ended up in the nice patch of cottonwoods along the Swallow Trail. It did not call, and viewing those trees is limited to being outside the stand by fencing. It was a short thrill. Wilson's Snipe are still putting on a show, with 6 evident chipping and winnowing during my visit.

A Brown Thrasher at Massey Draw was also a surprise, a first for my immediate home area, and maybe my second or so for Ken Caryl Valley.

Along Deer Creek I observed confirmed breeding evidence for all three pairs of Eastern Phoebes nesting under bridges at Grizzly Drive, South Valley Road junction, and Buckhorn Road. I saw no trolls under the bridges, just phoebes. 

David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Valley

Littleton, CO