Ken Caryl, Deer Creek, Hildebrand, Chatfield on 5/16

[David Suddjian]

I was out this morning in the areas mentioned above before the rain kicked in, with low overcast, then fog, then drizzle, then rain. There was a nice variety of species that fell out. Some highlights:

Rattlesnake Gulch Trail at Deer Creek Canyon Park had a male Black-throated Gray Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo, 6 MacGillivray's Warblers, 2 Wilson's and several Yellow Warblers, Lincoln's Sparrow, Black-chinned Hummer and others.

Hildebrand Ranch Park had Cassin's Vireo, Dusky Flycatcher (3), a female Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, lots of Yellows, a YB Chat, Green-tailed Towhee, and several Western Tanagers.

At Chatfield SP the Deer Creek Picnic Area had a Hammond's Flycatcher, a Swainson's Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow (8), Clay-colored sparrow, and my largest group of Chipping Sparrows (55). The Platte near and upstream of Kingfisher Bridge (checking both sides of the river had a silent Red-eyed Vireo, 10-11 Least Flycatchers, 3-4 Am. Redstarts, 1 Northern Waterhtrush (song heard only), about 8 Yellow-breasted Chats, 2 Western Wood-Pewees, 1 Eastern Phoebe (continuing near bridge), 2 Warbling Vireos, and a Swainson's Thrush. As expected, there were many Yellow Warblers here (50+) including over 15 that I observed feeding on the ground. As the clouds lowered there began a steady flow of swallows moving downstream along the river heading toward the reservoir. These were over 98% Violet-green, and one-by-one I tallied 628 VGs passing by me over about 30 minutes. I guess the lower clouds pushed them down from the hills and I was there to watch.

At Massey Draw in Ken Caryl Valley there was a Least Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, and a Blackpoll Warbler.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO