Ken Caryl Valley - Deer Creek area, Jefferson 4/5

[David Suddjian]

I was hoping for an early hummingbird today, and until the wind picked up, it certainly seemed like hummer weather. It was not to be. I will have to wait for that seasonal thrill. But I did have some new arrivals and things of local interest. 

At Massey Draw upstream of South Valley Parkway I had my first African Collared-Dove for JeffCo. Yes, I know, woo hoo!...or make that Woo! Hooo-HOOO!  I could not see it very well due to lighting, but the sound was distinctive. Elsewhere in Ken-Caryl Valley I had my first Tree Swallow of the season for the valley (interested in a nest box guarded by a Mountain Bluebird pair), and first Rock Wren, and Sage Thrasher. Spotted Towhees have returned to multiple sites over the past two days, at places where I had none in recent times. Two Wild Turkeys strolling through the southern part of South Valley Park were unusual. 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches in the valley seemed to represent a migrant movement, as the species has been nearly absent in the valley lowlands this winter. 13 White-throated Swifts were cavorting over Deer Creek at the Lyons Hogback. After an arrival there on 3/24 they had either retreated or gone into hiding during an intervening cool period, and now they are back.

Up the Deer Creek Canyon my FOS Red-naped Sapsucker was along High Grade Road, and my FOS Williamson's Sapsucker was farther up at Ridge Road.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO