Eastern Phoebe pair - Centennial (Arapahoe)

[Jared Del Rosso]

Had I checked eBird, I would have known that a year ago yesterday was when I first encountered an Eastern Phoebe that would eventually attract a second (and briefly, a rival third) to the High Line Canal Trail in Centennial and Greenwood Village in Arapahoe County. 

But I didn't check eBird before heading out this morning to look for wildflowers -- few along this stretch yet -- and hope for the return of a phoebe. So I ended up surprised, though apparently shouldn't have been, when I found the birds were there, already paired up, flycatching over the Little Dry Creek, near where its trail intersects with the High Line Canal's. 

Last year, I failed to find their nesting location. I have some suspicions, but it also seemed to me that they may have been nesting somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood and only flycatching along the creek.

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO