Backyard bird observations - Arapahoe

[Jared Del Rosso]

Birdy morning in my west Centennial yard today. House Wren parents were diligently feeding noisy and active fledglings. So, too, were Black-capped Chickadees, Robins, and Spotted Towhees. Sunflowers attracted Lesser and American Goldfinches. A White-breasted Nuthatch briefly visited. And an intergrade Northern Flicker, with a bright red malar what seemed to me like a fully formed red crescent on his nape, stood out. (Intergrade flickers aren't unusual around Centennial, but rarely is the red patch so extensive.) 

On a mid-afternoon bike ride along the High Line Canal Trail, I thought I heard a Western Flycatcher. Maybe, maybe not. I also heard a Chipping Sparrow. Noting that because of the recent question on metro area Chipping Sparrows. 

From what I can tell, Chipping Sparrows, a few juncos, and those previously mentioned Western Flycatchers all seem to nest around the west Centennial, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village area along creeks and the High Line Canal Trail. And they have for much of the time I've been down here (since 2016).

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO