Common Poorwill - Botanic Gardens & Cheesman, Denver

[Jared Del Rosso]

I have seen the Common Poorwill yesterday (Tuesday) along the southwest perimeter trail at the Denver Botanic Gardens and today at "Little Cheesman." Today, the bird was among the conifer along the northern edge of Little Cheesman; this is on the south side of 8th Ave between Williams and Race. It flushed and was pursued by two annoyed robins, who perhaps took it for something more dangerous. The bird has now been in the neighborhood for about two weeks.

Also at the Gardens and park have been Green-tailed Towhee, Hermit Thrush, & Plumbeous Vireo. Among the sizeable flocks of Chipping Sparrow have been Orange-crowned Warbler and empid. flycatcher (one each, as best as I can tell). A Bullock's Oriole flew over Little Cheesman last weekend. A single Turkey Vulture flew over the Gardens on Monday, and a single Black-crowned Night Heron was perched above a pond on the western edge of the Garden on Tuesday. A Say's Phoebe appears stuck in the tropical conservatory at the Gardens, but appears to be finding plenty of food in the buggy space. I've let the Gardens know this and will follow-up with them. There also seem to me to be a one or two other songbirds inside the conservatory with the phoebe. I'm hearing some songs I can't place and am picking through very poor recordings of those calls. Anyone who would like to take a listen should feel free to email me, but given the ambient noise in the Conservatory and the fact that I took the recordings on my phone, they aren't great.

Best,
- Jared Del Rosso
Denver, CO