A half hour ago, I took a break from work to inspect the sparrow flock in my yard. (All Chipping...) As I did, a Rock Wren, my first in Arapahoe County, flew into my yard. It took a few conspicuous perches near me -- wood pile, tree stump, neighbor's bird bath -- not seeming to do much else but a few, halfhearted squats. (And it's still there...on the wood pile, standing around.)
This was an especially happy encounter for me. Just a few days ago, when I visited Willow Spring Open Space (which looks good for migrating Rock Wrens), I was wondering when I'd encounter one in the county. Then I read David Suddjian's post about seeing them in east Arapahoe and felt a twinge of jealousy.
Turns out this bird is peppering west Arapahoe County this fall. According to eBird, David saw his first at St. Mary's Church this fall. Ben Sampson added a Rock Wren in his yard a few days ago. And there's a report, from the start of this month, of four at an open space near Denver Tech Center.
- Jared Del Rosso
Centennial< CO