Green-tailed Towhee & C. Nighthawk - Arapahoe

[Jared Del Rosso]

Two of my favorite birds remained in Centennial, at least through today. A Green-tailed Towhee has been in my yard for a week or so. A Common Nighthawk, meanwhile, headed south over E. Panama Dr / Streets of Southglenn near Arapahoe & University around dusk. It was low and seemed to come from somewhere local, rather than further north, but I might be misjudging that. This morning, in the same general area as the nighthawk, was a lone Turkey Vulture, another of my favorites.

The nighthawk sighting was especially well-timed (for me...can't say for the bird). As I casually birded deKoevend Park, I lamented that we so rarely know when our final, fall sightings of our favored birds will be. Then I recalled, several years ago, a late nighthawk sighting (October 10) that I had at the park, and how it was late enough that I knew that it would be goodbye for a time. Minutes later, the nighthawk. Late enough, once more, that I suspect that's it. I wished the bird well and lost it in the lights of traffic.  

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO