Ken Caryl Valley, JeffCo 8-20

[David Suddjian]

Still a lot of migrants around the pond along Massey Draw below my home this morning, but some indication of change over from yesterday. Totals for some species: 5 Western Wood-Pewee, 2 Warbling Vireo, 2 Cordilleran Flycatcher, 3 Virginia's Warbler, 2 Orange-crowned, 11 Yellow, 6 Wilson's, 1 Black-headed Grosbeak, 1 Lazuli Bunting. A highlight was a HY Red-naped Sapsucker, just the 2nd I've seen in the immediate vicinity of my home. 

Farther up Massey Draw, upstream of the Ken Caryl development I hit an area with lots of migrants and others, where some highlights were 18 Western Tanager, 5 Black-headed Grosbeak, 4 Lazuli Bunting, MacGillivray's Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo, and 3 Bullock's Oriole (generally departed from the Ken Caryl area already, so I think these were migrants).

Later I spent time on my front porch which faces the first major ridge of Front Range hills west of the hogbacks. A treat was a parade of raptors, with singles each of Cooper's Hawk, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Golden Eagle. Not bad for out the front door.

David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Ranch

Littleton, CO