Backyard Hummers, Nighthawks, and Lizard - Arapahoe

[Jared Del Rosso]

Busy yard lately here in suburban Centennial (Arapahoe County). 

Common Nighthawks

On Friday evening, about 90 minutes before dusk, a flock of about 4 or 5 Common Nighthawks fed over my yard and neighborhood. A few Swallows, feeding even higher than the Nighthawks, joined in. After the birds left, I found one or two Flying Ants in my yard, the likely reason these insectivores were visiting. A few so-so photos here. 

Hummingbirds

While I don't yet have hummingbird feeders up, I have regular visits from a Black-chinned and Calliope Hummingbird. They appear to be hawking insects amid shrubs and trees, while also making regular runs at the half-dozen or so agastaches that are currently blooming. It's two species in particular right now: "Sunset Hyssop" (Agastache rupestris) and "Hummingbird Mint" (Agastache cana). There are some other "hummingbird-friendly" plants blooming amid these: "Red Birds in a Tree" (Scrophularia macrantha), "California Fuschia" (Epilobium canum), and a few penstemon species that are, after I deadheaded them, putting out another, less vigorous, round of blooms.

The two--which chase each other regularly from a perch atop a dying, young maple hybrid--chased off a third hummingbird today. The third seemed rather orange, but I got poor looks and I doubt a Rufous would give up so easily. 

It's remarkable to actually see the size difference between a Calliope and a Black-chinned as the two jostle for perches. 

It's easy to miss, but male Calliope Hummingbirds make a very distinct sound while displaying and asserting a territory. It sounds to me like a toy laser gun, but All About Birds describes it as a "a high pitched zing that sounds a bit like a sharp knife cutting quickly through the air." The bird visiting my yard appears to be a young male, based on the sound and plumage. 

Six-lined Racerunner

Not bird related -- but an afternoon encounter with a Six-lined Racerunner in the back of my yard left me a bit stupefied. I live in a fairly suburbanized neighborhood. We're near, but not adjacent to open spaces and trails. Kentucky Bluegrass is the most common plant species, though (happily) the back of most yards are a mix of trees and shrubs (non-native, mostly, but some native ones, too) and there's a growing number of xeriscaped front yards. Though Racerunners are not uncommon in the area, to find one in my yard was a real thrill. It was around a dry slope in the back. Sunflower and White Sagebrush are most common there, but I'm hoping they'll soon start sharing space with goldenrods and sumacs. There's also a small brush pile of previous years' leaves, some branches, and sunflower stalks back there.

The backyard has a good number of grasshoppers, so hopefully this little lizard makes a home of it.

Others

Goldfinches (both species) and Black-capped Chickadees are visiting the sunflowers lately. No other migrants to report.

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO