Red-breasted Sapsucker - Mesa County

[Mike Henwood]

A group of us finished up the Grand Valley Audubon Society Waterfowl Field Trip by doing some birding in the campground at Highline Lake State Park. Our reward was great looks at  a male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (most gone by mid-October). Other birds nearby included Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, and many juncos.  We also were able to get a brief look at a Western Screech Owl peeking out of a box and a Great Horned Owl roosting in the pine trees.

Earlier in the day we had a Black Phoebe and a Say's Phoebe interacting on the banks of one of the Redlands Parkway Ponds.

Mike Henwood

Grand Junction 

Mesa County