[cobirds] Palm Warbler, Least Flycatcher at Harriman Lake Park (Jefferson Co.)

[Patrick O'Driscoll]

In the semi-blustery calm before the storm, our group (Rob Raker, Mike Henwood, Rebecca Laroche and I) had a very productive Friday midday at Harriman, with nearly 50 species. Highlights were a brown/western Palm Warbler I spotted (and Mike quickly ID'd) in small trees and low growth along south shore trail and a Least Flycatcher that Mike picked out of scrubby trees in a mini-meadow on the south side of the same trail.

Among dozens of Yellow-Rumped warblers of both types in the same area was one hybrid (Myrtle x Audubon's) -- thanks to Ted Floyd for your lesson/reminder about this 2 weeks ago here at [cobirds]. 

Other notables: 6 Great-tailed Grackles and six kinds of sparrows, including Vesper, Lincoln's and Lark.

We started the day at Bear Creek Lake Park (JeffCo), where notables included a pair of bald eagles in mating flight, a Great-horned Owl and her two owlets, four kinds of swallows (Violet-Green, Barn, Tree and Rough-Winged), 7 brown-headed cowbirds and a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks copulating on a power tower.

Good birding,

Patrick O'Driscoll

Denver