Foothills birds venturing out into flatlands

[Jeff Parks]

Hey-o

I have seen a couple of discussions recently about seeing birds that are normally found in the foothills in areas where they are not as common.  I too have seen several birds in my neighborhood this year that are more commonly seen in the foothills.  This week I have had a few different birds show up once I decided to put up my bird feeder and put in some sunflower seeds.  There have been a few Red-Breasted Nuthatches, some Black-Capped Chickadees (no Mountain ones yet), several Dark-Eyed Juncos of various persuasions, two or three Blue Jays, and to my surprise, a Steller's Jay was hopping around out there the other day.  I have had a Brown Creeper show up occasionally, and a Downy Woodpecker was here off and on in the spring, working the suet feeder.  Late this summer, I had a Spotted Towhee in the bushes a couple of times, and there were a couple of Western Tanagers in the late spring.  I have to keep a close eye on my cats when the feeder is up so they don't try and catch the ones on the ground.  I may have to get another super soaker ...

Good Birding -

Jeff Parks
Boulder, CO

[Brian Johnson]

I also have noticed this. In my neighborhood in Englewood I have had a red breasted nuthatch around for some weeks now. Just yesterday I heard but did not see a Mountain Chickadee along the South Platte in Littleton, apparently mixed with some Black Capped Chickadees.
Brian
Englewood CO