Yard birds, Franktown, Douglas

[Hugh Kingery]

With today's snow came a Chipping Sparrow, our FOY, that feeds in the millet-strewn space below our feeders.

Over the past week, Urling & I have counted over 40 species here and on our walks along Willow Lake Drive. Notably:

Spotted towhees: after one or two during the winter, we now have at least 6 singing males.

Bushtits: They have started to come in on a regular basis -- usually groups of 2 or 3; a few times 7-9.

Juncos: Winter brought us 20-30; now we have 10 or fewer, mostly Gray-headed.

Turkey Vultures: Castlewood Canyon's population has returned and we see them regularly - up to a dozen.

White-throated Swifts: Ditto about Castlewood; we hear and don't see them.

Swallows: Tree but not any other species.

Say's Phoebe: arrived this week.

Bluebirds: a range of one or two to a dozen; both species.

Fox Squirrels: thriving.

Bear: two weeks ago, at night, one plodded through the yard without stopping. He had previously visited a yard two houses to the north.

Chorus Frogs: started peeping this week, including one in our vegetable garden - no water.

Hugh