Deer Creek Canyon area migrants trickling, JeffCo

[David Suddjian]

A few returning migrants added some interest while checking some spots in the Deer Creek Canyon area this morning. At High Grade Road there were several singing Virginia's Warblers, 1 MacGillivray's Warbler and a Dusky Flycatcher. Some non-migrant Wild Turkeys were very responsive to my imitation. A Red Crossbill flew over. I haven't had any for months.

At Grizzly Drive there was a singing Gray Catbird and a Lazuli Bunting. A singing Eastern Phoebe was at Deer Creek at Cougar Road, and a Peregrine Falcon was perched atop its favored big rock, in view from the top of Cougar Road. I had a couple Bullock's Orioles singing here and there, too.

I have not been seeing any Mountain Bluebirds at any of their usual breeding spots in the Deer Creek and Ken Caryl Valley area. This morning when I stopped at Deer Creek Canyon Park's parking lot there were two photographers loudly broadcasting Mountain Bluebird vocalizations from a speaker, as they waited near a nest box, super big lenses ready, bluebirds absent. At least as far as I could see.

David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Valley

Littleton, CO