Ken Caryl Valley (Jefferson) Sept 9

[David Suddjian]

This morning (9/9) I walked a 7.5 mile loop in Ken Caryl Valley circumnavigating the northern developed area of Ken Caryl Ranch, mostly passing through grassland and scrub with some riparian, Gambel oaks and thickets, sometimes close to planted back yards. (No open public access on trails).

Best finds were a Cassin's Vireo at Massey Draw, Nashville Warbler at Dutch Creek, and Northern Mockingbird -- my 1st in the Ken Caryl Valley area -- south of Dutch Creek in the vale between the Dakota and Lyons hogbacks.

I was delighted to encounter a large number of Rock Wrens, totaling 53 individuals (!), with all but a few in that vale between the Dakota and Lyons hogbacks in grassland with scattered boulders and sparse shrubs. Clearly they were migrants; the species nests in this area, but I've only found just 1-4 on outings in the KC area otherwise recently. By contrast, only 3 Canyon Wrens were detected.

Other warblers included 58 Wilson's, 5 Virginia's, 1 Orange-crowned, 1 Townsend's, 1 Common Yellowthroat, and 2 MacGillivray's. Sparrows were plentiful in many areas, with tallies of 236 Chipping, 18 Clay-colored, 12 Brewer's, 79 Spizella sp., 18 Vesper, 7 Lincoln's (my 1st migrants at KC this season), 2 Song, and 2 Savannah. 13 Green-tailed Towhees in areas where none nested were more evidence of migration. Also 1 Dusky Flycatcher, 1 Hermit Thrush down out of the forest 1 Loggerhead Shrike, 12 Sage Thrashers, and 2 Red Crossbills (Type 2).

2 Gray-headed Juncos in sparse oaks amid grassland were the only ones I've seen down out of the forest nesting habitat since mid-April. A Red-naped Sapsucker in a backyard was perhaps wandered downslope or was a migrant. 

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO