I checked the MacKenzie Ave bridge over the Arkansas River this morning and quickly heard Black Phoebe calls. One or more fledglings were in a tree right next to the bridge, creating the common "fledgling fuss" when the parent brings them food. Some workers came onto the bridge causing some disruption which seemed to cause the parent bird to either move the family or tuck them up in the overhanging vegetation for some loafing time (an activity that Black Phoebes excel at as they will perch quietly on a shady branch for long periods) as I could not refind them even though I am very experienced with this species. We had more severe storms last night (the 4th or 5th time in the past few weeks!) so the river is running quite muddy (high turbidity with lots of dissolved solids) and that know what impact this might have on odonata, midges, caddis flies and other macroinvertebrates that the phoebes feed on. By foraging near the bridge, they are also near a irrigation ditch that empties into the river and may have water that doesn't have as high a load of dissolved solids.
While I was on the bridge, a Lewis's Woodpecker flew over. I didn't see any Common Black-Hawks though this is the location they were found by Rich Miller for two consecutive years and nearby for an additional year (seen usually in Sept but once in July). I forgot to mention in my post yesterday about early landbird migrants that I also saw my likely (apparently there are records of birds in eastern Colo during breeding season though I haven't seen any empids in this area since spring migration) first of the fall migration season an empid, that had field marks consistent with Willow but it was silent so can't unconfirmed. access road to the MacKenzie parking area of the Canon City Riverwalk (please note there is a street sign that states this half mile dirt road is named Santa Fe--I forget that it is listed as a real road and not just an access road). SeEtta Moss Canon City --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
