Yesterday I saw my first fall migrating Western Tanager just east of Canon City along the Arkansas River. This species nests just to the west (& south & north) of Canon City in just a little higher elevation so we see them during spring and fall migrations.
I also saw my first dark ibis of fall migration on a gravel bar in the Arkansas River just east of Canon :City and, unusually, only the one. Though not a migrant, I have seen a single Cedar Waxwing for several days along the Arkansas River. I birded the Holsim wetlands east of Florence (on CR120) for the first time in about a month. All the Great Blue Herons and DC Cormorants had completed nesting though some had late starts due to weather conditions here. Though mosquitoes had a slow year in this area also apparently related to weather conditions, they are making up for lost blood meals in that area. I hate using deet but put it on so Ididn't exsanguinate but they just acted like it was gravy on their dinner. Unfortunately the maintenance guy had just mowed the trail so not much was around. There were 2 Turkey Vultures on a tree limb over the trail that looked like they were waiting any mammals that had been disposed of by the mosquitoes. I was surprised to see a White-throated Swift fly over. It's too early for their migration and these wetlands aren't near any breeding areas that I am aware of. I wanted to yell up, 'hey, come down here and eat all these mosquitoes.' There were a number of pondhawk dragonflies patrolling and sparring. I saw two young phoebes in juvenal plumage today foraging on their own. I also saw the immature male Barrow's Goldeneye--I hadn't seen him for a few days. I forgot to mention that I uploaded a short video clip of a Western Wood-Pewee onto my BirdsAndNature <htttp://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com> blog this week. They usually are flying out and back so frequently that it is almost impossible to videotape them except at a distance. This one perched on a snag less than 20 feet away for a full minute though it was still busy craning it's neck around to watch for any meals flying nearby. I also put a link to a very provocative article on the Am Birding Association on my blog. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.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.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
