As I noted in my last post there has been a big push of landbirds migrating through the Canon City area these past several days. Following the Arkansas River, they have used the riparian habitat for cover and food. The most common migrant has been Yellow Warbler but Western Wood-Pewee has been a close second. There have also been many Western Tanagers moving through. I had a female/imm Bullock's Oriole land less than 15 feet away where it stayed for several minutes providing a great opportunity for very close-up photos which I have uploaded to my BirdsAndNature<http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com>blog. Yesterday I also spotted 1-2 Warbling Vireos, too difficult to follow during their silent fall migration to get photos. I have also seen Black and probable hybrid BlackXEastern Phoebes though some stay in the area so there may also be phoebes engaged in post-breeding wandering.
In line with a recent streak of good fortune as birds fly nearby or right above me, a female American Kestrel flew onto a branch less than 25 feet above me on the Canon City Riverwalk earlier this week. She had just captured a grasshopper and she devoured it while I snapped photos right below her (causing 'warbler neck'). I have also uploaded these interesting photos to my BirdsAndNature <http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com> blog. Tonight I drove out to the Holcim Wetlands to see if the Least Bittern might make a repeat flight. I didn't see it but I didn't get there until almost a half hour later than I saw it previously so it might still be there. I watched 2-3 Plegadis ibis come in to spend the night in the safely of the reeds--amazing how they can land right in areas with thick reeds. It was actually a very pleasant evening with mild temps and minimal biting bugs until late (but the mosquitoes made up for it with a vengence) SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com now blogging for *Birds and Blooms *magazine @Birds and Blooms Blog-southcentral region <http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/category/southcentral/> -- 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.
