As I noted in the quick report I did earlier this afternoon to get the word out about the Worm-eating Warbler, I am getting back with the full report. As Brandon noted in his post a few minutes ago, this bird is difficult to see. It skulks in the thickets of shrub limbs, vines and other vegetation and most of the time when I saw it the bird was on the bluff side of the trail which has less light. After I heard it, the bird flew across the trail briefly--when I refound it I got a very good view from about 6 feet away then when it flew back it did so less than 5 feet away from me. I lost it then refound it 3 times as it flew across the shrubby hillside.
I first picked up on this warbler when I heard it calling. It sounded to me like a very raspy 'z,z,z' that was quite distinct from the calls of the chickadees that were nearby. I have described what I saw along with some photos that I have now uploaded to my Birds and Nature <http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com>blog. With the first photo I included an unedited version (only cropped to enlarge) along with one I tweaked so those few features that are viewable can be seen and to look like what I saw. It is not a crisp, clear photo as the bird as shown is in the middle of a thicket of branches so hard to manually adjust focus well. But I think it gives enough features to identify the bird. I also uploaded a second photo of the bird upside down with a pretty crisp view of some of it's underparts. I also saw the Hermit Thrush and Gray Catbird, both of whom I watched as they flew up to pick off berries where there was no place to perch so did so trying to hover, quite a feat for these birds. In addition to the several Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, several Brown Creepers, & one White-breasted Nuthatch that Brandon mentioned, I also saw both a Downy and a Hairy Woodpecker near the area where the Worm-eating Warbler was seen. As I was leaving the parking area a raptor flew through the trees very agilely and quickly that I did not see well. I drove out to MacKenzie Ave and around looking for it as it tweaked my interest. I did find it near MacKenzie Ave north of the bridge over the Arkansas River--it was a juvenile Goshawk and I got some good photos of it. However, I have to leave now so will have to post again about this cool bird. I will be back on the Riverwalk in the morning hoping to get a better photo and am meeting some Denver birders at the parking area for the Riverwalk just east of MacKenzie Ave a little before 8 am in the morning. SeEtta Moss Canon City Personal blog @ http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com<http://birdsandnature.blogspot.com/> Blogging for Birds and Blooms magazine @ Birds and Blooms blog southcentral/<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.
