I went out this morning to see if the Carolina Wren remained in Castle Rock, and it does -- singing periodically from perches within 200 yards of the memorial bench.
But, when I first got to the bench I heard an unfamiliar call/song, a rising whistle-quality 'whoo-eee' . I got a glimpse of the bird (at first I couldn't place it in any group), and it's a flycatcher, yellowish or yellow-olive color to belly & back, two strong wing bars, an eye ring, possible broken. It moved around in the lower part of the upper canopy, whistling this whoo-eee. The Carolina Wren interrupted this chase, and afterwards I did not hear the flycatcher (after 8 am or so). Checking the IPod, i decided that the song sounds like a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. I stayed there for an hour or so, heard the wren several times, but did not hear the flycatcher again. Directions: take the middle I25 exit in Castle Rock (182) and go east and then south on Wilcox Street to 2nd Avenue; turn left (east) and park in the angled parking on the street. Take the trail west towards Plum Creek, go under the Wilcox bridge, and turn left at the trail junction. In a 100 yards or so, you'll come to a black bench. The flycatcher moved around within 100 yards south of the bench. The wren sang from perches within 200 yards of the bench, north, west, & south. Take your recorder. This lovely section of Plum Creek has quite tall willows and cottonwoods; I found a Western Wood-Pewee nest, saw Yellow Warbler fledglings and a lot of other typical riparian species. Hugh Kingery Franktown, CO -- 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-US.
