This morning (9/23) I had an interesting exploration of the vale and slopes between the Lyons and Dakota Formation hogbacks in Ken Caryl Ranch, JeffCo, focusing on the area from Dutch Creek to Massey Draw. The best bird was an unexpected *Ladder-backed Woodpecker* that gave me great views when I saw it on the Lyons hogback in an area with Gambel oaks, sparse Ponderosa pines, scattered junipers and patches of grassland. I managed to see it for about 2-3 minutes, which ended when it flew right over me moving south along the hogback. The area is not open to general public access. I'd offer to look with others, but I'm working the next few days and can't do it.
It was a morning to remember John Cassin: a *Cassin's Kingbird* sparred with a Say's Phoebe, a *Cassin's Vireo* was seen, and two *Cassin's Finches* were a bit unexpected in that hogback setting. Let's see, *Cassin's Sparrow* highly unlikely at Ken Caryl and *Cassin's Auklet* impossible, so I'll settle for a Cassin's trifecta, and perhaps one that is seldom achieved. [image: Inline image 1] Thrushes were on the move with flocks of bluebirds and robins pushing overhead. Bluebirds had been generally absent in recent weeks in the Ken Caryl Valley area, so today was different. I had 81 *Western Bluebirds* and 14 *Mountains*. A handful of *Townsend's Solitaires* were passing over with robins, or were in areas with junipers. In the Warbler Dept, *Orange-crowned* (28) was nearly as numerous as *Yellow-rumped* (29), but *Wilson's* slipped off (10). Also 1 *Common Yellowthroat*, 2 late-ish *Virginia's*, 1 adult male *MacGillivray's*, and 1 *Townsend's*. Sparrows included 58 *Chipping*, 20 *Clay-colored*, 2 *Brewer's*, 26 *Spizella* sp., 25 *White-crowned*, 24 *Lincoln's*, 2 *Savannah*, 5 *Vesper*, and 2 *Song*. The highlight was a female *Lark Bunting*. If Green-tailed Towhees count as sparrows there were quite a few. Also noted: a tardy *Dusky Flycatcher*, 4 *Sage Thrashers*, 18 *Rock Wrens* (down from nearly 50 here 2 weeks ago) and 3 *Canyon Wrens*. Later in the day, a lingering or migrant *Swainson's Hawk* was at Sledding Hill Park at Ken Caryl Ave x Kipling, and in the evening a straggling *Common Nightwawk* was in that area, and another was near my home. David Suddjian Littleton, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6RopbwHkfwbzrGAQ-fg8veWdO%2BOzRbQGvR2%3DN%2B_e7MthC5g%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
