This morning began with two new yard birds -- a male *Black-headed Grosbeak* (FOS also) and a small flock of *Pine Siskin*. Both took one look at my empty platform feeder and left. I took these new visitors as a sign that good things were yet to come and took my dog for a walk at Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve in Greenwood Village.
On the eastern edge of the preserve, where the High Line Canal bends around the preserve, we inspected a pewee that yesterday sounded enough like an Eastern to justify a second look. Today, the pewee sounded just like it should. Near the *Western Wood-Pewee *was a very vocal *Northern Parula*. A *MacGillivray's Warbler* and my first *Plumbeous Vireo* of the season were also nearby. (At least I think it was a Plumbeous. My photos [on my eBird checklist below] show just a bit of yellowish-green wash, but not enough too make me think it was a Cassin's. If you think otherwise, let me know.) This edge of the preserve has been a joy to bird lately. I've seen all of the preserve's warblers in this area, the pewee, a Dusky Flycatcher, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and the Red-headed Woopecker that recently visited. Today, a *Virginia Rail* called from the reeds nearby while I watched the vireo and parula. I then stopped by the easternmost lake. I saw a long, heron-shaped bird fly into a tree over the lake. It appeared streaked and brown as it came through. Still reeling from the parula, I began thinking things I shouldn't (bittern, bittern, bittern?). But I found a *Black-crowned Night Heron* where the bittern should have been. It was an adult, so neither brown nor streaked. Don't know how I saw it otherwise. Beneath the Night Heron, however, was a small heron jousting with a trio of *Common Grackles*. Unfortunately, the grackles held their territory and the *Green Heron* flew to the far edge of the lake, eventually disappearing from sight. When I began birding in 2012 in New Hampshire, this was among the very first birds I encountered (with help from a more experienced birder). I've been smitten with it since then, but, until today, I've only seen it when I've traveled back east to visit family. Another one of those favorites from back east was the Eastern Phoebe. It's been a treat to get to see both this spring, so close to home. I expect the third bird that impressed me during that first, brief month birding in New Hampshire will soon also show up at Marjorie Perry's east lake. Can't wait to see a Common Eider diving alongside while a Gadwall paddles by! When I arrived home, a male *Lazuli Bunting *made a brief appearance in my yard. eBird checklist, with photos, from Marjorie Perry: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29585555. - Jared Del Rosso Centennial, 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/800b1700-657a-44d1-8774-ddef72814865%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
