Busy yard lately here in suburban Centennial (Arapahoe County). *Common Nighthawks*
On Friday evening, about 90 minutes before dusk, a flock of about 4 or 5 Common Nighthawks fed over my yard and neighborhood. A few Swallows, feeding even higher than the Nighthawks, joined in. After the birds left, I found one or two Flying Ants in my yard, the likely reason these insectivores were visiting. A few so-so photos here <https://lonesomewhippoorwill.com/2022/08/13/in-the-field-1-common-nighthawks/> . *Hummingbirds* While I don't yet have hummingbird feeders up, I have regular visits from a Black-chinned and Calliope Hummingbird. They appear to be hawking insects amid shrubs and trees, while also making regular runs at the half-dozen or so agastaches that are currently blooming. It's two species in particular right now: "Sunset Hyssop" (*Agastache rupestris*) and "Hummingbird Mint" (*Agastache cana*). There are some other "hummingbird-friendly" plants blooming amid these: "Red Birds in a Tree" (*Scrophularia macrantha*), "California Fuschia" (Epilobium canum), and a few penstemon species that are, after I deadheaded them, putting out another, less vigorous, round of blooms. The two--which chase each other regularly from a perch atop a dying, young maple hybrid--chased off a third hummingbird today. The third seemed rather orange, but I got poor looks and I doubt a Rufous would give up so easily. It's remarkable to actually see the size difference between a Calliope and a Black-chinned as the two jostle for perches. It's easy to miss, but male Calliope Hummingbirds make a very distinct sound while displaying and asserting a territory. It sounds to me like a toy laser gun, but All About Birds describes it as a "a high pitched zing that sounds a bit like a sharp knife cutting quickly through the air." The bird visiting my yard appears to be a young male, based on the sound and plumage. *Six-lined Racerunner* Not bird related -- but an afternoon encounter with a Six-lined Racerunner in the back of my yard left me a bit stupefied. I live in a fairly suburbanized neighborhood. We're near, but not adjacent to open spaces and trails. Kentucky Bluegrass is the most common plant species, though (happily) the back of most yards are a mix of trees and shrubs (non-native, mostly, but some native ones, too) and there's a growing number of xeriscaped front yards. Though Racerunners are not uncommon in the area, to find one in my yard was a real thrill. It was around a dry slope in the back. Sunflower and White Sagebrush are most common there, but I'm hoping they'll soon start sharing space with goldenrods and sumacs. There's also a small brush pile of previous years' leaves, some branches, and sunflower stalks back there. The backyard has a good number of grasshoppers, so hopefully this little lizard makes a home of it. *Others* Goldfinches (both species) and Black-capped Chickadees are visiting the sunflowers lately. No other migrants to report. - Jared Del Rosso Centennial, 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] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8b411bf3-82c9-4860-aa52-9a557b79add8n%40googlegroups.com.
