[cobirds] Fox Sparrow - Red Rocks - Jeffco

Hello All,

Arrived at Red Rocks early this morning -6:30 am- and observed the
male Prairie Falcon sitting on top of Cave Rock preening. He then
flew down and perched on a ledge midway on the cliff. The birds
called and the female left the eyrie replaced by the male. The female
flew across the road to the perch on Frog Rock, where she perched and
preened for 10-15 minutes before flying to the top of Cave Rock. When
I left, the female Prairie was still perched on top of Cave Rock.

Later on I saw the male male Peregrine perched on the back side of
Ship Rock, and heard both birds calling. I believe both pairs of
falcons are incubating now and most of the time one sees only the male
perched in and on the cliff faces.

The feeders at the Red Rocks Trading Post produced a couple of
surprises - a Slate-colored Fox Sparrow and a Hermit Thrush (both
FOS). During the period between 7 & 8 the Slate-colored Fox Sparrow
made 5 different appearances at the edge of the shrubs between the
platform feeder and the lower apple tree. The Fox Sparrow stayed
close to the edge of the shrubs and didn't stay out long. I couldn't
discern any reddish tinge on the upperparts, so presume it is one of
the sub-species that breeds in Colorado and adjoining states to the
north. Last year I first saw a Slate-colored Fox Sparrow at Red Rocks
on April 30, but I was gone the last two weeks of April, so that may
not be an accurate indicator. The Slate-colored Fox Sparrow is an
early migrant, often appearing in Colorado in late March. Last year a
slate-colored Fox Sparrow stayed at Red Rocks through at least May 13
(my last sighting).

The Hermit Thrush perched in the low branches of the lower apple tree
for several minutes before disappearing into the heavy shrubbery
behind the feeding areas. The Hermit Thrush appeared to be the
typical subspecies seen in the Interior West according to Sibley.
Other birds at the feeders in small numbers included Western Scrub-
Jay, BC Chickadee, Robins, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned
Sparrow, Gray-headed & Pink-sided Junco, House Finch & House Sparrow.

I did not see the Golden-crowned Sparrow, but bet the storm will bring
the bird back to the feeders and it will be seen in the next couple of
days.

Driving through the park I noticed American Kestrels in courtship mode
and a pair of Say's Phoebes.

Mike Henwood
Morrison
Jefferson County

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.