Hi Hugh and all -
This fall I have seen more Townsend's solitaires than ever in my over 35
years in Denver and suburbs. Started seeing them Oct 20...usually I notice
them Nov 1...about a week or two ago there were many in my neighborhood,
eating berries, associating with robins. That number tailed off, but I have
seen them in my neighborhood nearly every day...usually hearing their
characteristic note from their characteristic high perch on a bare branch.
Had one yesterday at Cherry Creek SP, one yesterday afternoon from my front
yard, same this morning here but not at Cherry Creek. They often associate
with robins...robin flocks are large now and frequently seen... saw about 30
at Cherry Creek near the firing range this AM, 8 or so near the west picnic
tables; flock of 40 at Orchard and Holly this AM.
I don't usually see solitaires into December, and thought to myself, with
the large number here this late, that great numbers should show up on the
Christmas counts, if the weather holds.
Most red-winged blackbirds have passed through, but some smaller flocks
remain. Their size and location is erratic...I had a flock of 400 in
migration a month or so ago...flock sizes are smaller now...flock of 25 at
Cherry Creek SP yesterday, none today. I saw reasonable numbers at my
feeder this fall, but moderately (30-40%) less than last year.
Re. the red-br nuthatch post...I have two at my feeder every day.
Karl Stecher
Centennial, near Orchard and Colorado Blvd.
Hugh Kingery writes:
Cobirds carries lots of reports about birds that people see, but hardly any about species that we don't see. I have queries on two:
Townsend's Solitaires: most winters, we have 2-5 on the hillside next to our home. This year, none to one (none for the last 3 weeks). Have they picked other sites, such as urban Denver, moved out onto the plains, gone south, stayed in the mountains, or really declined?
Red-winged Blackbird: One of the people who reports to Denver Audubon's Backyard Birds commented that he'd seen fewer Red-wings in his yard this year than usual. Denver Audubon's monthly Walk the Wetlands recorded 142 in 2009; 71 in 2010. A localized phenomenon, or a widespread one?
Christmas Bird Counts will give us data about these species, but they cover only a tiny part of our world. Any thoughts?
Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO
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