Canon City area update

Though other tasks got in the way, I did get out some yesterday and a little today to do some birding around Canon City. The riparian areas near the Arkansas River including the Canon City Riverwalk have many Yellow Warblers House Wrens and Black-headed Grosbeak singing. I also heard a few Yellow-breasted Chats and Common Yellowthroats singing on the east half of the Riverwalk. The squabbling calls of Western Kingbirds are everywhere and Eastern Kingbirds have returned to the river edge. And the calls of Bullock's Orioles penetrate riparian forest areas.

I did briefly see an empid flycather briefly yesterday on the east half of the Riverwalk, but it was silent and I have no idea what species it might have been. I also saw a MacGillivray's Warbler there also.

I saw 2 pair of Common Mergansers which are somewhat unusual this time of year (Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas doesn't show any breeding in Fremont or Pueblo counties but I have found evidence that that this species does breed in these counties). There are still White-faced Ibis around as I saw a flock of about 50-60 flying west at dusk, but I have not seen them feeding anywhere since last week.

The Arkansas River is running very high, due to warm early weather causing early this early run-off, so there are no shorebirds along the river or ducks that like the muddy areas like Blue-winged Teal.

SeEtta