Fall migration in lower Arkansas Valley

I have been down in the lower Arkansas Valley of Colorado for the past week to enjoy fall migration. Last night a cold front moved through and there was a small "fall-out" of migrants at the Lamar Woods, a migrant trap behind Lamar Jr College. Among a number of Wilson Warblers were a Blue-headed Vireo (a rarity here), and two Warbling Vireos including the one in this pic. There was a flock of Cedar Waxwings that I heard several times before watching them fly over.

Sadly, this important neotropical stop-over is being taken over by more and more non-native weeds. Though the warblers and other landbirds use the very invasive Tamarisk and Russian-Olive trees that are there, there is an increase in plants such as annual kochia and grasses that do not provide good habitat.
SeEtta

Red-headed Woodpecker in flight

This morning 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers were engaged in loud interactions as they chased between large cottonwood snags intersperced by bouts of drumming on the dead wood. I got these these photos as they chased around. Be sure to double-click on them for enlargement.
SeEtta

Lamar Woods & Red-headed Woodpeckers

I started birding at 6:30 am this morning at Lamar Woods, the premier migrant trap located behind Lamar Jr. College. One of the first birds I saw, and heard, this morning was the Red-headed Woodpecker in this pic. The pic is best seen by double-clicking it to enlarge it. It vocalized loudly and interacted with another Red-headed Woodpecker indicating a possible breeding pair. More on these Red-heads later.
SeEtta