Canon City birding on 8-21-05

I looked for the Forster's Tern again today but did not see it. Since Canon City and the surrounding area has only a few ponds in addition to the Arkansas River, we don't get many gulls or terns. Many of the gulls and terns we do get do not stay long so I was not surprised that the Forster's was not where I saw it yesterday.

I birded the eastern half of the Canon City Riverwalk again today. I ran into a birder from California who is doing a birding trip through here. After birding Pueblo tomorrow, he will head up through Colo Springs then west on H24 to begin his way back home. He was pleased to have seen an Eastern Kingbird. Though common here, this is near the limit of their westerly range. He wanted to see Blue Jays but I haven't heard any on the Riverwalk for awhile. Maybe he will see one in Pueblo tomorrow. It is always interesting to run into birders from other areas. The birds they want to see may be common in our area, though not always there when someone is looking for them.

I saw 2 Olive-sided Flycatchers. This is a bird of conservation concern. They breed in old-growth confinerous forests and some in deciduous andmixed aspen/conifer forests according to the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. So I am always pleased to see these birds.

SeEtta
Canon City