Saturday, July 13, 2024 Bird Walk at Meyers Gulch Trail with Owen Robertson

July 13, 2024

Participants had to brave the heat for this month’s bird walk at Meyers Gulch, but were rewarded with a host of montane birds at this beautiful location on the west side of Flagstaff Mountain in the Walker Ranch area. The trail begins by passing through Ponderosa Pine savannah (open grasslands with scattered trees), then passes by a creek flanked by willows, Douglas Fir, and Colorado Blue Spruce. It’s a great place to find characteristic species of Colorado’s foothills, while the mix of habitats mean surprises are always possible.

Tree Swallow. Photo by Jamie Simo

The walk began with a mixed flock of Tree and Violet-green Swallows soaring over the parking lot – a unique sight in the mid-elevation habitats where these two species overlap. Identifying these species, while difficult on rapidly flying birds, is straightforward – Violet-greens have a distinct white rump band and pale face while, conversely, Trees have a solid blue rump and darker face. Meanwhile, dainty Pygmy Nuthatches flitted around in the canopy of nearby Ponderosa Pines and plentiful Vesper Sparrows (a prairie bird making use of the savanna-type habitat) serenaded us with their trilling songs.

Mountain Bluebird. Photo by Jamie Simo

A little further on, a gorgeous male Mountain Bluebird was spotted perching some distance away. This species is equally at home in alpine tundra or lowland prairie, and afforded us an opportunity to study the differences between it and the male Western Bluebird that we found nesting nearby – paler blue coloration with no rufous on the chest or back. The forest, though, harbored a different set of birds: Western Wood-Pewees caught insects from the tops of fir trees while Western Flycatchers, audible though not visible, gave their trademark whi-deet song from deep in the trees.

Western Tanager. Photo by Jamie Simo

The highlight, however, was a stunning male Western Tanager that showed off its bright yellow and red plumage for the entire group to enjoy. The birds didn’t stop on the way back, either, with a singing Warbling Vireo (of the distinct “Western” vocal type) staying hidden in the canopy and an exciting mixed flock of bluebirds and Steller’s Jays keeping us busy. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, with good birds and great people in an incredible location!

Meyers Gulch Trail
July 13, 2024
25 species

Eurasian Collared-Dove – 1
Mourning Dove – 2
Broad-tailed Hummingbird – 4
Turkey Vulture – 1
Northern Flicker – 1
Western Wood-Pewee – 7
Western Flycatcher – 3
Warbling Vireo – 1
Steller’s Jay – 3
Common Raven – 1
Mountain Chickadee – 6
Tree Swallow – 5
Violet-green Swallow – 16
White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
Pygmy Nuthatch – 14
House Wren – 6
Western Bluebird – 9
Mountain Bluebird – 1
American Robin – 4
House Finch – 1
Chipping Sparrow – 3
Dark-eyed Junco – 3
Vesper Sparrow – 8
Green-tailed Towhee – 1
Western Tanager – 4

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