Short-eared Owls at Lower Latham Reservoir

January 27, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I tried for another photograph of the Harris's Sparrow at Star K Ranch. The sparrow appeared shortly after sunrise and kicked around the snow for some seed. Unfortunately, the light was not good and all photos were blurry.

I had some business in Platteville and we headed north. We passed by Harvest Road and 138th but did not stay long. Neither Snowy Owl was conspicuously apparent.

It took several hours to set up a computer network for a friend. Afterwards, we had considered going to Wellington Wildlife Area (Larimer County) and search for Short-eared Owls. After reading that Gary Lefko had found a Short-eared Owl yesterday, we decided to drive around Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld) instead.

A Marsh Wren popped out of the cattails along CR 48. Raptors included Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and one Rough-legged Hawk. A Great Horned Owl was east of the reservoir.

No Short-eared Owls were north of the reservoir this afternoon. Two Short-eared Owls flew around the field south of Lower Latham Reservoir (County Road 48) at sunset.

Beautiful Winter Day Around Denver

January 26, 2012

Richard Stevens:

It was a fantastic day for birds and weather. Temperatures reached the high 50s and winds were calm.

Bryan Ehlmann and I drove around again searching for Snowy Owls. Today we focused mostly on the areas east and northeast of Denver International Airport. No Snowy Owls were found (we did not go over to Harvest Road, however did hear the darkish Snowy Owl was seen there).

None of our new "recruits" called to report a Snowy Owl. Over 200 observers were recruited this week (according to supervisors) from two trash disposal sites, two water treatment plants and baggage handlers at DIA. If any additional Snowy Owls are around, someone should see them.

Bryan "gave up" by noon and I timed my arrival at the Dinosaur Ridge for 2:30 pm. The Greater Roadrunner has been mostly reported between 2:45 pm and 4:45 pm.

I walked up the road and found the Greater Roadrunner walking along the closest ridge to the road. Originally, the roadrunner was 10 yards east of the three white culvert markers at 2:55 pm. It was directly above the markers from 3:10 pm to 3:20 pm (when I departed).

The Golden-crowned Sparrow was below the Red Rocks Park Trading Post feeders when I peeked around the building. It was a good day when both those birds can be observed without any waiting time!

My route back home was along Colfax Avenue. A quick detour to Denver City Park found the Long-tailed Duck still on Duck Lake. On a previous visit, I talked to the person who has a list of all birds in the Zoo. He assured that any ducks and geese on Duck Lake are wild birds and not part of their collection.

It was quite dark by the time I drove along the DIA Owl Loop. No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

Another Day of Snowy Owl Searches

January 25, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I again searched east of DIA for Snowy Owls. Again we used the technique "discovered" yesterday. We asked ranchers if we could pick up white bags and trash on their land. This again allowed us to hike over hills and scope fields not accessible to public roads. Two landowners did not find our request too outrageous and granted permission.

Several times, we checked the areas around 56th avenue and 470 toll road and east of Powhaton Road and south of 6th avenue (areas of previous sightings).

Unfortunately, the only Snowy Owls seen by us was those "hanging around" Harvest Road and 138th avenue. The "whitish" Snowy Owl was northwest of Harvest Road & 138th avenue. The "darkish" Snowy Owl was east of Harvest Road & 144th avenue.

Our birding day ended with a hike around Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Adams). Two Long-eared Owls were found in the windbreak along the west side of lakes 7 & 8.

Search for Snowy Owls Continues

January 24, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I decided to drive around DIA today in search of Snowy Owls. We did not relocate the Snowy Owl that Rebecca Kosten and I found yesterday afternoon at 56th avenue and 470-toll road.

During the day, we did go over to Harvest Road and 138th avenue and see the Snowy Owl there. Thanks to Sue Ponsor for reporting the owl was back there.

In between the two stops, we drove roads south and east of DIA. We tried to cover roads that we had missed in the past.

Whenever we found a person who appeared to spend some time in the area, we stopped and asked if they had seen any "white owls". One stop was quite productive. A "cowboy" feeding cows had seen a Snowy Owl earlier today (1/24) and also on 1/20! These sightings were approximately 6 miles from our sighting yesterday!

Early in the morning, I came up with the idea to ask landowners if we could pick up the white bags on their property. Some fields had dozens of these white grocery/store bags.

Several ranchers gave us "weird looks" about our request. Three landowners said go for it. This technique allowed us to walk over hills and scope fields that were not visible from a public road. No additional Snowy Owls were found, however one never knows. We at least explored fields never encountered before by us.

We stopped at two disposal sites and two water treatment plants, again asking about any "white owl" sightings. While this did not find any sightings, before the day was over, we had "recruited" another 200+ potential observers!

Our birding day ended along the DIA Owl Loop. The Short-eared Owls did not appear tonight.

Search for Snowy Owls!

January 23, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca and I took our own bird feeder to Star K Ranch, Adams County (closed on Monday and Tuesdays, they take down their feeders).

The Harris's Sparrow eventually arrived below the closest feeder to the parking area. However, 90 Red winged Blackbirds also flew to the feeders. The Red wings kept the Harris's and White crowned Sparrows deep in bushes. There never was a good photo opportunity in 2 hours.

After lunch, Rebecca and I drove around DIA for about 4 hours. This trip, we concentrated on the south side of the Airport.

Thousands of Horned Larks were north of the Front Range Airpark (southeast of Denver International Airport). We managed to pick out 2 Lapland Longspurs among the flocks. Most of these flocks were along Hudson Mile Road, north of 56th avenue.

There were dozens of white bags in the fields we passed. Late in the afternoon, we stopped to scope another "white bag". This one turned out to be an adult Snowy Owl! Yes, we were surprised after looking at several dozen white bags. Our scope was set up along 56th avenue (about 100 yards east of E470, the Toll Road, I mention this in case the Toll Highway is not called E470 here).

We sent out two RBA text messages and four birders came by before it was too dark to see the Snowy Owl.

Little Time to Bird Today

January 22, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Football playoffs today, we only had time for short and quick trip to the store for supplies. A brief stop at Star K Ranch Open Space (Adams County) did find the Harris's Sparrow.

We drove along Harvest Road and the 138th avenue loop on the way home. We did not find the Snowy Owl.

Beautiful Winter Day Around Denver

January 21, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Plans today were for a short birding day. We drove to Denver City Park to search for a Barrow's Goldeneye reported yesterday. While we did see the Long-tailed Duck, none of the Goldeneyes swimming around could be called a Barrow's Goldeneye.

We decided to drive to Golden for lunch. My favorite restaurant was closed "out of business, guess I did not go there enough).

We passed within a mile or two of Dinosaur Ridge; of course, we had to stop and attempt to see the Greater Roadrunner. It did not show up during the hour stop.

We drove through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on our way to the Barr Lake area. While watching 27 Mule Deer right next to the main park road, a Great Horned Owl flew across "old parker road". A second one followed. It was great to know that some Great Horned Owls are still in the park. Let us hope they nest successfully!

No owls were found along the DIA Owl Loop this evening. However, the sunset was spectacular!