Monday, March 19, 2007

Search for Owls Along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt

March 19, 2007

I enjoyed a pleasant hike between Prospect and Johnson Parks along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson County). I started the round trip at 5:00am so as to search for owls first.

I have not been enjoying any luck during the daylight in finding the Eastern Screech-Owl at Prospect Park. Today a squirrel came out of the hole the owl usually used. That cannot be good for owl watchers. A Raccoon uses one of the other holes.

An Eastern Screech-Owl was heard while at the first footbridge west of Johnson Park (5:45am).

Birds were few and far between. Nine Black-capped Chickadees and four White-crowned Sparrows were encountered.

On the return trip, I ran into a flock of 40+ Cedar Waxwings; unfortunately no Bohemian Waxwings were among them. This flock was 300 yards west of Johnson Park.

Many singing birds in the spring sunshine included Northern Flickers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, and even a Western Meadowlark.

Nice day to be outside especially with cold and possible snow? in the forecast.

I was hoping another birder would relocate the Chatfield Reservoir Sage Sparrow or report that it was not there? No word, guess I will head that way.

Added later in afternoon: I finally made it over to Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson). I could not find the Sage Sparrow reported yesterday in a 2 hour search. Nothing unusual was seen; birding was quite slow. I did hike about 0.5 miles south of Kingfisher Bridge; nothing there either.

1 comment:

Terry Michael said...

I went back Monday morning and couldn't find the sparrow. Sorry I didn't let you know. I no longer have internet at home because we use cell phones. I have to go to library to email.