September 28, 2007
Terry King and I left Denver at 4:00am in search of owls and Common Poorwill. We arrived at Reynolds Park about an hour before sunrise. In less than 5 minutes a Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our playback recordings. In the dim light, we were able to see the owl about along Oxen Draw Trail at 20 yards uphill (south) of the Songbird Trail. We watched it call for about 10 minutes before it flew off to the southeast.
No Common Poorwills called and we continued our hike up the Oxen Draw Trail. About 200 yards south of the Songbird Trail, Terry noticed a Dusky Grouse walking across the path! It appeared to be a female and she eventually wandered uphill to the east.
Two of our three target birds, we did not have any luck finding the third (American Three-toed Woodpecker). We searched up the Oxen Draw Trail and around its junction with the Raven's Roost and Eagle's View Trails. We continued to the top of the Eagle's View Trail and then back down to our car. We were quite satisfied with our morning.
On the trek down, we found all three nuthatch species (Red-breasted, White-breasted, & Pygmy). A Brown Creeper was seen about 100 yards from the end of our hike. A few Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Black-capped Chickadees, and 2 Red Crossbill were also added to our day list.
Our next stop was Pine Valley Ranch Park, also in Jefferson County. We again ran into all three nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, and Pine Siskins.
Finally we found a male American Three-toed Woodpecker. He crossed the Buck Gulch Trail at about 400 yards south of the Pine Lake Trail. Two male Hairy Woodpeckers were also observed.
We drove around to the south side of Pike National Forest and found a Northern Goshawk near the junction of Forest Roads 550 road and 553 .
From here we headed toward Deckers and searched unsuccessfully for Northern Saw-whet Owls or Flammulated Owls. We did see another Three-toed Woodpecker.
In the late afternoon, we headed east to Castlewood Canyon State Park. We managed to find a Western Bluebird for Terry (lifebird). A couple of Mountain Bluebirds were also flying around Castlewood Canyon Road near the entrance to the Winkler Ranch.
After dark we played tapes near the waterfalls in the park; without success. Wandering over to the subdivision west of the park was more successful. Finally a Northern Saw-whet Owl answered us back. Unfortunately, it was on private property and we could not try and get looks at the bird.
Terry King and I left Denver at 4:00am in search of owls and Common Poorwill. We arrived at Reynolds Park about an hour before sunrise. In less than 5 minutes a Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our playback recordings. In the dim light, we were able to see the owl about along Oxen Draw Trail at 20 yards uphill (south) of the Songbird Trail. We watched it call for about 10 minutes before it flew off to the southeast.
No Common Poorwills called and we continued our hike up the Oxen Draw Trail. About 200 yards south of the Songbird Trail, Terry noticed a Dusky Grouse walking across the path! It appeared to be a female and she eventually wandered uphill to the east.
Two of our three target birds, we did not have any luck finding the third (American Three-toed Woodpecker). We searched up the Oxen Draw Trail and around its junction with the Raven's Roost and Eagle's View Trails. We continued to the top of the Eagle's View Trail and then back down to our car. We were quite satisfied with our morning.
On the trek down, we found all three nuthatch species (Red-breasted, White-breasted, & Pygmy). A Brown Creeper was seen about 100 yards from the end of our hike. A few Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Black-capped Chickadees, and 2 Red Crossbill were also added to our day list.
Our next stop was Pine Valley Ranch Park, also in Jefferson County. We again ran into all three nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, and Pine Siskins.
Finally we found a male American Three-toed Woodpecker. He crossed the Buck Gulch Trail at about 400 yards south of the Pine Lake Trail. Two male Hairy Woodpeckers were also observed.
We drove around to the south side of Pike National Forest and found a Northern Goshawk near the junction of Forest Roads 550 road and 553 .
From here we headed toward Deckers and searched unsuccessfully for Northern Saw-whet Owls or Flammulated Owls. We did see another Three-toed Woodpecker.
In the late afternoon, we headed east to Castlewood Canyon State Park. We managed to find a Western Bluebird for Terry (lifebird). A couple of Mountain Bluebirds were also flying around Castlewood Canyon Road near the entrance to the Winkler Ranch.
After dark we played tapes near the waterfalls in the park; without success. Wandering over to the subdivision west of the park was more successful. Finally a Northern Saw-whet Owl answered us back. Unfortunately, it was on private property and we could not try and get looks at the bird.
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