Searching for Owls

September 1, 2007

Roger and Randy Danka and I bushwhacked through the thickets south of the dam at Dixon Reservoir (Larimer). We ran into a small flock of warblers at 30 yards south of the east end of the dam and 30 yards east. An American Redstart was again loosely associated with 6-8 Wilson's Warblers and a MacGillivray's Warbler.

Mosquitoes were plentiful and Larimer County is noted for 95 percent of them carrying West Nile Virus. Therefore we did not want to stay for any length of time. The long pants, long sleeve shirts, and gloves made it quite uncomfortable in the summer heat.

A Sora was again walking the log under the eastern end of the trees (at the eastern end of the dam). I was here last Sunday searching for the reported Painted Redstart. A few Cedar Waxwings flew around hawking insects. Two American White Pelicans swam out on the lake.

In the late afternoon we walked around Red Feathers Lakes. Roger located an American Three-toed Woodpecker along the western side of the lakes. White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches fluttered about the campgrounds. Across the road to the south, we found a male Williamson's Sapsucker searching for food on the Douglas firs. After the rain stopped, Dark-eyed Juncos sang in celebration. What a beautiful song this small little bird has!

The highlight was a surprise American Redstart near the cabins at the northwest corner of the property. I can only remember a couple of Redstart reports from the mountains. Most of them were in open valleys such as Steamboat Springs and Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig.

Flammulated Owls can still be found on Pennock Pass. After dark we managed to hear 2 and see a third one. We stopped every 0.2 miles along CR 44h and listened for Common Poorwills; without success.

We had no luck finding Boreal Owls around Joe Wright Reservoir or the summit to Cameron Pass. Winds were quite strong which makes hearing them quite difficult. We did not go far from the main road (windy and wet).