October 2, 2007
The day started out with 20+ mph winds on the plains. Barr Lake was surprisingly calm. Winds did die down later in the morning. The crisp cool feel to the air made for a beautiful fall day in Colorado!
Before sunrise, I drove around north and east of DIA looking for Short-eared Owls this morning; without success. Two Burrowing Owls are still at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue site. I have not found Burrowing Owls at the other sites along the DIA Owl Loop in my last couple of trips now. (Though I did see one at the 0.2 miles north of Tower Road & 56th avenue site later in the day).
I counted 5 Northern Harriers after sunrise. Most were along the new paved road; 120th avenue has now been extended east from Trussville Road and is paved for 4.5 miles. They cut through the rancher's land there, look for new housing soon.
A Peregrine Falcon flew over the Prairie Dog colony (Tower, north of 56th) at 6:34am. A Ferruginous Hawk stood on the telephone poles at the intersection of 112th and 114th avenues at 7:00am. (And yes the two avenues cross, weird). No additional hawks were seen throughout the morning.
A four hour walk around Barr Lake was enjoyable but not birdy. Discounting waterfowl, flickers, and starlings, I observed around 47 birds (not species, but birds). West Nile Virus has surely taken it toll on Barr Lake State Park and other places around Colorado.
The highlight was seeing my first Adams County Cassin's Kingbird. The flycatcher was perched in the dead tree just north of mile marker 8.0.
A Green-tailed Towhee was with a flock of 11 White-crowned Sparrows at mile marker 8.8. A male Hairy Woodpecker and Hermit Thrush were up the Pioneer Trail (mm 8.1).
All species: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (9), Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee (1), Cassin's Kingbird, House Wren (2), Rock Wren (1), Green-tailed Towhee (1), Hermit Thrush. Slow day, but it was still a pleasant walk in mild winds.
Later in the afternoon I had occasion to past through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe). The Great Black-backed Gull was on the southwest sandbar. Two Common Terns flew around the same area. And two Sabine's Gulls flew around just south of the dam tower. I did not have the time to scope the lake for other birds. Did not see the Lesser Black-backed Gull or Great Egret; again I did not spend much time there.
The day started out with 20+ mph winds on the plains. Barr Lake was surprisingly calm. Winds did die down later in the morning. The crisp cool feel to the air made for a beautiful fall day in Colorado!
Before sunrise, I drove around north and east of DIA looking for Short-eared Owls this morning; without success. Two Burrowing Owls are still at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue site. I have not found Burrowing Owls at the other sites along the DIA Owl Loop in my last couple of trips now. (Though I did see one at the 0.2 miles north of Tower Road & 56th avenue site later in the day).
I counted 5 Northern Harriers after sunrise. Most were along the new paved road; 120th avenue has now been extended east from Trussville Road and is paved for 4.5 miles. They cut through the rancher's land there, look for new housing soon.
A Peregrine Falcon flew over the Prairie Dog colony (Tower, north of 56th) at 6:34am. A Ferruginous Hawk stood on the telephone poles at the intersection of 112th and 114th avenues at 7:00am. (And yes the two avenues cross, weird). No additional hawks were seen throughout the morning.
A four hour walk around Barr Lake was enjoyable but not birdy. Discounting waterfowl, flickers, and starlings, I observed around 47 birds (not species, but birds). West Nile Virus has surely taken it toll on Barr Lake State Park and other places around Colorado.
The highlight was seeing my first Adams County Cassin's Kingbird. The flycatcher was perched in the dead tree just north of mile marker 8.0.
A Green-tailed Towhee was with a flock of 11 White-crowned Sparrows at mile marker 8.8. A male Hairy Woodpecker and Hermit Thrush were up the Pioneer Trail (mm 8.1).
All species: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (9), Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee (1), Cassin's Kingbird, House Wren (2), Rock Wren (1), Green-tailed Towhee (1), Hermit Thrush. Slow day, but it was still a pleasant walk in mild winds.
Later in the afternoon I had occasion to past through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe). The Great Black-backed Gull was on the southwest sandbar. Two Common Terns flew around the same area. And two Sabine's Gulls flew around just south of the dam tower. I did not have the time to scope the lake for other birds. Did not see the Lesser Black-backed Gull or Great Egret; again I did not spend much time there.
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