November 1, 2007
Margo and I enjoyed a fantastic birding day. We ran into no wind throughout the day. It has to be the first time I have been on the top of Loveland Pass and Guanella Pass and experienced calm.
We left Denver at 6:00pm to search for birds in the mountains. We enjoyed great success in Summit County with many Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Clark's Nutcrackers, Gray Jays, Mountain Chickadees, Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Siskins, 3 species of nuthatches, and three species of Rosy Finches.
Our next stop was Loveland Pass. No wind, but we found no Ptarmigan either. I suggested that instead of walking for several miles looking for a couple of Ptarmigan here, that we head over to Guanella Pass where at least the number of potential birds was much greater.
Once at Guanella Pass, again no wind!, we were lucky to find 25+ White-tailed Ptarmigan. Our search lasted less than 30 minutes (which is much better than my usual 4 to 6 hour searches).
With several hours of daylight left, we headed over to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson). We only took time to walk the south side of Pine Lake. An American Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away on the hill near the southwest corner of the lake.
She had two additional lifebirds to find, so we drove to nearby Mt Falcon Park (Jefferson). We walked to the old castle but found no Dusky Grouse. Our walk continued east and I heard a Dusky Grouse about 25 yards east of the castle (and 30 yards south of the main path). While here, 4 Townsend's Solitaires flew to the trees above us.
Margo and I enjoyed a fantastic birding day. We ran into no wind throughout the day. It has to be the first time I have been on the top of Loveland Pass and Guanella Pass and experienced calm.
We left Denver at 6:00pm to search for birds in the mountains. We enjoyed great success in Summit County with many Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Clark's Nutcrackers, Gray Jays, Mountain Chickadees, Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Siskins, 3 species of nuthatches, and three species of Rosy Finches.
Our next stop was Loveland Pass. No wind, but we found no Ptarmigan either. I suggested that instead of walking for several miles looking for a couple of Ptarmigan here, that we head over to Guanella Pass where at least the number of potential birds was much greater.
Once at Guanella Pass, again no wind!, we were lucky to find 25+ White-tailed Ptarmigan. Our search lasted less than 30 minutes (which is much better than my usual 4 to 6 hour searches).
With several hours of daylight left, we headed over to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson). We only took time to walk the south side of Pine Lake. An American Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away on the hill near the southwest corner of the lake.
She had two additional lifebirds to find, so we drove to nearby Mt Falcon Park (Jefferson). We walked to the old castle but found no Dusky Grouse. Our walk continued east and I heard a Dusky Grouse about 25 yards east of the castle (and 30 yards south of the main path). While here, 4 Townsend's Solitaires flew to the trees above us.
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