Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Return to Jackson Reservoir

Richard Stevens:

September 9, 2008

Gary Weston and I arrived at Jackson Reservoir, Morgan County about 5:00am. We heard an Eastern Screech-Owl for our first bird of the day (assisted with a playback
recording).

When it was light enough to see, we picked out the juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger that was found yesterday. Unfortunately before it was light enough for a good photo, it flew
off to the west (I did get a witness shot but it is pretty dark. Can tell it is a jaeger, but not good enough for ID). We did not see it the rest of the morning.

While walking the north woods (Jackson WLA) a Red-eyed Vireo was added to our day list. The best birds were found in the southwest corner. Here we had an American Redstart, Nashville Warbler and Cassin's Vireo. The campgrounds were slow and we walked the west side to the north end hoping to find a Long-eared Owl or Short-eared Owl. Neither was seen, but a Barn Owl came out of the woods east of the northern campgrounds. Two Great Horned Owls were also observed.

We debated on whether to head northeast to Prewitt Reservoir but did not add the extra miles to our bodies.

Late in the afternoon, I went alone to Cherry Creek Reservoir, Arapahoe County. A search of the Blackpoll Warbler and Magnolia Warbler reported by Loch Kilpatrick a few days earlier was not successful.

At the trees north of the Mountain Loop, a small flock of birds included 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 male Wilson's Warblers, and an Orange-crowned Warbler.

At the trees at the western tip of the Lake Loop I was counting Chipping Sparrows (added up to 47). While doing this, 5 Black-capped Chickadees appeared in the two young and short Russian Olive Trees. Always worth watching a flock of Chickadees to see what else might accompany them, I scoped them for 20 minutes. Sure enough a Townsend's Warbler was with them.

Scoping the southeastern sand spit was a bust. Three or four dozen American White Pelicans and 2 Killdeer were the only birds there at 6:00pm. My final stop was the southwest sandbar. Many pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, Ring-billed Gulls, a few California Gulls, and Common Tern were here.

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