Saturday, December 6, 2008

Colorado State Forest, Jackson County

December 1 through 5

Gary Weston: I was joined by several birders off and on through the week. We cross-country skied and snow shoed through the Colorado State Forest.

Our main goal was to flag a couple of Boreal Owls for two birders, one going for an ABA big year, the other going for a Colorado big year.

On Monday (12/1) we found 7 Barrow's Goldeneyes on the Blue River Water Treatment Plant in Summit County. Green Mountain Reservoir, Wolford, and Windy Gap didn't have any birds of note.

The highlight was a Gyrfalcon along Highway 125. It was about halfway between the entrance to the main office for Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge and the road heading west to the self driving auto tour of the Refuge.

Tuesday morning we found 2 Greater Sage-Grouse walking Jackson County Road 26, about 0.6 miles north of CO Hwy 14.

With much effort we found 3 Boreal Owls during the week. These were not near a road. Early Thursday morning we saw a Boreal Owl near the top of Cameron Pass!

Later Thursday (12/4) a flock of 60 Rosy Finches (4 Brown-capped, 2 Black Rosy) was seen at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.

Friday we searched unsuccessfully for the Iceland Gull reported at Horsetooth Reservoir. We also stopped at Union Reservoir but saw nothing unusual. The Jim Hamm Park Swamp Sparrow was not relocated in a 15 minute search.

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