July 10-12, 2009
Richard Stevens:
July 10
Bryan Ehlmann, Sue Ehlmann, Rebecca Kosten, and I hiked up Cow Creek Trail (Rocky Mountain National Park) about 2 hours before sunrise.
Two Northern Pygmy-Owls answered our recordings. The first was just west of the wooden stairs which are about 0.8 miles west of the parking area.
The second Northern Pygmy-Owl was along Cow Creek and upstream from the wooden bridge reached by hiking south (downhill) from the three trail sign at 1.2 miles west of the parking area. Bryan was able to pick this owl out of the evergreen trees and all of us enjoyed great views!
Afterwards we continued up to Bridal Veil Falls (it's about a 5.9 mile trek round trip from the Cow Creek trailhead near the Rocky Mountain Research Center [also called McGraw Ranch Trail]).
None of us had visited the falls before and were a little disappointed. We had pictured a tall falls where Black Swifts perhaps nested. Instead the falls turned out to be about 20 feet high or so and did not provide a place for swifts to nest or forage for food (see August, 2009 "Colorado Field Notes".)
After lunch we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park proper and to the infamous (for White-tailed Ptarmigan) Medicine Bow Curve.
I recommend that birders hike the trail leading north from the pullover to the end of the trail. If no Ptarmigan are found, then drop down 20 yards and return to the pullover. (It is legal to hike off the trail here. I have asked rangers on more than one occasion. They all agreed that it is okay; but they prefer to not advertise the fact. It keeps elk watchers and casual hikers on the main trail. Ptarmigan searchers are few and far between and do not disturb the tundra to any large degree.)
Our next stop was the Lava Cliffs pullover. The previously reported Brown-capped Rosy Finch was not found today.
We were luckier at the Rock Cut Trail. A pair of Ptarmigan was walking the northwest hillside over the summit of the trail! A few American Pipits were observed on the rather steep but short hike to the top.
Endovalley Picnic Area added a Green-tailed Towhee, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, a male Rufous Hummingbird, Wilson's Warblers, and plenty of Steller's Jays to our day list. No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found on a hike up the trail leading west from the picnic area (unlike in past years).
We ended our birding day at the Alluvial Fan area of Rocky Mountain National Park in hopes of observing a Black Swift foraging for food; without success. Just to the west of parking area we did find a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers and an American Dipper!
July 11
About an hour before sunrise, Bryan and I walked around the cabins east of Highway 66 (and east of the YMCA of the Rockies). A Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our recordings (for the third of our week).
At sunrise, the four of us drove south to Copeland Lake and found a pair of Black Swifts flying over Copeland Lake (Wild Basin section of Rocky Mountain National Park).
After they disappeared to the west, we hiked around south and west of the lake. The area was quite birdy and added to our early day list: a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers, a male Downy Woodpecker, a male Hairy Woodpecker, and a MacGillivray's Warbler (down in the willows below the hill).
We stopped and walked around the area about a mile west of the entrance. In past years Three-toed Woodpeckers have been found around the old snags. We did not have success in seeing any Three-toed Woodpeckers but did hear one drumming briefly. Several Warbling Vireos and a pair of Olive-sided Flycatchers were also found in this area.
Our last trek of the day was a hike up to Calypso Falls and beyond to Ouzel Falls. One of our target birds has been a Winter Wren. None were found along this hike either.
A bonus bird(s) was two Black Swifts flying overhead when we reached Calypso Cascades. Another two or the same two Black Swifts were observed as we reached Ouzel Falls. For those so inclined, Calypso Cascades is an easy 1.8 mile hike west of the Ranger Station at the west end of Wild Basin. Ouzel Falls is another 0.9 miles (though considered a moderate hike).
On the return trip to the Ranger Station we heard an American Three-toed Woodpecker near the burn area just above Calypso Falls. This could have been the one found by Kathy Mihm Dunning on 7/9?
July 12
About 2 hours before sunrise, Bryan and I hiked around the southern and western borders of the YMCA of the Rockies. Our trek was rewarded with a Flammulated Owl answering our recordings!
The four of us hoped for another chance at finding a Winter Wren. Just after sunrise we hiked from the Upper Bear Parking Area to Emerald Lake and back. The habitat was not where we would most expect a Winter Wren; none were found.
We did see an American Three-toed Woodpecker about halfway between the parking area and Nymph Lake. Once we got above Nymph Lake we ran into a pair of White-tailed Ptarmigan! Another group of hikers had found 5+ White-tailed Ptarmigan farther up the trail!
In the afternoon we hiked from the Cub Lake Trailhead to Fern Lake and back. Again no Winter Wrens were found. Along the hike we did see a Dusky Grouse and another American Three-toed Woodpecker. Neither was in a location that would be easy to describe or relocate.
Having missed Winter Wren, we drove over to the Alluvial Fan area. No Black Swifts were observed flying around so we decided to give Winter Wren once last chance by walking along several sections of the Old Fall River road. Again no Winter Wrens and we departed.
Richard Stevens:
July 10
Bryan Ehlmann, Sue Ehlmann, Rebecca Kosten, and I hiked up Cow Creek Trail (Rocky Mountain National Park) about 2 hours before sunrise.
Two Northern Pygmy-Owls answered our recordings. The first was just west of the wooden stairs which are about 0.8 miles west of the parking area.
The second Northern Pygmy-Owl was along Cow Creek and upstream from the wooden bridge reached by hiking south (downhill) from the three trail sign at 1.2 miles west of the parking area. Bryan was able to pick this owl out of the evergreen trees and all of us enjoyed great views!
Afterwards we continued up to Bridal Veil Falls (it's about a 5.9 mile trek round trip from the Cow Creek trailhead near the Rocky Mountain Research Center [also called McGraw Ranch Trail]).
None of us had visited the falls before and were a little disappointed. We had pictured a tall falls where Black Swifts perhaps nested. Instead the falls turned out to be about 20 feet high or so and did not provide a place for swifts to nest or forage for food (see August, 2009 "Colorado Field Notes".)
After lunch we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park proper and to the infamous (for White-tailed Ptarmigan) Medicine Bow Curve.
I recommend that birders hike the trail leading north from the pullover to the end of the trail. If no Ptarmigan are found, then drop down 20 yards and return to the pullover. (It is legal to hike off the trail here. I have asked rangers on more than one occasion. They all agreed that it is okay; but they prefer to not advertise the fact. It keeps elk watchers and casual hikers on the main trail. Ptarmigan searchers are few and far between and do not disturb the tundra to any large degree.)
Our next stop was the Lava Cliffs pullover. The previously reported Brown-capped Rosy Finch was not found today.
We were luckier at the Rock Cut Trail. A pair of Ptarmigan was walking the northwest hillside over the summit of the trail! A few American Pipits were observed on the rather steep but short hike to the top.
Endovalley Picnic Area added a Green-tailed Towhee, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, a male Rufous Hummingbird, Wilson's Warblers, and plenty of Steller's Jays to our day list. No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found on a hike up the trail leading west from the picnic area (unlike in past years).
We ended our birding day at the Alluvial Fan area of Rocky Mountain National Park in hopes of observing a Black Swift foraging for food; without success. Just to the west of parking area we did find a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers and an American Dipper!
July 11
About an hour before sunrise, Bryan and I walked around the cabins east of Highway 66 (and east of the YMCA of the Rockies). A Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our recordings (for the third of our week).
At sunrise, the four of us drove south to Copeland Lake and found a pair of Black Swifts flying over Copeland Lake (Wild Basin section of Rocky Mountain National Park).
After they disappeared to the west, we hiked around south and west of the lake. The area was quite birdy and added to our early day list: a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers, a male Downy Woodpecker, a male Hairy Woodpecker, and a MacGillivray's Warbler (down in the willows below the hill).
We stopped and walked around the area about a mile west of the entrance. In past years Three-toed Woodpeckers have been found around the old snags. We did not have success in seeing any Three-toed Woodpeckers but did hear one drumming briefly. Several Warbling Vireos and a pair of Olive-sided Flycatchers were also found in this area.
Our last trek of the day was a hike up to Calypso Falls and beyond to Ouzel Falls. One of our target birds has been a Winter Wren. None were found along this hike either.
A bonus bird(s) was two Black Swifts flying overhead when we reached Calypso Cascades. Another two or the same two Black Swifts were observed as we reached Ouzel Falls. For those so inclined, Calypso Cascades is an easy 1.8 mile hike west of the Ranger Station at the west end of Wild Basin. Ouzel Falls is another 0.9 miles (though considered a moderate hike).
On the return trip to the Ranger Station we heard an American Three-toed Woodpecker near the burn area just above Calypso Falls. This could have been the one found by Kathy Mihm Dunning on 7/9?
July 12
About 2 hours before sunrise, Bryan and I hiked around the southern and western borders of the YMCA of the Rockies. Our trek was rewarded with a Flammulated Owl answering our recordings!
The four of us hoped for another chance at finding a Winter Wren. Just after sunrise we hiked from the Upper Bear Parking Area to Emerald Lake and back. The habitat was not where we would most expect a Winter Wren; none were found.
We did see an American Three-toed Woodpecker about halfway between the parking area and Nymph Lake. Once we got above Nymph Lake we ran into a pair of White-tailed Ptarmigan! Another group of hikers had found 5+ White-tailed Ptarmigan farther up the trail!
In the afternoon we hiked from the Cub Lake Trailhead to Fern Lake and back. Again no Winter Wrens were found. Along the hike we did see a Dusky Grouse and another American Three-toed Woodpecker. Neither was in a location that would be easy to describe or relocate.
Having missed Winter Wren, we drove over to the Alluvial Fan area. No Black Swifts were observed flying around so we decided to give Winter Wren once last chance by walking along several sections of the Old Fall River road. Again no Winter Wrens and we departed.
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