August 21 to 25, 2009
Sue Ehlmann: Dianne Weston, Rebecca Kosten, and I decided to get away from the heat in Denver and spent a few days at a cabin in Jackson County. We birded parts of the days, but not as much as our male counterparts would have. We did have some fun!
Highs only reached the low 80s; lows at night dropped into the high 40s! It was very enjoyable in spite of several thunderstorms. We skipped looking for owls on several nights as we figured the thunder and lightning would greatly diminish our chances of success.
August 21
On the trip up we made the detour over to the South Boulder Creek Trail along Highway 93, south of Boulder. The previously reported Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was hawking insects when we arrived.
August 22
Early in the morning we listened for Boreal Owls at the Crags Campgrounds. One owl called from 80-100 yards south of the Campgrounds! On the walk back to our car, a Dusky Grouse crossed the road which runs south from the west side of the Campgrounds.
We stopped at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and watched hummingbirds. In the two hours of our visit over 60 hummingbirds could be seen at one time. Most of them were females, though a couple of male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds also flew in for a drink.
August 23
We birded about a mile hike up Ruby Jewel Road searching for Boreal Owls. None made a sound this morning. A Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away at approximately 100 yards east of Michigan Creek Road.
We watched hummingbirds at the KOA Campgrounds and the Gould Store. Again most of the 80+ birds were females. No Calliope Hummingbirds flew in that we could identify.
August 24
We wandered out in the middle afternoon and drove several of the gravel roads north of Delaney Butte Lakes and Lake John Wildlife Area. The rolling hills were very impressive in the late afternoon light. Winds were calm and the scenery very sedate!
There were no surprises at either of the wildlife areas. No Greater Sage-Grouse were found; we even checked the lek north of Delaney Buttes. It was a very pleasant drive however.
August 25
Up an hour before sunrise, we listened for Boreal Owls at Ranger Lake. A pair nested in the vicinity this spring; but no owls called this morning.
After sunrise we found a Townsend's Warbler flying about the Campgrounds.
We drove over to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge where we had better luck. A pair of Greater Sage-Grouse was seen crossing the road that runs south from the west side of the ranger's office/Visitor's Center.
A few Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows were perched on the many sage bushes.
Sue Ehlmann: Dianne Weston, Rebecca Kosten, and I decided to get away from the heat in Denver and spent a few days at a cabin in Jackson County. We birded parts of the days, but not as much as our male counterparts would have. We did have some fun!
Highs only reached the low 80s; lows at night dropped into the high 40s! It was very enjoyable in spite of several thunderstorms. We skipped looking for owls on several nights as we figured the thunder and lightning would greatly diminish our chances of success.
August 21
On the trip up we made the detour over to the South Boulder Creek Trail along Highway 93, south of Boulder. The previously reported Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was hawking insects when we arrived.
August 22
Early in the morning we listened for Boreal Owls at the Crags Campgrounds. One owl called from 80-100 yards south of the Campgrounds! On the walk back to our car, a Dusky Grouse crossed the road which runs south from the west side of the Campgrounds.
We stopped at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and watched hummingbirds. In the two hours of our visit over 60 hummingbirds could be seen at one time. Most of them were females, though a couple of male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds also flew in for a drink.
August 23
We birded about a mile hike up Ruby Jewel Road searching for Boreal Owls. None made a sound this morning. A Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away at approximately 100 yards east of Michigan Creek Road.
We watched hummingbirds at the KOA Campgrounds and the Gould Store. Again most of the 80+ birds were females. No Calliope Hummingbirds flew in that we could identify.
August 24
We wandered out in the middle afternoon and drove several of the gravel roads north of Delaney Butte Lakes and Lake John Wildlife Area. The rolling hills were very impressive in the late afternoon light. Winds were calm and the scenery very sedate!
There were no surprises at either of the wildlife areas. No Greater Sage-Grouse were found; we even checked the lek north of Delaney Buttes. It was a very pleasant drive however.
August 25
Up an hour before sunrise, we listened for Boreal Owls at Ranger Lake. A pair nested in the vicinity this spring; but no owls called this morning.
After sunrise we found a Townsend's Warbler flying about the Campgrounds.
We drove over to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge where we had better luck. A pair of Greater Sage-Grouse was seen crossing the road that runs south from the west side of the ranger's office/Visitor's Center.
A few Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows were perched on the many sage bushes.
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