August 12, 2009
Richard Stevens:
Eric Moser, Russ Givens and I went up to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County). We hiked around 4 hours before finally finding an adult and juvenile White-tailed Ptarmigan. The birds were on the south side of the hill southeast of the main parking area. If you take the 603 trail straight up the hill, the birds were 40 yards directly south of the top of the hill.
Next we hiked around Guanella Pass Campgrounds in search of an American Three-toed Woodpecker. Since their favorite trees along the Pass Road were bull-dozed down in the process of road improvements, Three-toed Woodpeckers are more difficult to find even though they are up there.
Eventually a male Three-toed Woodpecker was found while we hiked up the Lost Silver Dollar Trail (about 800 yards west of Guanella Pass Road).
Around the Campgrounds, we found MacGillivray's Warblers and Wilson's Warblers in the willows along the stream. A pair of Pine Grosbeaks was west of the Campgrounds. A flock of 6 Red Crossbills came in and ate from the pine cones before moving eastward.
They mentioned that a search for a Northern Pygmy-Owl would be good so we headed over to the Pike National Forest. While access to past Locations is a little closer from Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson), there is no parking there after dark.
Instead we drove up Forest Road 550 to the southern parking area for Pike National Forest. We then hiked the two miles into the forest to the Park View Trail (by way of the Strawberry Jack Trail). Most of the hike is through scattered trees (not thick forest) and the walk was quite enjoyable. The almost full moon lit the path well and flashlights were not required.
Our efforts were rewarded. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was calling about 400 yards south of the Park View Trail. It responded to our recordings and came closer. Allowing us a nice 20 second look though our spotlight, we stopped after that as to not further bother the owl.
Finally, we stopped along Forest Road 550 at 3 locations where I have gathered waypoints on Flammulated Owls. At one of the three, we obtained a response from my recordings!
Richard Stevens:
Eric Moser, Russ Givens and I went up to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County). We hiked around 4 hours before finally finding an adult and juvenile White-tailed Ptarmigan. The birds were on the south side of the hill southeast of the main parking area. If you take the 603 trail straight up the hill, the birds were 40 yards directly south of the top of the hill.
Next we hiked around Guanella Pass Campgrounds in search of an American Three-toed Woodpecker. Since their favorite trees along the Pass Road were bull-dozed down in the process of road improvements, Three-toed Woodpeckers are more difficult to find even though they are up there.
Eventually a male Three-toed Woodpecker was found while we hiked up the Lost Silver Dollar Trail (about 800 yards west of Guanella Pass Road).
Around the Campgrounds, we found MacGillivray's Warblers and Wilson's Warblers in the willows along the stream. A pair of Pine Grosbeaks was west of the Campgrounds. A flock of 6 Red Crossbills came in and ate from the pine cones before moving eastward.
They mentioned that a search for a Northern Pygmy-Owl would be good so we headed over to the Pike National Forest. While access to past Locations is a little closer from Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson), there is no parking there after dark.
Instead we drove up Forest Road 550 to the southern parking area for Pike National Forest. We then hiked the two miles into the forest to the Park View Trail (by way of the Strawberry Jack Trail). Most of the hike is through scattered trees (not thick forest) and the walk was quite enjoyable. The almost full moon lit the path well and flashlights were not required.
Our efforts were rewarded. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was calling about 400 yards south of the Park View Trail. It responded to our recordings and came closer. Allowing us a nice 20 second look though our spotlight, we stopped after that as to not further bother the owl.
Finally, we stopped along Forest Road 550 at 3 locations where I have gathered waypoints on Flammulated Owls. At one of the three, we obtained a response from my recordings!
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