August 6 through 9, 2009
Richard Stevens:
August 6
Jim Fuller, Brad Hutton and I returned to the Pawnee National Grasslands area (Weld) for another search for Mountain Plovers.
On the trip up we stopped at Lower Latham Reservoir and Beebe Draw Ponds. No uncommon birds were observed. We did relocate Dickcissels at two locations (CR 42 and CR 45).
We enjoyed walking around several fields in spite of the hot temperatures. It took an hour to find a Mountain Plover at the field north of CR 94 and CR 63. About a dozen Burrowing Owls were scattered around west of the old cement drain (north of CR 94). Finally a Mountain Plover was found 1012 yards west of the old cement drain and 20 yards north of the dirt road that leads west.
Swift Foxes were out at both the dens that I discovered on August 3rd (two of four dens found that day)!
We continued east to Murphy's Pasture (CR 96) and found several McCown's Longspurs along CR 96. A 30 minute walk around the field south of CR 96 at 1.7 miles west of CR 77 added another Mountain Plover to our day list.
Many Brewer's Sparrows, the Clay-colored Sparrow nest (first recorded Weld County record), and several Lark Buntings were found as we continued back west. No Chestnut-collared Longspurs could be found here or south of CR 69 and 96.
Two Cassin's Sparrows were observed along CR 69, just north of CR 96. There are a bunch of Yucca Plants in the area (the only we saw along CR 69). Thanks to Nick Komar for pointing out this spot!
We had to drive up to Highway 85 and CR 114 to get out Chestnut-collared Longspur for the trip. We only had to walk about halfway to the windmill in the southeast field before finding two male Chestnut-collared Longspurs. They were still singing and displaying (seems late in the season?).
Burrowing Owls were found at many locations including:
Hwy 14 & CR 51
CR 90 & CR 51
North of CR 94 & CR 63
Hwy 14 & 0.7 miles east of CR 51
After dinner we continued to Pennock Pass. Having made half a dozen trips up there this year; it only took a few minutes to find Flammulated Owls. In fact, we had 4 Flammulated Owls spread around 3 Locations.
Returning to Highway 14, a Common Poorwill was found along Stove Prairie Road at 0.3 miles south of Highway 14. It answered our recordings and was seen in our spotlight.
August 7
We did not arrive at Cameron Pass (Jackson County) until after midnight. No Boreal Owls were found at my favorite spots (usual Locations).
We finally located a Boreal Owl after a three mile hike into the Colorado State Forest. We enjoyed the hike (from the end of Michigan Creek Road) along the road heading east into the forest. Several owl boxes are located in the area. While none were used again this year (fifth year in a row), a pair of Boreal Owls nesting in Aspens near the boxes!
I found several birders like myself a glutton for punishment; we continued west to the old Teller City ghost town (foregoing any sleep for a few more hours).
While we could not relocate any American Three-toed Woodpeckers, we did manage to find one of the two Northern Pygmy-Owls that appear to be nesting at the southwest corner of the self guided hiking tour around the old Silver mining town. Remnants of the "house of ill-repute" and several cabins are still up there!
Beware; a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle is definitely required to reach the ghost town.
After getting a few hours sleep, toward sunset, we drove around Jackson County Road 26 but did not find any Greater Sage-Grouse. After dark we searched for owls around Gould; without success.
August 8
We got a few more hours of sleep this morning and then drove north to Steamboat Springs State Park and north to Columbine. The forests east of Columbine have been good for White-winged Crossbills in the past. Unfortunately, we could not find any.
Several Sandhill Cranes were found while driving around the gravel county roads north of Columbine. A few hummingbirds
We birded around Walden Reservoir, Delaney Buttes Wildlife Area, and Lake John Wildlife Area. No uncommon birds were found.
A drive along Jackson County Road 25 did not find any grouse but we did see plenty of Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows.
Near sunset we returned to the county roads south of Gould to look for owls. This time we heard Northern Pygmy-Owls at two locations!
August 9
After a few hours of sleep, we drove to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Two Greater Sage-Grouse crossed the road that heads south from the Ranger's Office east of Highway 125.
Our trek continued south along highway 125 south toward Granby. We stopped many times and listen and played recordings for American Three-toed Woodpeckers. Three-toed Woodpeckers were found at five locations along this road where the forest seems to have been devastated by the Mountain Pine Beetle.
Waypoints were taken at all locations. Two successful sites were in Jackson County and three in Grand County.
A quick stop at Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand) found a surprise. A male Barrow's Goldeneye was among many more common ducks. It seems a little early for Barrow's Goldeneyes to be moving south?
Before returning to Denver, we drove up Grand County Road 14 (north and west of Kremmling). This area has been good for Red Crossbills and owls in the past; we relished no success today.
Richard Stevens:
August 6
Jim Fuller, Brad Hutton and I returned to the Pawnee National Grasslands area (Weld) for another search for Mountain Plovers.
On the trip up we stopped at Lower Latham Reservoir and Beebe Draw Ponds. No uncommon birds were observed. We did relocate Dickcissels at two locations (CR 42 and CR 45).
We enjoyed walking around several fields in spite of the hot temperatures. It took an hour to find a Mountain Plover at the field north of CR 94 and CR 63. About a dozen Burrowing Owls were scattered around west of the old cement drain (north of CR 94). Finally a Mountain Plover was found 1012 yards west of the old cement drain and 20 yards north of the dirt road that leads west.
Swift Foxes were out at both the dens that I discovered on August 3rd (two of four dens found that day)!
We continued east to Murphy's Pasture (CR 96) and found several McCown's Longspurs along CR 96. A 30 minute walk around the field south of CR 96 at 1.7 miles west of CR 77 added another Mountain Plover to our day list.
Many Brewer's Sparrows, the Clay-colored Sparrow nest (first recorded Weld County record), and several Lark Buntings were found as we continued back west. No Chestnut-collared Longspurs could be found here or south of CR 69 and 96.
Two Cassin's Sparrows were observed along CR 69, just north of CR 96. There are a bunch of Yucca Plants in the area (the only we saw along CR 69). Thanks to Nick Komar for pointing out this spot!
We had to drive up to Highway 85 and CR 114 to get out Chestnut-collared Longspur for the trip. We only had to walk about halfway to the windmill in the southeast field before finding two male Chestnut-collared Longspurs. They were still singing and displaying (seems late in the season?).
Burrowing Owls were found at many locations including:
Hwy 14 & CR 51
CR 90 & CR 51
North of CR 94 & CR 63
Hwy 14 & 0.7 miles east of CR 51
After dinner we continued to Pennock Pass. Having made half a dozen trips up there this year; it only took a few minutes to find Flammulated Owls. In fact, we had 4 Flammulated Owls spread around 3 Locations.
Returning to Highway 14, a Common Poorwill was found along Stove Prairie Road at 0.3 miles south of Highway 14. It answered our recordings and was seen in our spotlight.
August 7
We did not arrive at Cameron Pass (Jackson County) until after midnight. No Boreal Owls were found at my favorite spots (usual Locations).
We finally located a Boreal Owl after a three mile hike into the Colorado State Forest. We enjoyed the hike (from the end of Michigan Creek Road) along the road heading east into the forest. Several owl boxes are located in the area. While none were used again this year (fifth year in a row), a pair of Boreal Owls nesting in Aspens near the boxes!
I found several birders like myself a glutton for punishment; we continued west to the old Teller City ghost town (foregoing any sleep for a few more hours).
While we could not relocate any American Three-toed Woodpeckers, we did manage to find one of the two Northern Pygmy-Owls that appear to be nesting at the southwest corner of the self guided hiking tour around the old Silver mining town. Remnants of the "house of ill-repute" and several cabins are still up there!
Beware; a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle is definitely required to reach the ghost town.
After getting a few hours sleep, toward sunset, we drove around Jackson County Road 26 but did not find any Greater Sage-Grouse. After dark we searched for owls around Gould; without success.
August 8
We got a few more hours of sleep this morning and then drove north to Steamboat Springs State Park and north to Columbine. The forests east of Columbine have been good for White-winged Crossbills in the past. Unfortunately, we could not find any.
Several Sandhill Cranes were found while driving around the gravel county roads north of Columbine. A few hummingbirds
We birded around Walden Reservoir, Delaney Buttes Wildlife Area, and Lake John Wildlife Area. No uncommon birds were found.
A drive along Jackson County Road 25 did not find any grouse but we did see plenty of Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows.
Near sunset we returned to the county roads south of Gould to look for owls. This time we heard Northern Pygmy-Owls at two locations!
August 9
After a few hours of sleep, we drove to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Two Greater Sage-Grouse crossed the road that heads south from the Ranger's Office east of Highway 125.
Our trek continued south along highway 125 south toward Granby. We stopped many times and listen and played recordings for American Three-toed Woodpeckers. Three-toed Woodpeckers were found at five locations along this road where the forest seems to have been devastated by the Mountain Pine Beetle.
Waypoints were taken at all locations. Two successful sites were in Jackson County and three in Grand County.
A quick stop at Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand) found a surprise. A male Barrow's Goldeneye was among many more common ducks. It seems a little early for Barrow's Goldeneyes to be moving south?
Before returning to Denver, we drove up Grand County Road 14 (north and west of Kremmling). This area has been good for Red Crossbills and owls in the past; we relished no success today.
1 comment:
Hi,
I am headed to the Wset Pawnee Ranch B&B outside Grover for 2 1/2 days at the very beginning of Sept. Can you give me some advice on what places nearby that I should not miss? Any help that you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken(Newburgh, NY)
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