October 21, 2009
Richard Stevens:
Bryan and I hiked up the Michigan Ditch Road toward Mt Richthofen. We departed from Cameron Pass' summit about two hours before sunset and hoped to time the hike to arrive at mile 5 just after sunset. Boreal Owls have never called for me before complete darkness (at least an hour or so after sunset).
On both hikes this week it was snowing. Strangely there were no winds up there (quite uncommon) or we would have called off our searches. The biggest factor for any success is little or no winds. The owls call so quietly that if they are out, any winds will preclude one from hearing them.
Boreal Owls have been heard in the past at about 4.5 miles from the locked gate. We had one answer our recordings at 4.1 miles south and west of the gate.
This hike is much more strenuous than the Kelly Creek hike (which is relatively flat). The Michigan Ditch trail loses a good amount of elevation and then climbs back up.
In early morning we all checked the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center. Behind the building we saw one Brown-capped Rosy Finch, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a pair of Pine Grosbeaks.
On the way back to Denver, a quick stop at Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand) added Barrow's Goldeneyes to our trip list. There were none at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit).
After dropping Bryan and Sue off, I decided to see if any uncommon gulls were brought in to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) by the continuing snowstorm. I could not find any uncommon gulls but noticed a Dowitcher walking the shore at the east end of the sand spit (off the old jet ski launch area).
While I was trying to ID the Dowitcher which appeared to have a flat back (which seems so subjective), a dog walker let his dog run wild along the shore. I mumbled under my breathe about dog owners when the Dowitcher was flushed. Its distinctive "tututu" "tututu" made it a Short-billed Dowitcher. Perhaps there is a minor use for dog owners after all?
The Dowitcher worked its way along the southeastern shore and was in the extreme southeast corner when I departed. I did not have enough daylight to scope the lake for the Pacific Loon, Red-necked Grebe or other waterfowl.
Richard Stevens:
Bryan and I hiked up the Michigan Ditch Road toward Mt Richthofen. We departed from Cameron Pass' summit about two hours before sunset and hoped to time the hike to arrive at mile 5 just after sunset. Boreal Owls have never called for me before complete darkness (at least an hour or so after sunset).
On both hikes this week it was snowing. Strangely there were no winds up there (quite uncommon) or we would have called off our searches. The biggest factor for any success is little or no winds. The owls call so quietly that if they are out, any winds will preclude one from hearing them.
Boreal Owls have been heard in the past at about 4.5 miles from the locked gate. We had one answer our recordings at 4.1 miles south and west of the gate.
This hike is much more strenuous than the Kelly Creek hike (which is relatively flat). The Michigan Ditch trail loses a good amount of elevation and then climbs back up.
In early morning we all checked the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center. Behind the building we saw one Brown-capped Rosy Finch, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a pair of Pine Grosbeaks.
On the way back to Denver, a quick stop at Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand) added Barrow's Goldeneyes to our trip list. There were none at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit).
After dropping Bryan and Sue off, I decided to see if any uncommon gulls were brought in to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) by the continuing snowstorm. I could not find any uncommon gulls but noticed a Dowitcher walking the shore at the east end of the sand spit (off the old jet ski launch area).
While I was trying to ID the Dowitcher which appeared to have a flat back (which seems so subjective), a dog walker let his dog run wild along the shore. I mumbled under my breathe about dog owners when the Dowitcher was flushed. Its distinctive "tututu" "tututu" made it a Short-billed Dowitcher. Perhaps there is a minor use for dog owners after all?
The Dowitcher worked its way along the southeastern shore and was in the extreme southeast corner when I departed. I did not have enough daylight to scope the lake for the Pacific Loon, Red-necked Grebe or other waterfowl.
No comments:
Post a Comment