January 17, 2010
Richard Stevens:
I had promised feet yesterday that I would not wear shoes today; sorry feet, it did not work out.
Tomas Swardson and I went over to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area. We arrived early before sunrise hoping that we would beat any hunters planning on duck and goose hunts. No hunters had shown up and we had no problems relocating 6 Long-eared Owls. Most were in the windbreak between ponds seven and eight.
Our next stop was the South Platte River at 88th avenue. Long-tailed Ducks were relocated on the northern West Gravel Lake and East Gravel Lake. The pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was still on East Gravel Lake.
It is a great place to study waterfowl especially when nearby lakes and ponds are frozen. Just about any ducks that winter in Colorado can be found on the South Platte River or the few open water holes on the East and West Gravel Lakes.
Our trek continued north and we stopped at the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area (Weld). It took only 15 minutes to locate the immature Red-shouldered Hawk as we walked the bike path on the north side of the Poudre River.
As a last minute decision, we decided to drive up to Cameron Pass (Jackson County) and search for Boreal Owls. Along the way, we stopped at Grandview Cemetery (Larimer). We found the pair of White-winged Crossbills near the southern end of the cemetery. Other birds: Brown Creepers, White-breasted Nuthatches and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
When we arrived at Cameron Pass, winds were 40+ mph. It was impossible to hear and no Boreal Owls were found in a 3 hour search.
January 18, 2009
Tomas Swardson and I got out early and searched for Greater Sage-Grouse along Jackson County Road 26. There were plenty of tracks, no birds.
Later we found 11 Sharp-tailed Grouse in the Steamboat area (Routt). Attempts to get up Buffalo Pass (American Three-toed Woodpeckers) and the Columbine area (for White-winged and Red Crossbills) were turned back by blocked (snow covered) roads.
We drove around the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge area. Again Greater Sage-Grouse tracks were found, however no birds.
After dark, we again searched for Boreal Owls. Winds were less than 10+ mph and at least we could hear some birds. Eventually we got a Boreal Owl to respond to our recordings. However, the owl never came within sight.
Richard Stevens:
I had promised feet yesterday that I would not wear shoes today; sorry feet, it did not work out.
Tomas Swardson and I went over to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area. We arrived early before sunrise hoping that we would beat any hunters planning on duck and goose hunts. No hunters had shown up and we had no problems relocating 6 Long-eared Owls. Most were in the windbreak between ponds seven and eight.
Our next stop was the South Platte River at 88th avenue. Long-tailed Ducks were relocated on the northern West Gravel Lake and East Gravel Lake. The pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was still on East Gravel Lake.
It is a great place to study waterfowl especially when nearby lakes and ponds are frozen. Just about any ducks that winter in Colorado can be found on the South Platte River or the few open water holes on the East and West Gravel Lakes.
Our trek continued north and we stopped at the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area (Weld). It took only 15 minutes to locate the immature Red-shouldered Hawk as we walked the bike path on the north side of the Poudre River.
As a last minute decision, we decided to drive up to Cameron Pass (Jackson County) and search for Boreal Owls. Along the way, we stopped at Grandview Cemetery (Larimer). We found the pair of White-winged Crossbills near the southern end of the cemetery. Other birds: Brown Creepers, White-breasted Nuthatches and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
When we arrived at Cameron Pass, winds were 40+ mph. It was impossible to hear and no Boreal Owls were found in a 3 hour search.
January 18, 2009
Tomas Swardson and I got out early and searched for Greater Sage-Grouse along Jackson County Road 26. There were plenty of tracks, no birds.
Later we found 11 Sharp-tailed Grouse in the Steamboat area (Routt). Attempts to get up Buffalo Pass (American Three-toed Woodpeckers) and the Columbine area (for White-winged and Red Crossbills) were turned back by blocked (snow covered) roads.
We drove around the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge area. Again Greater Sage-Grouse tracks were found, however no birds.
After dark, we again searched for Boreal Owls. Winds were less than 10+ mph and at least we could hear some birds. Eventually we got a Boreal Owl to respond to our recordings. However, the owl never came within sight.
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