Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Jefferson County Birding

January 11, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Two California birders and I searched for Northern Pygmy-Owls and American Three-toed Woodpeckers in Jefferson County today.

On the way, a quick stop at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson) allowed us good views of the Golden-crowned Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow that have been visiting below the platform feeder behind the Trading Post.

We stopped at Reynolds Park and could not get any owls to respond to our recordings. Then we continued to Pine Valley Ranch Park. The route winds along the South Platte River. Two American Dippers were observed from our vehicle. After briefing exiting our car for better looks, we continued to Pine Valley Ranch Park.

At the park, we hiked Buck Gulch trail to Strawberry Jack trail to Parkview trail down the switchbacks back to our vehicle. American Three-toed Woodpeckers have been found anywhere along this trek.

Today we found a male Three-toed Woodpecker below the switchbacks along Strawberry Jack trail. I would guess about 300 yards east of its intersection with the Buck Gulch trail. Unfortunately, we did not encounter additional Three-toed Woodpeckers today.

A Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our recordings near the Strawberry Jack and Buck Gulch trails. This could be the same Northern Pygmy-Owl that Merlynn Brown hears and sees between here and the Buck Gulch and Pine Lake trails? We only heard our owl today.

Continuing east to the Parkview Trail, (this intersection is usually good for Three-toed Woodpeckers); we then turned north and down the Parkview trail switchbacks. Another Northern Pygmy-Owl answered our recordings at the top of the switchbacks. The owl was quite far away and again was only heard

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