Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Return to Summit County

January 10, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Two California birders and I went up in the mountains to look for Rosy Finches and White-tailed Ptarmigan.

We found a few Rosy Finches in Summit County. Search Blue Ridge Road in Silverthorne along Highway 9, south of Interstate 70.

Half a dozen Barrow's Goldeneye were still at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant.

Next, we headed back east and up Loveland Pass. It took three hours. After missing them below the east side, scoping the western hill across from the first pullover south of Loveland Pass and then making the long, strenuous climb up the western side of the pass we returned to our car.

Two Ptarmigan were walking below (south) of the ragged rocks about 300 yards east and below the eastern side. At least we found some but would have preferred that they had shown themselves sooner.

My best "guess" is that the Ptarmigan wait until the day "warms" up a bit before moving around to search for food. This is usually after 9:00 am on a "nice weather day". I have found them the last hour before sunset; perhaps they are eating one last time before dark?

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