January 23, 2010
Gary Weston: Rich Stevens and I planned to search for owls most of the day in Boulder County.
We started about an hour before civil twilight at Meadows Park in Lyons; no owls. Northern Pygmy-Owls have nested in the area in past years.
No Northern Pygmy-Owls were found at Fawnbrook Inn. Just after sunrise, all three species of Rosy Finches came to the feeders. An equal mix of Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy Finches and 2 Black Rosy Finches were seen among 60 Rosy Finches.
The feeders at Fawnbrook Inn also attracted Pine Siskins, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Steller's Jays, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadees.
At Wild Basin, we walked into Copeland Lake, found few birds. As expected, the lake was frozen and snow covered. We heard no woodpeckers and saw no birds along the creek below the road.
Back South in Ward, we found 14 Evening Grosbeaks and a pair of Pine Grosbeaks.
We went only a little ways up the road to Brainard Lake. A most likely Northern Goshawk had flown across the road. During the stop, Richard heard and later found a Three-toed Woodpecker.
A drive around Nederland didn't find many birds other than Crows and Common Ravens. We were not able to locate any feeders. Winds were very strong 35+ mph. Barker Reservoir was of course frozen and snow covered.
We took Highway 119 to Rollinsville again searching for Rosy Finches. But none were found. Richard had three locations of previous Pygmy Owl sightings. No owls were found.
Returning to Nederland for a late lunch, we took highway 72 to Gross Reservoir. Again three owl locations were checked, no owls.
On the way to the northeast corner of Gross Reservoir a flock of 16 Red Crossbills caught our eye. We continued when no White-winged Crossbills were found.
The subdivision at the northeast corner of Gross was driven through and we found a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings. Unfortunately no Bohemian Waxwings were among them.
We again reversed directions and headed back south to the ranger's home at the southeast corner of Gross Reservoir. We hiked both the south and east side roads this time finding a Northern Pygmy-Owl about 500 yards west of the ranger's home!
From there we followed highway 72 to White Ranch Open Space. Finding no Pygmy Owls at two previous locations, we returned to Denver.
Gary Weston: Rich Stevens and I planned to search for owls most of the day in Boulder County.
We started about an hour before civil twilight at Meadows Park in Lyons; no owls. Northern Pygmy-Owls have nested in the area in past years.
No Northern Pygmy-Owls were found at Fawnbrook Inn. Just after sunrise, all three species of Rosy Finches came to the feeders. An equal mix of Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy Finches and 2 Black Rosy Finches were seen among 60 Rosy Finches.
The feeders at Fawnbrook Inn also attracted Pine Siskins, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Steller's Jays, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadees.
At Wild Basin, we walked into Copeland Lake, found few birds. As expected, the lake was frozen and snow covered. We heard no woodpeckers and saw no birds along the creek below the road.
Back South in Ward, we found 14 Evening Grosbeaks and a pair of Pine Grosbeaks.
We went only a little ways up the road to Brainard Lake. A most likely Northern Goshawk had flown across the road. During the stop, Richard heard and later found a Three-toed Woodpecker.
A drive around Nederland didn't find many birds other than Crows and Common Ravens. We were not able to locate any feeders. Winds were very strong 35+ mph. Barker Reservoir was of course frozen and snow covered.
We took Highway 119 to Rollinsville again searching for Rosy Finches. But none were found. Richard had three locations of previous Pygmy Owl sightings. No owls were found.
Returning to Nederland for a late lunch, we took highway 72 to Gross Reservoir. Again three owl locations were checked, no owls.
On the way to the northeast corner of Gross Reservoir a flock of 16 Red Crossbills caught our eye. We continued when no White-winged Crossbills were found.
The subdivision at the northeast corner of Gross was driven through and we found a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings. Unfortunately no Bohemian Waxwings were among them.
We again reversed directions and headed back south to the ranger's home at the southeast corner of Gross Reservoir. We hiked both the south and east side roads this time finding a Northern Pygmy-Owl about 500 yards west of the ranger's home!
From there we followed highway 72 to White Ranch Open Space. Finding no Pygmy Owls at two previous locations, we returned to Denver.
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