February 25, 2010
Bryan Ehlmann:
For those interested, this trip report is out of chronological order.
I led the CoBus trip to Loveland Pass, Clear Creek County. We missed the Ptarmigan in the morning, but returned in the afternoon after driving into Silverthorne for lunch. Five Barrow's Goldeneyes were at the Blue River Water Treatment Pond.
On our second trip up Loveland Pass, we scoped both the eastern and western slopes unsuccessfully for White-tailed Ptarmigan. Then we used one of Rich Stevens' tricks. We offered $20 and a free shuttle up the pass for anyone finding a Ptarmigan.
We scoped the slopes for another 20 minutes when one of our spotters waved his hands. He had found a pair of Ptarmigan below the ragged rocky ridge below the eastern side of the pass. It was well worth $20!
Most days, snowboarders and skiers, mostly young kids hitchhike up the pass and ski back down thus avoiding purchasing a lift ticket at Loveland Pass. They do a good job of covering the area though probably scare the Ptarmigan out of view of anyone standing at the top of the pass. It was a brilliant idea to use them as spotters! Thanks Rich!
We drove up Mt Evans Road and detoured down Chicago Pass road. In past years, Rosy Finches were reported at feeders along here. We did not however find any feeders.
At Echo Campgrounds, a Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away when we got out of our cars. It's always nice to get a target bird without an hour search!
Bryan Ehlmann:
For those interested, this trip report is out of chronological order.
I led the CoBus trip to Loveland Pass, Clear Creek County. We missed the Ptarmigan in the morning, but returned in the afternoon after driving into Silverthorne for lunch. Five Barrow's Goldeneyes were at the Blue River Water Treatment Pond.
On our second trip up Loveland Pass, we scoped both the eastern and western slopes unsuccessfully for White-tailed Ptarmigan. Then we used one of Rich Stevens' tricks. We offered $20 and a free shuttle up the pass for anyone finding a Ptarmigan.
We scoped the slopes for another 20 minutes when one of our spotters waved his hands. He had found a pair of Ptarmigan below the ragged rocky ridge below the eastern side of the pass. It was well worth $20!
Most days, snowboarders and skiers, mostly young kids hitchhike up the pass and ski back down thus avoiding purchasing a lift ticket at Loveland Pass. They do a good job of covering the area though probably scare the Ptarmigan out of view of anyone standing at the top of the pass. It was a brilliant idea to use them as spotters! Thanks Rich!
We drove up Mt Evans Road and detoured down Chicago Pass road. In past years, Rosy Finches were reported at feeders along here. We did not however find any feeders.
At Echo Campgrounds, a Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming away when we got out of our cars. It's always nice to get a target bird without an hour search!
1 comment:
Hi Rich
I'll use this to inform you that the last time I located the Am. Dipper at Clear Creek wase Feb. 27. My first sighting this year was Thanksgiving Day.
I just returned from Lowell Ponds SWA. I found 13 species, mostly very common waterfowl.
Bob Canter
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