Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Adams and Yuma County Birding

April 29-30, 2010

Richard Stevens:

April 29

I birded Barr Lake (Adams) for about 4 hours this morning.

A few birds have started to migrate through Colorado. A Northern Waterthrush was walking along the water line below mile marker 8.0.

Other birds between mm 0.0 and 7.5 included: a Hermit Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Green-tailed Towhee and a flycatcher that was left unidentified.

While walking to the Neidrach Boardwalk trail, two Marbled Godwits were seen at mm 0.1. Two male Bullock's Orioles flew around the cottonwoods and willows at the boardwalk.

Next, I headed east toward the Kansas State line. A Red-eyed Vireo and Nashville Warbler were at Last Chance Rest Stop (Washington).

My birding day ended at Bonny Reservoir (Yuma). Migration was in full swing here.

A White-eyed Vireo was found at the Hopper Ponds Area. At Foster Grove Campgrounds, a Yellow-throated Warbler was west of the parking area. A Black-and-white Warbler was in the cottonwoods along the eastern Hale Ponds.

Raptors included: Swainson's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and a Bald Eagle.

April 30

Before sunrise, I heard an Eastern Screech-Owl calling from north of the eastern Hale Pond.

I searched for additional migrating birds around Hale Ponds and Bonny Reservoir. A Northern Waterthrush was found walking along the Republican River about 0.2 miles west of Kansas.

Few new birds were found. I did relocate the White-eyed Vireo at Hopper Ponds.

A ranger mentioned a Greater Prairie-Chicken sighting north of the office. I was not able to relocate the bird in a two hour search.

A male Baltimore Oriole was observed along the south side of Bonny Reservoir. The road is now walk in only (once you could drive to the picnic area). I checked the thickets at the east end of the road, found no Long-eared Owls today.

A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers was back at Hale Ponds. The Eastern Screech-Owl did not respond to my recordings played after sunset. A Common Poorwill did respond to a recording play along CR 4 at the eastern Hale Ponds.

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