Friday, May 28, 2010

Spring Day at Barr Lake

May 16, 2010

Richard Stevens:

I enjoyed a great morning of birding at Barr Lake (Adams). Winds were calm and temperatures in the low 60s (once it warmed up).

Originally, I spent 5 hours between the Neidrach trail and the boat ramp (mile marker 0.3 to 0.0 to 7.5). In the afternoon, I returned and searched unsuccessfully for the Black-throated Sparrow reported earlier around the Neidrach trail.

In the morning, the most birds were in the thick and taller willows south of the Neidrach trail. Here a Northern Waterthrush lurked along the water's edge. A Blackpoll Warbler, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, and many Yellow-rumped Warblers fluttered about higher off the ground.

Another Northern Waterthrush was in the center of the Neidrach trail loop. Quite a few Bullock's Orioles and Western Kingbirds chattered in the same area.

The number of thrushes from mm 0.0 to 8.7 (descending as one walks north; right from the Nature Center footbridge) was astounding. The thrushes were walking out of the woods and gulping down worms on the trail. I counted 19 Hermit Thrushes.

One or two Swainson's Thrushes were also in the area. Besides the highlight of watching this surprising event, I was able to watch a Gray-cheeked Thrush for about 4 minutes. While the bird did not join his cousins on the path, he did sit on a tree branch in the open for the duration.

At mm 8.7, a surprising Brown Thrasher also came out on to the path. I cannot remember seeing one at Barr Lake before (will have to look that up later).

Many Western Kingbirds and Bullock's Orioles continued to sing as I walked north (counterclockwise around the lake).

At the Pioneer Trail, I watched the nesting Great Horned Owls. The adult was watching her young, which should fledge any day now. Both were stretching their wings quite often.

At mm 8.0, a male Orchard Oriole was chasing a female about.

Another Northern Waterthrush was observed at mm 7.9. This one has been around for a few days.

My return trip to my car was interesting also. A Veery popped out of the brush at mm 8.2. An Orange-crowned Warbler and Warbling Vireo were seen at mm 8.3.

I drove around to the Old Stone House and birded those trees for about an hour. A dark morph Swainson's Hawk circled overhead for quite a while. A Black-and-white Warbler was in a loose flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and 2 Yellow Warblers in the cottonwoods next to mm 6.0.

The number of sparrows was huge. Chipping Sparrows were in the 5 dozens or more. The 11 Clay-colored Sparrows in the brush near the low Lilac bushes was more than I have ever observed at one time in Colorado.

Lark, Song, 2 Lincoln's, a Vesper Sparrows used the thick cover to search for underlying food.

On the way over, a Great Egret and Great Blue Heron were observed at the corner of Tower Road and 128th Avenue (the Sod Farm overflow pond).

Eleven Burrowing Owls were found along the DIA Owl Loop.

In the afternoon, Rebecca Kosten and I walked the east side of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Buckley Road from 56th to 88th avenue). Hop scotched cars and only walked one way (south to north).

The Northern Mockingbird is still around 1.1 miles north of 56th avenue. No Sage Thrashers today, the Burrowing Owl count was 9 (both Denver & Adams Counties).

Raptors included: Swainson's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Ferruginous Hawk, 3 American Kestrels and a Prairie Falcon. Western Kingbird and Bullock's Oriole numbers have increased (not surprisingly). Quite a few sparrows (same as Barr Lake plus one or two Grasshopper Sparrows).

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