A Trip to Northeastern Colorado

May 21-25, 2010

Richard Stevens:

May 21, Friday

Bryan Ehlmann and I were at Barr Lake (Adams County) at civil twilight. I dropped Bryan off the boat ramp (mile marker 7.5). He was going to walk to mm 6.5 (below the dam) and then return toward the Visitor's Center.

I drove to the Visitor's Center and walked south (and west) to mm 0.5 and back. Most of the first three hours of my birding were around the Visitor's Center footbridge and the Niedrach Trail boardwalk.

A Mourning Warbler was in the bushes at the lake end of the Visitor's Center boardwalk (later, Bryan was able to relocate this bird).

Many Bullock's Orioles, Western Kingbirds, and Eastern Kingbirds flew around the Niedrach Trail. The most birdy area was the willows south of the boardwalk. While watching a couple of Western Wood-pewees catch insects, the Northern Waterthrush was seen walking the water's edge.

Several Warbling Vireos were in the taller willows. A Red-eyed Vireo was spotted at mm 0.2.

I then turned around and headed toward the Pioneer Trail. A Yellow-breasted Chat sang around mm 8.7. He boomed over the many House Wrens chattering away. Another Western Wood-pewee also called here.

A few Yellow Warblers and an Orange-crowned Warbler were near the banding station. Of course, along with many House Wrens and Bullock's Orioles blabbering loudly.

Many Swainson's Thrushes were seen along the hike. At mm 8.2 (which I call Thrush alley because the thick brush here always seems to attract many thrushes over the years), I counted 19 Swainson's Thrushes, 3 Hermit Thrushes and the highlight, a Gray-cheeked Thrush. This maybe the same Gray-cheeked Thrush I found farther south last week?

Down the Pioneer Trail, the two Great Horned Owls had fledged and could not be found. Many Yellow Warblers and House Wrens gave away their positions with their singing. A pair of male Orchard Orioles was chaffering constantly with each other. I did not find a female that could have been the center of their confrontation. A Veery briefly came out of hiding about halfway down the trail.

Continuing North, I met up with Bryan at mm 8.0. Here an Oriole with a melodious song filled the airwaves. With some effort, we saw the male Baltimore Oriole up high in the tall cottonwoods. He eventually flew toward the Pioneer Trail. We were not able to follow as most of this area is still under water.

When we returned to the Visitor's Center Bryan was able to see the Mourning Warbler.

Below the dam, Bryan found a Veery and a Tennessee Warbler along the outlet canal at mm 6.7.

After lunch, Bryan and I headed northeast to Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington). This was a great choice of a birding spot. Recent thunderstorms had brought many migrating birds to the area. In seven hours, we found a cornucopia of our feathered friends.

The most birdy areas included below the dam, east of the Ranger's Home, the extreme southwestern corner of woods and the extreme southeast corner of cattails and shoreline.

Mixed Russian Olive and Cottonwood trees below the dam always attract some great birds. Today we found a Magnolia Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Blackpoll Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, and White-throated Sparrow.

At the southwest corner, we saw a Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Red-eyed Vireo to name the most uncommon.

A walk to the southeast corner added Marbled Godwits and Willets to our list. A suspicious sounding towhee could have been an Eastern Towhee. We were never able to entice it out of the cattails and brush.

After dark, an Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings (played west of the eastern parking area).

May 22, Saturday

Bryan Ehlmann and I spent a fantastic day of birding at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan). Eventually we would walk the 7 miles from CR 55 to CR 93 and back!

West of Logan County Road 55:

Our first Bell's Vireo of the year was found in 1 West. Several Northern Cardinals sang from 1 West to 2 West sections. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was along the south side of the Platte River.

At 2 W est we heard and later found a Black-throated Green Warbler in the tall cottonwoods trees. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo called from the same area.

Between 1 and 2 East, we found a Black-and-white Warbler and another Red-bellied Woodpecker.

We heard and later found an singing male Alder Flycatcher between 6 East & 7 East. Field Sparrows were below the windbreak at 7 East.

Another Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal were around the Tamarack Pond Area. A second Yellow-billed Cuckoo called east of the pond.

When we reached the eastern end, the field north of the Platte River were checked for Eastern Meadowlarks. None so far this year, but we did see a male Bobolink.

May 23, Sunday

Today Bryan Ehlmann and I checked some less birded areas in Sedgwick County.

We were rewarded with our second Alder Flycatcher sighting of the spring. It was singing just west of the parking area for Sedgwick Bar Wildlife Area. When we drove up just at sunrise, an Upland Sandpiper was on a post east of the parking area. Two Eastern Bluebirds were perched high in a cottonwood tree.

A walk at Ovid Woods was slow. A Nashville Warbler popped out of some brush behind the High School. Eurasian Collared-Doves were all over the place.

A hike along the Platte River at the Julesburg Wildlife Area (south of Ovid) found 2 Field Sparrows and a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. When we returned to our car, a male Northern Cardinal was singing in trees on the west side of Sedgwick County Road 29.

Later in the afternoon, we returned to Jumbo Reservoir were birds relocated included: Common Tern, 2 Common Loons, and an Eastern Screech-Owl. A male Baltimore Oriole and Cassin's Kingbird were discovered in the Campgrounds.

Red Lion Wildlife Area was even better. A Glossy Ibis had joined the Red-necked Phalaropes. Burrowing Owls are back west of the Wildlife Area.

We searched for Short-eared Owls at Sedgwick Draw; without success. However, a Upland Sandpiper on a fence post back at Red Lion Wildlife Area made up for it!

May 24, Monday

Today Bryan and I were met by Jerry Petrosky, Sue Ehlmann and Rebecca Kosten. We hiked around DePoorter Lake (Sedgwick County) at sunrise. Northern Bobwhite have been scarce ever since our great snowstorm of 2006. None could be found today; however a White-throated Sparrow burst out of the woodpile near the old dump.

At the Julesburg Wayside Rest Stop we found a male and female Baltimore Oriole (perhaps they will nest here)? A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers were at the west end of the property.

Eastern Towhees have been reported several times in the past, however we could not find any. Chimney Swifts flew overhead during our stay!

We returned to Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area to pick up an Alder Flycatcher for the new arrivals. It did not cooperate and we never relocated the bird. A Bell's Vireo and Northern Cardinal were relocated at section 1 West.

The rest of the day was spent on private ranches. A Harris's Sparrow was coming to feeders at private ranch # 3. At dusk, an Eastern Screech-Owl responded to our recordings!

While barbecuing back at Roger Danka's ranch (private ranch # 1), we were able to get two additional Eastern Screech-Owls responding to our recordings.

May 25, Tuesday

We decided to give Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area another go for the Alder Flycatcher. This time we enjoyed success as the flycatcher was out in the open singing away. By the time we set up our cameras however, it flew back north into the woods.

An Eastern Screech-Owl called from somewhere deep in the woods, north of the access road. As we drove out, we heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo east of Tamarack Pond. Field Sparrows were along the road in (around 7 East).

At section 1 West, we again found a Bell's Vireo (Jerry wanted to record it call, which unfortunately it would not do). A male Northern Cardinal, many Spotted Towhees (unfortunately no Eastern Towhees) and a Red-bellied Woodpecker were also there.

For the heck of it, we played our recordings at the north side of Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) and again one of the resident Eastern Screech-Owls called back.

We circled around to the east and could see one of the Common Loons swimming along the north shore.

It was time to more on and we headed south toward Bonny Reservoir (Yuma). A brief stop at Beecher Island (mostly to take in the history) found an Olive-sided Flycatcher near one of the buildings.

At Bonny Reservoir we stopped at Foster's Grove where a male Northern Cardinal flew across the parking area. A Great Crested Flycatcher called somewhere west of the same. Wild Turkeys (10+) walked were in the field south of the parking area.

We stopped at Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) on the way back to Denver. Birding was slow. None of the great birds found a week ago (5/17) were relocated.