Sunday, June 13, 2010

Owling in Boulder County

June 3-6, 2010

Richard Stevens:

During the four nights, Jerry Petrosky and I visited various draws/canyons/valleys in Boulder County conducting some owls counts. I think what we will do is write up the owl studies in "Colorado Field Notes". Perhaps putting the sightings on a map of Boulder County.

We did enjoy great success (as it was a little late in the year, best time is early spring when the owls are looking for mates).

Jerry wrote on "cobirders": Richard Stevens and I counted owls the last four nights in Boulder and Larimer Counties. We were joined by Jacob Washburn and Amy Davenport this weekend and had good success. Final counts will be posted on the CoBus trip blog. Besides Common Poorwill in three locations, species heard or seen included; Long eared, Northern Pygmy, Flammulated, Saw whet, Eastern Screech and Boreal Owls.

During the day between a few hours of sleep, we added:

On 6/3, Richard Stevens relocated a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Davenport, 5/25) southeast of the Ranger's Office at Cherry Creek State Park.

On 6/4, Jerry Petrosky and Stevens relocated a LITTLE BLUE HERON (Guthrie, 5/9) at Cottonwood Marsh, Walden Ponds. Petrosky relocated a GREEN HERON at Sawhill Pond #4. Petrosky relocated BOBOLINK (Stevens, 5/20) at the Boulder Bobolink Meadow. Petrosky & Stevens found a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at the south end of Gross Reservoir.

On 6/5, Stevens and Petrosky found a TENNESSEE WARBLER below (west) of Lower Derby Lake at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Stevens reported 7 BURROWING OWLS along the DIA Owl Loop.

On 6/6, this morning instead of sleep Jerry and Richard saw the male Black chinned Hummingbird at Cherry Creek State Park and then a Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson's Thrushes, Orchard Oriole pair; Green tailed Towhee and Spotted Towhees at Barr Lake State Park. Eight Burrowing Owls were along the DIA Owl Loop.

No comments: