August 14 & 15, 2010
Richard Stevens:
August 14th
Bryan Ehlmann and I started our birding day before sunrise at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County). Sunrise is around 6:09 am and entrance is not allowed until 6:00 am. By the time we arrived at the old "Governor's Row" it was past civil twilight. We wanted to search/listen for owls; however, it was just too late. In another month, conditions (darkness at 6:00 am) will be better for owling hunting.
We made the 4 mile walking circuit, which proved fruitful. Winds were mild and the air was cool, made for a pleasant hike.
The woods below the Lower Derby Lake dam were quite productive. We found a Townsend's Warbler and Cassin's Vireo among 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 9 Black-capped Chickadees. On the way in, a male Indigo Bunting was found around the finally fork in the R&GC trail. The dark morph Red-tailed Hawk was again in the area.
A trip to the bird blind at the Rod & Gun Club Pond added a Black-and-white Warbler to our trip list. On the trip back to the Visitor's Center, we walked the eastern side of Lake Ladora, which is usually a good place to find sparrows. The tally today was 5 Song, 4 White-crowned, and a Lincoln's Sparrow.
Next, we went north to Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld). The usual birds (Black-necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalaropes, a couple of Baird's Sandpipers) were south of CR 48. Beebe Draw Ponds were pretty much dried up to nothing.
Crow Valley Campground had few birds and many mosquitoes. A couple of 1st year Bullock's Orioles were still around.
A quick trip around the DIA Owl loop added a Mountain Plover and many McCown's Longspurs along the dirt road north of CR 94 & CR 63.
We then turned east toward Julesburg. A stop at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) found only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and Cedar Waxwings. At dusk, an Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings. No Long-eared Owls were called up or answered.
August 15th
We started our birding day again an hour before sunrise. No Eastern Screech-Owls were found below the dam today; however, one did respond at the western cottonwoods.
Later, a Marbled Godwit and Willet walked the meager shoreline. A Common Tern was seen flying along the dam (about 0.2 miles south of the eastern parking area).
We walked around the eastern and northern sides of the reservoir and found a few Baird's Sandpipers and 2 Red-necked Phalaropes.
A Townsend's Warbler and Nashville Warbler were observed below the dam and east of the outlet canal.
A leisure walk around Overland Park (Logan) did not find any lingering cuckoos. After dark, we called up an Eastern Screech-Owl along the north side of Jumbo Reservoir. An attempt to call up a Least Bittern along the south side of Jumbo was not successful.
Richard Stevens:
August 14th
Bryan Ehlmann and I started our birding day before sunrise at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County). Sunrise is around 6:09 am and entrance is not allowed until 6:00 am. By the time we arrived at the old "Governor's Row" it was past civil twilight. We wanted to search/listen for owls; however, it was just too late. In another month, conditions (darkness at 6:00 am) will be better for owling hunting.
We made the 4 mile walking circuit, which proved fruitful. Winds were mild and the air was cool, made for a pleasant hike.
The woods below the Lower Derby Lake dam were quite productive. We found a Townsend's Warbler and Cassin's Vireo among 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 9 Black-capped Chickadees. On the way in, a male Indigo Bunting was found around the finally fork in the R&GC trail. The dark morph Red-tailed Hawk was again in the area.
A trip to the bird blind at the Rod & Gun Club Pond added a Black-and-white Warbler to our trip list. On the trip back to the Visitor's Center, we walked the eastern side of Lake Ladora, which is usually a good place to find sparrows. The tally today was 5 Song, 4 White-crowned, and a Lincoln's Sparrow.
Next, we went north to Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld). The usual birds (Black-necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalaropes, a couple of Baird's Sandpipers) were south of CR 48. Beebe Draw Ponds were pretty much dried up to nothing.
Crow Valley Campground had few birds and many mosquitoes. A couple of 1st year Bullock's Orioles were still around.
A quick trip around the DIA Owl loop added a Mountain Plover and many McCown's Longspurs along the dirt road north of CR 94 & CR 63.
We then turned east toward Julesburg. A stop at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) found only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and Cedar Waxwings. At dusk, an Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings. No Long-eared Owls were called up or answered.
August 15th
We started our birding day again an hour before sunrise. No Eastern Screech-Owls were found below the dam today; however, one did respond at the western cottonwoods.
Later, a Marbled Godwit and Willet walked the meager shoreline. A Common Tern was seen flying along the dam (about 0.2 miles south of the eastern parking area).
We walked around the eastern and northern sides of the reservoir and found a few Baird's Sandpipers and 2 Red-necked Phalaropes.
A Townsend's Warbler and Nashville Warbler were observed below the dam and east of the outlet canal.
A leisure walk around Overland Park (Logan) did not find any lingering cuckoos. After dark, we called up an Eastern Screech-Owl along the north side of Jumbo Reservoir. An attempt to call up a Least Bittern along the south side of Jumbo was not successful.
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