August 2-4, 2010
Richard Stevens:
August 2
Bryan Ehlmann and I headed northeast today; we wanted to checkout some of the birds reported last weekend at Prewitt Reservoir.
Our first stop was Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County). We did not find any uncommon gulls flying around. There was little exposed shore for migrating birds to stop off, rest, and eat.
We could not locate the resident Eastern Screech-Owl and no Long-eared Owls were found in the campgrounds.
A Long-billed Curlew was seen in the Wildlife Area at the northeast corner.
Our next stop was Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan). The resident pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers was found along the northern edge of the property. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl briefly responded to our recordings.
Our final stop was Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington Counties). At least one Short-billed Dowitcher was seen at the eastern end. The Laughing Gull was flying around the western end. Bryan heard two Upland Sandpipers flying over late in the day!
No uncommon warblers or vireos could be found below the dam or in the western woods. We also checked the extreme southeastern corner of the reservoir but found few birds.
Near dusk and after dark, we played Eastern Screech-Owl recordings at both ends of the property and got a response at the western end.
August 3
Our day started about an hour before sunrise (with the addition of Roger Danka). We listened for migrating birds at the north side of Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick). The resident Eastern Screech-Owls did not respond to our recordings this morning?
At nearby Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan) we walked both the eastern and western sides of Highway 55. Birds were not as numerous (or active) as our previous trips.
An Eastern Screech-Owl called back to our recordings at Area 7 East. A male Northern Cardinal was in the same area (south of the Platte River and north of the access road).
A Yellow-billed Cuckoo responded to our recordings played south of Tamarack Pond. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was also in this area. A second Red-bellied Woodpecker called from Area 1 East.
A male Northern Cardinal and male Red-bellied Woodpecker were found in Area 1 West. We could not scare up a Bell's Vireo. Perhaps they have already moved on after finishing nesting?
Warblers and Vireos were not existent. Sparrows were scarce also. No Field and Cassin's Sparrows could be found. We did see 2 Lincoln's Sparrows and 3 Song Sparrows.
Back at Jumbo Reservoir, we hunted unsuccessfully for any Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (reported the past couple of years, none so far this year).
At least one Common Loon was still summering on the lake. No uncommon gulls or terns appeared to be around.
At dusk we searched the windbreaks around Little Jumbo Reservoir for Long-eared and Short-eared Owls; without success.
The resident Eastern Screech-Owls on Roger's Ranch were quite boisterous an hour after dark.
August 4
Bryan Ehlmann and I spent most of the day at Bonny Reservoir and Hale Ponds. We found fifth Eastern Screech-Owl of the trip northwest of the most eastern Hale Pond. No Common Poorwills were found around Hale Ponds this trip at dawn.
Two Dickcissels sang earlier in the morning in the field just west of the most western Hale Pond. A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew about the tall cottonwoods. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was along the Republican River about 400 yards west of the Kansas border.
We looked for some shorebird habitat on the south side of Bonny Reservoir but found few birds. A male Baltimore Oriole was still hanging around between the south side of Bonny and the access road (that is now walk in only). A few Wild Turkeys were also seen in the area.
The highlight of the day was definitely a Pine Warbler fluttering about the Hopper Ponds area.
We searched unsuccessfully for the Northern Cardinals at Foster's Grove Campgrounds. No Great Crested Flycatchers (found on previous trips) were found west of Foster's Grove to Highway 385. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl did not respond to our recordings.
A few Great-tailed Grackles were seen east of the McDonalds in Burlington. A Great Horned Owl was at the Burlington Cemetery.
We were both tired and decided to skip Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) this trip.
Richard Stevens:
August 2
Bryan Ehlmann and I headed northeast today; we wanted to checkout some of the birds reported last weekend at Prewitt Reservoir.
Our first stop was Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County). We did not find any uncommon gulls flying around. There was little exposed shore for migrating birds to stop off, rest, and eat.
We could not locate the resident Eastern Screech-Owl and no Long-eared Owls were found in the campgrounds.
A Long-billed Curlew was seen in the Wildlife Area at the northeast corner.
Our next stop was Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan). The resident pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers was found along the northern edge of the property. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl briefly responded to our recordings.
Our final stop was Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington Counties). At least one Short-billed Dowitcher was seen at the eastern end. The Laughing Gull was flying around the western end. Bryan heard two Upland Sandpipers flying over late in the day!
No uncommon warblers or vireos could be found below the dam or in the western woods. We also checked the extreme southeastern corner of the reservoir but found few birds.
Near dusk and after dark, we played Eastern Screech-Owl recordings at both ends of the property and got a response at the western end.
August 3
Our day started about an hour before sunrise (with the addition of Roger Danka). We listened for migrating birds at the north side of Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick). The resident Eastern Screech-Owls did not respond to our recordings this morning?
At nearby Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan) we walked both the eastern and western sides of Highway 55. Birds were not as numerous (or active) as our previous trips.
An Eastern Screech-Owl called back to our recordings at Area 7 East. A male Northern Cardinal was in the same area (south of the Platte River and north of the access road).
A Yellow-billed Cuckoo responded to our recordings played south of Tamarack Pond. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was also in this area. A second Red-bellied Woodpecker called from Area 1 East.
A male Northern Cardinal and male Red-bellied Woodpecker were found in Area 1 West. We could not scare up a Bell's Vireo. Perhaps they have already moved on after finishing nesting?
Warblers and Vireos were not existent. Sparrows were scarce also. No Field and Cassin's Sparrows could be found. We did see 2 Lincoln's Sparrows and 3 Song Sparrows.
Back at Jumbo Reservoir, we hunted unsuccessfully for any Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (reported the past couple of years, none so far this year).
At least one Common Loon was still summering on the lake. No uncommon gulls or terns appeared to be around.
At dusk we searched the windbreaks around Little Jumbo Reservoir for Long-eared and Short-eared Owls; without success.
The resident Eastern Screech-Owls on Roger's Ranch were quite boisterous an hour after dark.
August 4
Bryan Ehlmann and I spent most of the day at Bonny Reservoir and Hale Ponds. We found fifth Eastern Screech-Owl of the trip northwest of the most eastern Hale Pond. No Common Poorwills were found around Hale Ponds this trip at dawn.
Two Dickcissels sang earlier in the morning in the field just west of the most western Hale Pond. A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew about the tall cottonwoods. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was along the Republican River about 400 yards west of the Kansas border.
We looked for some shorebird habitat on the south side of Bonny Reservoir but found few birds. A male Baltimore Oriole was still hanging around between the south side of Bonny and the access road (that is now walk in only). A few Wild Turkeys were also seen in the area.
The highlight of the day was definitely a Pine Warbler fluttering about the Hopper Ponds area.
We searched unsuccessfully for the Northern Cardinals at Foster's Grove Campgrounds. No Great Crested Flycatchers (found on previous trips) were found west of Foster's Grove to Highway 385. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl did not respond to our recordings.
A few Great-tailed Grackles were seen east of the McDonalds in Burlington. A Great Horned Owl was at the Burlington Cemetery.
We were both tired and decided to skip Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) this trip.
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