Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Escaping the Heat in the Northern Mountains

August 21 to 23, 2010

Richard Stevens:

August 21st

Determined to escape the summer heat in Denver, we drove to Cameron Pass and Gould for a few days.

Our trip was timed to arrive at Cameron Pass after civil twilight (8:30 pm). We stopped and played recordings about every 0.2 miles (starting at the upper Joe Wright Reservoir to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.

The only response on this windy night was at 0.2 miles west of the summit to Cameron Pass (Jackson County).

August 22nd

We spent most of today on the Larimer County side of Cameron Pass. We stopped at the first pullover along CR 103 (Laramie River Road). An American Three-toed Woodpecker was found at the northern end of Chambers Lake (by way of pullover, west to trail heading north, then 500 yards to north).

Next, we made the hike up Twin Carter Lakes trail. Another two Three-toed Woodpeckers were found along this walk. About 200 yards up the trail, a Northern Goshawk flew by! A pair of Pine Grosbeaks was also found.

In the afternoon, we searched the Ranger Lakes Campgrounds for the Williamson's Sapsucker previously reported. While it was not found, yet another Three-toed Woodpecker was seen.

Our daylight birding ended up Ruby Jewel Road (from Michigan Creek Road). An American Three-toed Woodpecker was about 0.1 miles east of the main road. After dark, I played Boreal Owl and Flammulated Owl recordings. One Boreal Owl briefly called back (at 0.6 miles from Michigan Creek Road).

It was a good night, another Boreal Owl responded to the recordings when played back at Ranger Lakes Campgrounds.

August 23rd

About an hour before civil twilight 5:00 am, we walked the Crags Campgrounds (Jackson). No owls were found, however our luck changed when we walked south along the fire road at the southwest corner. We were approximately 0.6 miles south of the Campgrounds. My batteries died in my GPS preventing an exact waypoint.

Later, we made my annual trip to the Teller City Ghost town. The self guiding tour (about 3/4 mile) provides some interesting history of the old silver mines. As a bonus, we found both a Northern Pygmy-Owl and Three-toed Woodpecker.

One downside, the road in requires a 4 wheel drive/high clearance vehicle. If you like your car, do not drive down this road. The road starts out harmless but is quite weathered farther down from the main highway.

Our trip back to Denver was time to hit Pennock Pass at dusk. One Flammulated Owl answered (at one of our three stops).

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