Saturday, September 25, 2010

Great Morning at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

September 25, 2010

Gary Weston: Richard Stevens and I enjoyed a great morning of birding at Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Adams County. We arrived at 6:00 AM, the gates opened 4 minutes late. While walking the road along the Old Governor's Row and playing a recording, a Long eared Owl called back! Before sunrise, two additional Long eared Owls were found at different Mexican Locust groves. At Governor's Row, two Common Poorwill called. One was 10 feet from the road and we were able to see it with a .99 cent flashlight from Walmart.

In order to get the sun at our backs, we hiked to the Rod and Gun Club Pond before sunrise, not quite making it, but close. A detour to the Havana Ponds found a Lesser Yellowlegs, 19 Killdeer and many ducks.

On the way to the R&G Club pond every locust grove was buzzing with birds. In total we had 83 Wilson's Warblers spread over 4 groves. A Plumbeous Vireo w/flock 4 Black capped Chickadees, 2 Orange crowned Warblers, Wilson's Warblers and a House Wren was 100 feet west of the R&G Club trailhead.

The first grove east of the trailhead, flock in Locust included: 7 Warbling Vireos, Wilson's Warblers, 5 Clay colored Sparrows, 2 Brewer's Sparrows, 2 Orange crowned Warblers, Chipping Sparrows and Lark Sparrows. A Cassin's Vireo was in the tall cottonwoods at the north end of the grove.

Second grove east of trailhead (southern fork): all above sparrows, Wilson's Warblers, Cassin's Vireo and Orange crowned Warbler.

Trees over and around R&G Club Bird Blind: included a Plumbeous Vireo.

On the way back out of the Bird Blind Trail we sat on the bench at the fork: 27 Yellow rumped Warblers and 1 Palm Warbler.

Two House Wrens and three Rock Wrens seen on the way to Lower Derby Lake.

Trees below L. Derby Lake included a Plumbeous Vireo. Along the outlet canal at 400 yards west of dam, Cassin's Vireo and Brown Thrasher.

Trees just west of where Lake Ladora Trail goes through tree line: Plumbeous Vireo with 71 Yellow rumped Warblers.

Trees at northeast corner of northern most arm: 39 Yellow rumped Warblers, 1 Cassin's Vireo. Also two male and a female yellow shafted race of Northern Flicker. First Downy Woodpeckers (pair) also. We had seen 5 Hairy Woodpeckers.

Eleven Rock Wrens and four Racoons along Lake Ladora dam.

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