September 9, 2010
Richard Stevens:
Visiting birder Joyce Babcock and I drove up to Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) before sunrise. Leaving Denver anytime after 5:30 am is disastrous with traffic. As a result, we arrived at Reynolds Park at civil twilight. A Common Poorwill responded to our recordings.
A Northern Pygmy-Owl also called somewhere south of the parking area. We then made a clockwise circle of the loop (quite a long and strenuous hike of 4 miles with a good altitude gain).
We did not find the Dusky Grouse reported yesterday by Merlynn Brown at 90 yards south of the Eagle's View and Raven's Roost trails. Luck was with us as a Dusky Grouse was observed just north of the intersection of the three trails (Eagle's View, Raven's Roost & Oxen Draw).
Our trek continued up the Eagle's View trail and onto the newest section, which connects back to the Raven's Roost trail. Our luck continued as we relocated one of the two American Three-toed Woodpeckers found by Merlynn yesterday.
On the way down the Raven's Roost trail, we ran into a Williamson's Sapsucker about 300 yards south (uphill) of the old service road!
The second part of our day was spent on Guanella Pass (Clear Creek). Over five hours, I made 3 trips up the hill south-southeast of the parking area. On the third attempt around the 603 to Rosalie Trail, a female White-tailed Ptarmigan with 2 young were found south of the hill summit (approximately 30 yards south of the summit).
If female had not been calling the young, we never would have found them.
On the way back to Denver, we played recordings of Northern Pygmy-Owls & Northern Saw-whet Owls at the two campgrounds along Guanella Pass Road. Unfortunately, no owls called back. Remember, access to Guanella Pass is still only from the Grant side (Highway 285).
Richard Stevens:
Visiting birder Joyce Babcock and I drove up to Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) before sunrise. Leaving Denver anytime after 5:30 am is disastrous with traffic. As a result, we arrived at Reynolds Park at civil twilight. A Common Poorwill responded to our recordings.
A Northern Pygmy-Owl also called somewhere south of the parking area. We then made a clockwise circle of the loop (quite a long and strenuous hike of 4 miles with a good altitude gain).
We did not find the Dusky Grouse reported yesterday by Merlynn Brown at 90 yards south of the Eagle's View and Raven's Roost trails. Luck was with us as a Dusky Grouse was observed just north of the intersection of the three trails (Eagle's View, Raven's Roost & Oxen Draw).
Our trek continued up the Eagle's View trail and onto the newest section, which connects back to the Raven's Roost trail. Our luck continued as we relocated one of the two American Three-toed Woodpeckers found by Merlynn yesterday.
On the way down the Raven's Roost trail, we ran into a Williamson's Sapsucker about 300 yards south (uphill) of the old service road!
The second part of our day was spent on Guanella Pass (Clear Creek). Over five hours, I made 3 trips up the hill south-southeast of the parking area. On the third attempt around the 603 to Rosalie Trail, a female White-tailed Ptarmigan with 2 young were found south of the hill summit (approximately 30 yards south of the summit).
If female had not been calling the young, we never would have found them.
On the way back to Denver, we played recordings of Northern Pygmy-Owls & Northern Saw-whet Owls at the two campgrounds along Guanella Pass Road. Unfortunately, no owls called back. Remember, access to Guanella Pass is still only from the Grant side (Highway 285).
No comments:
Post a Comment