Saturday, September 18, 2010

Rocky Mountain Arsenal & DIA Owl Loop

September 18, 2010

Richard Stevens:

After owling most of the night in Estes Park, I met Jerry Petrosky at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County). I arrived a little after sunrise. Jerry had already looked for owls; without success.

We then walked the Lake Ladora loop and St. Mary Lake loop.

A Townsend's Warbler was still in the trees along the outlet canal (below Lower Derby Lake dam). A Cassin's Vireo was in the trees where the path "goes through the trees" (also below the dam).

Sparrow count was down from yesterday. We still saw 6 species (Lincoln's, Song, White-crowned, Lark, Chipping, Brewer's) however numbers were lower.

After a few hours sleep and lunch, Rebecca and I biked Buckley Road between 56th & 88th avenues. Only 2 Burrowing Owls were found today.

However, they are still there; as were 5 at the prairie dog village at 3.4 miles east of 96th avenue and Tower Road. Another pair was 0.3 miles north of Tower Road and 56th avenue (west side of road). It will not be too many weeks before the Burrowing Owls head south for the winter.

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