Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Le Conte's Sparrows & Prewitt Reservoir

October 9, 2010

Richard Stevens:

At first light, we finally managed to find the 2 Le Conte's Sparrows! Beautiful birds they allowed us good 20 second looks. We also relocated the Blue-headed Vireo and Rufous Hummingbird that Roger had seen for 2 days. The resident Eastern Screech-Owls also came out for us!

We headed back to Denver by way of Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington Counties).

As we drove into Prewitt Reservoir, a large flock of sparrows flew along the road. The flock included a Field Sparrow, dozens of Chipping Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and 2 Clay-colored Sparrows.

At the "mudflats" west of the dam, an American Golden-Plover was more or less with Long-billed Dowitchers, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, and Lesser Yellowlegs.

It was quite birdy below the dam. Among many common birds, we found a White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, and Nashville Warbler. A Sabine's Gull flew along the eastern side of the dam.

An Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Mountain Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches were at the inlet grove.

Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) was slow. We did find a Sabine's Gull flying over the lake. A White-throated Sparrow was under the trees along the shoreline at Pelican Campgrounds. An Orange-crowned Warbler was with 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers. No Long-eared Owls were found.

The Wildlife Area south of Morgan County Roads 2 & AA (where Long-tailed Duck was last fall) added a Harris's Sparrow and Field Sparrow to our Morgan County day list.

After dropping off Bryan and Jerry, I went over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) to look for the Red-necked Grebe. I could not find it. However, I did find 3 Sabine's Gulls below the dam. Many of the dozens (over 150+) Western Grebes were right along the shore. A Clark's Grebe was among them. If the Red-necked Grebe was there, I missed it.

No grebes were at the Cottonwood Creek Loop Wetlands Pond or the Bellevue Ponds.

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