November 7-8, 2010
Richard Stevens:
Saturday, 7th
I had every intention of staying home and getting some chores done. A call from Roger Danka reminded me that it was his wife's birthday; off we went to northeast Colorado. This was a good cause, however, it does not take much to get me to go out birding.
On the way to the northeast corner of Colorado, we made several stops (of course). Our first stop was to circle Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) to see if any uncommon gulls or ducks had moved in since our last visit. Unfortunately, we found none. As a consolation, a Harris's Sparrow was found at the southwest corner of the eastern Campgrounds. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds flew about the northeast corner of same.
The longest stop was at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County). We drove along the access road just south of the riparian area along the S. Platte River (from sections 5 East to 7 East.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers were again found from the highway 55 bridge over the South Platte River. A couple of Field Sparrows came out of the windbreak at 7 East (as we walked the east side and returned along the west side).
A Northern Cardinal was found between the maintenance building and Tamarack Pond. The highlight was a calling Eastern Screech-Owl after sunset (in riparian area between 6 and 7 East).
After dinner, Roger and I walked the creek on his ranch and heard two additional Eastern Screech-Owls (Sedgwick). For the heck of it, we drove over to Jumbo to listen to the ducks and geese. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl called from the north side. A Great Horned Owl called in the Campgrounds.
Sunday 8th
After an early breakfast, Rebecca, Roger and his wife and I headed out for some serious birding.
A quick stop at Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) found 2 Common Loons and 11 Greater White-fronted Geese. We could not relocate the Harris's Sparrow observed yesterday.
The highlight came while looking for shorebirds along the south and east sides of the reservoir. A Snow Bunting walked the sanding shore at the extreme southeast corner! Unfortunately, it stayed mainly on private property and we only got witness photos.
At Ovid, we walked the northern woods to the southern woods to the nearby Ovid Sewage Ponds.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker added color to the northern woods (east of the high school). A Brown Thrasher was found at the southern end, just north of Monroe Avenue, which goes from town to the old factory to the east.
The weeds around the sewage ponds were quite birdy. Many White-crowned Sparrows, 5 Song Sparrows, 17 American Tree Sparrows and a late Lincoln's Sparrow were found. The highlight was a lone Field Sparrow with his bright Rufous crown and pink bill!
Today was a day for sparrows. Next, we hiked the east side of the Julesburg Wildlife Area (south side of Platte River, south of Ovid). Northern Cardinals have been found in here on previous visits; however none today.
Again many White-crowned, Tree and a few Song Sparrows were encountered. A Harris's Sparrow was found about 200 yards east of Sedgwick County Road 29. A pair of Great Horned Owls was also in the area.
Hoping to find a Northern Bobwhite, we headed to DePoorter Lake (Sedgwick) south of Julesburg. Again many sparrows were found in the high weeds (first at the southwest parking area) and then along the Platte River.
Unfortunately, we did not turn up any Bobwhite. Two Harris's Sparrows moved along the S. Platte River (just west of the old dump). A couple of Eastern Bluebirds were just east of the old dump.
We ended our birding day watching the fields along Highway 11, just south of Nebraska. No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.
Richard Stevens:
Saturday, 7th
I had every intention of staying home and getting some chores done. A call from Roger Danka reminded me that it was his wife's birthday; off we went to northeast Colorado. This was a good cause, however, it does not take much to get me to go out birding.
On the way to the northeast corner of Colorado, we made several stops (of course). Our first stop was to circle Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) to see if any uncommon gulls or ducks had moved in since our last visit. Unfortunately, we found none. As a consolation, a Harris's Sparrow was found at the southwest corner of the eastern Campgrounds. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds flew about the northeast corner of same.
The longest stop was at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County). We drove along the access road just south of the riparian area along the S. Platte River (from sections 5 East to 7 East.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers were again found from the highway 55 bridge over the South Platte River. A couple of Field Sparrows came out of the windbreak at 7 East (as we walked the east side and returned along the west side).
A Northern Cardinal was found between the maintenance building and Tamarack Pond. The highlight was a calling Eastern Screech-Owl after sunset (in riparian area between 6 and 7 East).
After dinner, Roger and I walked the creek on his ranch and heard two additional Eastern Screech-Owls (Sedgwick). For the heck of it, we drove over to Jumbo to listen to the ducks and geese. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl called from the north side. A Great Horned Owl called in the Campgrounds.
Sunday 8th
After an early breakfast, Rebecca, Roger and his wife and I headed out for some serious birding.
A quick stop at Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) found 2 Common Loons and 11 Greater White-fronted Geese. We could not relocate the Harris's Sparrow observed yesterday.
The highlight came while looking for shorebirds along the south and east sides of the reservoir. A Snow Bunting walked the sanding shore at the extreme southeast corner! Unfortunately, it stayed mainly on private property and we only got witness photos.
At Ovid, we walked the northern woods to the southern woods to the nearby Ovid Sewage Ponds.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker added color to the northern woods (east of the high school). A Brown Thrasher was found at the southern end, just north of Monroe Avenue, which goes from town to the old factory to the east.
The weeds around the sewage ponds were quite birdy. Many White-crowned Sparrows, 5 Song Sparrows, 17 American Tree Sparrows and a late Lincoln's Sparrow were found. The highlight was a lone Field Sparrow with his bright Rufous crown and pink bill!
Today was a day for sparrows. Next, we hiked the east side of the Julesburg Wildlife Area (south side of Platte River, south of Ovid). Northern Cardinals have been found in here on previous visits; however none today.
Again many White-crowned, Tree and a few Song Sparrows were encountered. A Harris's Sparrow was found about 200 yards east of Sedgwick County Road 29. A pair of Great Horned Owls was also in the area.
Hoping to find a Northern Bobwhite, we headed to DePoorter Lake (Sedgwick) south of Julesburg. Again many sparrows were found in the high weeds (first at the southwest parking area) and then along the Platte River.
Unfortunately, we did not turn up any Bobwhite. Two Harris's Sparrows moved along the S. Platte River (just west of the old dump). A couple of Eastern Bluebirds were just east of the old dump.
We ended our birding day watching the fields along Highway 11, just south of Nebraska. No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment