December 15, 2010
Bryan Ehlmann;
Jacob Washburn, Rich Stevens and I started south from Denver at 4:00 am. An ungodly hour to start birding and I questioned Richard's sanity more than once. In his defense, we wanted to avoid the horrific traffic between southern Denver and Colorado Springs.
After a welcomed cup of nectar, Starbucks coffee, we finally made it to Fountain Creek Regional Park in El Paso County. The walk from the Visitor's Center to the northern ponds was quite eventful.
The first rare bird of our day was a Field Sparrow flying about in the field north of the Cattails Wildlife Area section.
We continued around to Rice's Pond. In the next 30 minutes, we found the Pine Warbler, Harris's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and Winter Wren. Our big miss was the reported Ovenbird. Not a bad morning if I say so myself.
The Rusty Blackbirds at Clear Springs Ranch had not been reported since 12/8; so we decided to skip a search for them and go to Pueblo Reservoir for a quick look around. Daylight is previous this time of year. Sunset is around 4:30 pm.
The Great Black-backed Gull along with a Thayer's Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull was at the south shore marina. That was our only stop and we drove quickly to Rocky Ford.
Our search for rare doves around Rocky Ford was fortunate. We found an Inca Dove along Washington Street. A White-winged Dove was along Industrial Drive. Eurasian Collared-Doves were everywhere and a pair of Mourning Doves concluded our 4 dove search.
Daylight abandoned us before we arrived at Lake Henry. We did hike back to the north side to listen for screech owls. None was found.
December 16, 2010
Three of us planned to look for the "mysterious" Purgatory Railroad Crossing in Bent County today.
A stop at Fort Lyons Wildlife Area was not noteworthy. We desired a Virginia Rail or Sora but found neither. A White-throated Sparrow was along the dirt road south of Bent County Roads 16 and HH.
Fortunately, another Colorado birder had supplied us with superb directions to the "Crossing". In spite of warnings of "rabid hunters" with shotguns, we ventured to the dominion. Once arrived, we seeded the area with succulent food for the birds and then wandered around a bit.
Upon returning, we found a Northern Cardinal and eastern Fox Sparrow. With time, a Harris's Sparrow also appeared. Without threats from hunters or trains, we continued on to John Martin Reservoir.
With some effort, we relocated the two Dunlin reported two days earlier by Duane Nelson. I would have enjoyed running into him, but he was a no show. Other birds come across on this elongated lake included a Pacific Loon, Long-tailed Duck and Greater Scaup. These accompanied by late White Pelicans and a Double-crested Cormorant. The enormity of the geese flocks was quite a wonderment.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew around from tree to tree at the Lake Hasty Campgrounds below the John Martin Reservoir dam.
Again cheated by a winter daylight shorten day, we only had an hour to search for owls at Upper Queens and Neenoshe Reservoirs. A Chihuahuan Raven was found south of Neesopah Reservoir.
December 17, 2010
On our way to Wray, we stopped at Bonny Reservoir in Yuma County. Eastern Screech-Owls were found north of Hale Ponds and the west end of Bonny Reservoir State Park. We did not get any Long-eared Owls to respond to our recordings.
Time to get serious today. The eight annual Wray Christmas Count was conducted. I don't have to final birders hours put in yet. We had eight cobirders and six additional feeder watchers.
Thanks to the many people, especially to those who "stalked out" birds in the days prior!
Six of us went out before sunrise and were very lucky. A Greater Prairie-Chicken was again crossing Yuma County Road 45 at about 1.2 miles east of Highway 385! That is the second trip in a row that Richard Stevens has found one!
The feeders at private yards were the most productive to our CBC list. Birds found by feeder watchers included:
Purple Finch (2)
Northern Cardinal (9 over 3 locations)
Fox Sparrow (eastern)
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwings (68) + (2) Bohemian Waxwings
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3 locations)
Varied Thrush
Harris's Sparrow (2 locations)
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Screech-Owl (2 locations)
Barn Owl
Common Redpoll (2)
All but the Common Redpolls and Savannah Sparrow had been seen at least once before today. The Varied Thrush has been around for 2 weeks.
On public lands:
Sandsage Wildlife Area is always interesting. Today, my group found a Swamp Sparrow at the western end. Two White-throated Sparrows west of the old barn area. A Harris's Sparrow along the road south of the property gate.
See January's "Colorado Field Notes" for complete details.
December 18, 2010
Our eastern plains Christmas Counts continued today with the Jumbo Reservoir/Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area Count. Today we had ten cobirders and five feeder watchers. Many uncommon birds were found on private lands. However, today, we also counted on the public lands around Jumbo Reservoir and Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area.
My group of three at Jumbo Reservoir saw:
Greater White-fronted Geese
Ross's Geese
Swamp Sparrow (below the dam)
Eastern Screech-Owl (north side before sunrise)
Short-eared Owl (south side after sunset)
Richard Stevens' and Jacob Washburn's groups birded Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area:
Eastern Screech-Owl --East (Stevens) (sections 6-7)
Long-eared Owl --East (Stevens) (Tamarack Pond)
Northern Saw-whet Owl --East (Stevens) (remains unlisted to protect owl)
Northern Cardinal --East/Tamarack Pond (Stevens)
Field Sparrow --East (Stevens)
Harris's Sparrow --East (Stevens)
White-throated Sparrow --East (Stevens)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2) --East (Stevens)
Brown Thrasher --East (Stevens)
Northern Cardinal --West (Washburn)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3) (Washburn)
Barn Owl --West (Washburn)
At two hours before sunset, the two groups set out to "stake out" areas on the Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area South. They took chairs and scoped two areas until after sunset.
Greater Prairie-Chicken --South/2 locations (M.OB.)
Stevens relocated a Greater Prairie-Chicken in the area north of Logan County Roads 46 and 89. This area is very good for prairie chickens when there is a dusting of snow. Look for prairie chickens among wandering Ring-necked Pheasants feeding in fields. While Jacob Washburn scoped the area around the windmill along CR 55, several miles south of I76.
Short-eared Owl --South (M.OB.) (Stevens and all again saw one or two Short-eared Owls flying over the field while searching for Greater Prairie-Chickens.
Feeder Watchers added many birds to the CBC:
Long-eared Owls (5 at 2 locations)
Short-eared Owl (1)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (1)
Barn Owl (1)
Eastern Screech-Owl (4 over 3 locations)
Eastern Bluebirds (15)
Hermit Thrush
Brown Thrasher
Harris's Sparrow (3 over 2 Locations)
White-throated Sparrow (3 over 2 Locations)
Fox Sparrow (eastern)
Varied Thrush (been around for almost a month now)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatches
Red Crossbills (9)
Purple Finch (around since 12/5)
December 19, 2010
Today was the final eastern plains Christmas Count for our group. Eight cobirders wandered around Bonny Reservoir State Park area. We also had four feeder watchers.
The Eastern Screech-Owls were again found at Hale Ponds, Hale and Bonny Reservoir. All responded to recordings before sunrise.
Birds found on public lands included:
Thayer's Gull
Eastern Screech-Owl (12) --Hale Ponds & Bonny Reservoir
Long-eared Owl (21) --Hale & Bonny Reservoir
Short-eared Owl (south of Yuma CR 4 after sunset)
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Barn Owl --Hale
Red-bellied Woodpecker (15) --Bonny/Hale
Eastern Bluebird (50+) -Hale/Bonny
Brown Thrasher (3) -Hale/Bonny
Swamp Sparrow (2) -Hale/Bonny
Harris's Sparrow --Hale (CR 4, 0.2 miles east of LLLL.5)
White-throated Sparrow --Hopper Ponds
Northern Cardinal (3) -Bonny
Common Redpoll (2) --Bonny (east/Foster's Grove)
Purple Finch --Hale
Feeder watchers added:
Harris's Sparrow (2)
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Red Crossbills (5+)
Barn Owl
Eastern Bluebirds (27)
Northern Cardinal (male & female, different Locations)
Common Redpoll (2)
Eastern Screech-Owls (11)
Long-eared Owl (6)
December 20, 2010
Early this morning, Rich Stevens, Jacob Washburn and I sat at the north end of Flagler Reservoir, Kit Carson County waiting for Short-eared Owls to appear. Unfortunately, none did.
After sunrise, we hiked from the south end of Flagler Reservoir along the east side to below the dam. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker flew between the large cottonwoods at the south end.
Two Eastern Bluebirds were in the windbreak at the northeast corner.
The best bird was a stub-tailed wren below the dam. It turned out to be a Winter Wren. We would have loved to call it a Pacific Wren, especially this far east of the foothills. The throat was regrettably too white for a Pacific Wren.
We searched for the resident Eastern Screech-Owls at Brush Wildlife Area, Morgan County. They did not come out this morning. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was along the northwestern edge of the property.
No rare sparrows were found while we hiked from the Fort Morgan Ponds parking lot to Riverside Park. Again, the resident Eastern Screech-Owl was not enticed to come out of its favorite tree.
After lunch, we visited Jackson Lake State Park, Morgan County. A Merlin was east of the southern parking lot off CR 2. No rare gulls were found. Most gulls were Ring-billed Gulls.
We relocated 10+ Long-eared Owls along the western side Campgrounds. This time an Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings.
We waited until dusk and watched for Short-eared Owls at the northwest corner. Alas none appeared. Two Great Horned Owls called from the cottonwoods between the Campgrounds and the lake.
Bryan Ehlmann;
Jacob Washburn, Rich Stevens and I started south from Denver at 4:00 am. An ungodly hour to start birding and I questioned Richard's sanity more than once. In his defense, we wanted to avoid the horrific traffic between southern Denver and Colorado Springs.
After a welcomed cup of nectar, Starbucks coffee, we finally made it to Fountain Creek Regional Park in El Paso County. The walk from the Visitor's Center to the northern ponds was quite eventful.
The first rare bird of our day was a Field Sparrow flying about in the field north of the Cattails Wildlife Area section.
We continued around to Rice's Pond. In the next 30 minutes, we found the Pine Warbler, Harris's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and Winter Wren. Our big miss was the reported Ovenbird. Not a bad morning if I say so myself.
The Rusty Blackbirds at Clear Springs Ranch had not been reported since 12/8; so we decided to skip a search for them and go to Pueblo Reservoir for a quick look around. Daylight is previous this time of year. Sunset is around 4:30 pm.
The Great Black-backed Gull along with a Thayer's Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull was at the south shore marina. That was our only stop and we drove quickly to Rocky Ford.
Our search for rare doves around Rocky Ford was fortunate. We found an Inca Dove along Washington Street. A White-winged Dove was along Industrial Drive. Eurasian Collared-Doves were everywhere and a pair of Mourning Doves concluded our 4 dove search.
Daylight abandoned us before we arrived at Lake Henry. We did hike back to the north side to listen for screech owls. None was found.
December 16, 2010
Three of us planned to look for the "mysterious" Purgatory Railroad Crossing in Bent County today.
A stop at Fort Lyons Wildlife Area was not noteworthy. We desired a Virginia Rail or Sora but found neither. A White-throated Sparrow was along the dirt road south of Bent County Roads 16 and HH.
Fortunately, another Colorado birder had supplied us with superb directions to the "Crossing". In spite of warnings of "rabid hunters" with shotguns, we ventured to the dominion. Once arrived, we seeded the area with succulent food for the birds and then wandered around a bit.
Upon returning, we found a Northern Cardinal and eastern Fox Sparrow. With time, a Harris's Sparrow also appeared. Without threats from hunters or trains, we continued on to John Martin Reservoir.
With some effort, we relocated the two Dunlin reported two days earlier by Duane Nelson. I would have enjoyed running into him, but he was a no show. Other birds come across on this elongated lake included a Pacific Loon, Long-tailed Duck and Greater Scaup. These accompanied by late White Pelicans and a Double-crested Cormorant. The enormity of the geese flocks was quite a wonderment.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew around from tree to tree at the Lake Hasty Campgrounds below the John Martin Reservoir dam.
Again cheated by a winter daylight shorten day, we only had an hour to search for owls at Upper Queens and Neenoshe Reservoirs. A Chihuahuan Raven was found south of Neesopah Reservoir.
December 17, 2010
On our way to Wray, we stopped at Bonny Reservoir in Yuma County. Eastern Screech-Owls were found north of Hale Ponds and the west end of Bonny Reservoir State Park. We did not get any Long-eared Owls to respond to our recordings.
Time to get serious today. The eight annual Wray Christmas Count was conducted. I don't have to final birders hours put in yet. We had eight cobirders and six additional feeder watchers.
Thanks to the many people, especially to those who "stalked out" birds in the days prior!
Six of us went out before sunrise and were very lucky. A Greater Prairie-Chicken was again crossing Yuma County Road 45 at about 1.2 miles east of Highway 385! That is the second trip in a row that Richard Stevens has found one!
The feeders at private yards were the most productive to our CBC list. Birds found by feeder watchers included:
Purple Finch (2)
Northern Cardinal (9 over 3 locations)
Fox Sparrow (eastern)
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwings (68) + (2) Bohemian Waxwings
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3 locations)
Varied Thrush
Harris's Sparrow (2 locations)
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Screech-Owl (2 locations)
Barn Owl
Common Redpoll (2)
All but the Common Redpolls and Savannah Sparrow had been seen at least once before today. The Varied Thrush has been around for 2 weeks.
On public lands:
Sandsage Wildlife Area is always interesting. Today, my group found a Swamp Sparrow at the western end. Two White-throated Sparrows west of the old barn area. A Harris's Sparrow along the road south of the property gate.
See January's "Colorado Field Notes" for complete details.
December 18, 2010
Our eastern plains Christmas Counts continued today with the Jumbo Reservoir/Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area Count. Today we had ten cobirders and five feeder watchers. Many uncommon birds were found on private lands. However, today, we also counted on the public lands around Jumbo Reservoir and Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area.
My group of three at Jumbo Reservoir saw:
Greater White-fronted Geese
Ross's Geese
Swamp Sparrow (below the dam)
Eastern Screech-Owl (north side before sunrise)
Short-eared Owl (south side after sunset)
Richard Stevens' and Jacob Washburn's groups birded Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area:
Eastern Screech-Owl --East (Stevens) (sections 6-7)
Long-eared Owl --East (Stevens) (Tamarack Pond)
Northern Saw-whet Owl --East (Stevens) (remains unlisted to protect owl)
Northern Cardinal --East/Tamarack Pond (Stevens)
Field Sparrow --East (Stevens)
Harris's Sparrow --East (Stevens)
White-throated Sparrow --East (Stevens)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2) --East (Stevens)
Brown Thrasher --East (Stevens)
Northern Cardinal --West (Washburn)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3) (Washburn)
Barn Owl --West (Washburn)
At two hours before sunset, the two groups set out to "stake out" areas on the Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area South. They took chairs and scoped two areas until after sunset.
Greater Prairie-Chicken --South/2 locations (M.OB.)
Stevens relocated a Greater Prairie-Chicken in the area north of Logan County Roads 46 and 89. This area is very good for prairie chickens when there is a dusting of snow. Look for prairie chickens among wandering Ring-necked Pheasants feeding in fields. While Jacob Washburn scoped the area around the windmill along CR 55, several miles south of I76.
Short-eared Owl --South (M.OB.) (Stevens and all again saw one or two Short-eared Owls flying over the field while searching for Greater Prairie-Chickens.
Feeder Watchers added many birds to the CBC:
Long-eared Owls (5 at 2 locations)
Short-eared Owl (1)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (1)
Barn Owl (1)
Eastern Screech-Owl (4 over 3 locations)
Eastern Bluebirds (15)
Hermit Thrush
Brown Thrasher
Harris's Sparrow (3 over 2 Locations)
White-throated Sparrow (3 over 2 Locations)
Fox Sparrow (eastern)
Varied Thrush (been around for almost a month now)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatches
Red Crossbills (9)
Purple Finch (around since 12/5)
December 19, 2010
Today was the final eastern plains Christmas Count for our group. Eight cobirders wandered around Bonny Reservoir State Park area. We also had four feeder watchers.
The Eastern Screech-Owls were again found at Hale Ponds, Hale and Bonny Reservoir. All responded to recordings before sunrise.
Birds found on public lands included:
Thayer's Gull
Eastern Screech-Owl (12) --Hale Ponds & Bonny Reservoir
Long-eared Owl (21) --Hale & Bonny Reservoir
Short-eared Owl (south of Yuma CR 4 after sunset)
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Barn Owl --Hale
Red-bellied Woodpecker (15) --Bonny/Hale
Eastern Bluebird (50+) -Hale/Bonny
Brown Thrasher (3) -Hale/Bonny
Swamp Sparrow (2) -Hale/Bonny
Harris's Sparrow --Hale (CR 4, 0.2 miles east of LLLL.5)
White-throated Sparrow --Hopper Ponds
Northern Cardinal (3) -Bonny
Common Redpoll (2) --Bonny (east/Foster's Grove)
Purple Finch --Hale
Feeder watchers added:
Harris's Sparrow (2)
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Red Crossbills (5+)
Barn Owl
Eastern Bluebirds (27)
Northern Cardinal (male & female, different Locations)
Common Redpoll (2)
Eastern Screech-Owls (11)
Long-eared Owl (6)
December 20, 2010
Early this morning, Rich Stevens, Jacob Washburn and I sat at the north end of Flagler Reservoir, Kit Carson County waiting for Short-eared Owls to appear. Unfortunately, none did.
After sunrise, we hiked from the south end of Flagler Reservoir along the east side to below the dam. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker flew between the large cottonwoods at the south end.
Two Eastern Bluebirds were in the windbreak at the northeast corner.
The best bird was a stub-tailed wren below the dam. It turned out to be a Winter Wren. We would have loved to call it a Pacific Wren, especially this far east of the foothills. The throat was regrettably too white for a Pacific Wren.
We searched for the resident Eastern Screech-Owls at Brush Wildlife Area, Morgan County. They did not come out this morning. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was along the northwestern edge of the property.
No rare sparrows were found while we hiked from the Fort Morgan Ponds parking lot to Riverside Park. Again, the resident Eastern Screech-Owl was not enticed to come out of its favorite tree.
After lunch, we visited Jackson Lake State Park, Morgan County. A Merlin was east of the southern parking lot off CR 2. No rare gulls were found. Most gulls were Ring-billed Gulls.
We relocated 10+ Long-eared Owls along the western side Campgrounds. This time an Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings.
We waited until dusk and watched for Short-eared Owls at the northwest corner. Alas none appeared. Two Great Horned Owls called from the cottonwoods between the Campgrounds and the lake.
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