December 13, 2010
Richard Stevens:
I decided to help Mandy Schiff find some additional birds. She does not mind me telling you that she is a handicapped birder trying for a big year. Mandy lost use of her legs about 15 years ago. Not to get her down, she took to birding major time.
The question of where to find an American Three-toed Woodpecker from a road was a possible problem. The Three-toed Woodpeckers at Pine Valley Ranch Park and Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) require some long hikes.
We headed to Rampart Range Road and Highway 67 in Douglas County. I scouted the area northeast of the intersection and found a Three-toed Woodpecker not far from the road. It was however, out of sight from the road.
We ate an early lunch and patience paid off. The male American Three-toed Woodpecker flew to a tree just 10 feet from the road!
Spotted Towhees were easier to find. I played a recording at the northern restroom area of Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) and two popped out of the underbrush. They sang from the bush tops nicely for several minutes, allowing great looks.
We talked about owls and decided to head up to Cameron Pass. Rist Canyon was not a far detour. The Northern Pygmy-Owl was nice to us and was perched on the south side of the road at about 20 yards east of the Whale Rock.
After an early dinner break, we continued west to Cameron Pass (Jackson County). It was one of those magical nights at 10,276 feet. Winds were calm; it was relatively warm and we could hear all the night sounds. Bird activity is much more alive than one would expect.
Again, luck was with us, I found a Boreal Owl about 0.1 miles west of the summit parking area (restroom area).
December 14, 2010
After dropping Mandy off at her motel, timing was perfect as I passed Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County). It had just opened and it was still dark.
I stopped at one of my favorite owl spots, played a tape and coaxed a Long-eared Owl out of the New Mexico Locust! Great end/start to a birding day!
Now for some sleep!
Richard Stevens:
I decided to help Mandy Schiff find some additional birds. She does not mind me telling you that she is a handicapped birder trying for a big year. Mandy lost use of her legs about 15 years ago. Not to get her down, she took to birding major time.
The question of where to find an American Three-toed Woodpecker from a road was a possible problem. The Three-toed Woodpeckers at Pine Valley Ranch Park and Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) require some long hikes.
We headed to Rampart Range Road and Highway 67 in Douglas County. I scouted the area northeast of the intersection and found a Three-toed Woodpecker not far from the road. It was however, out of sight from the road.
We ate an early lunch and patience paid off. The male American Three-toed Woodpecker flew to a tree just 10 feet from the road!
Spotted Towhees were easier to find. I played a recording at the northern restroom area of Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) and two popped out of the underbrush. They sang from the bush tops nicely for several minutes, allowing great looks.
We talked about owls and decided to head up to Cameron Pass. Rist Canyon was not a far detour. The Northern Pygmy-Owl was nice to us and was perched on the south side of the road at about 20 yards east of the Whale Rock.
After an early dinner break, we continued west to Cameron Pass (Jackson County). It was one of those magical nights at 10,276 feet. Winds were calm; it was relatively warm and we could hear all the night sounds. Bird activity is much more alive than one would expect.
Again, luck was with us, I found a Boreal Owl about 0.1 miles west of the summit parking area (restroom area).
December 14, 2010
After dropping Mandy off at her motel, timing was perfect as I passed Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County). It had just opened and it was still dark.
I stopped at one of my favorite owl spots, played a tape and coaxed a Long-eared Owl out of the New Mexico Locust! Great end/start to a birding day!
Now for some sleep!
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