April 19, 2011
Richard Stevens:
John Top and I started out to search for Northern Pygmy-Owls at 4:30 am. It had snowed last night, but there were clear skies and cold temperatures (33 degrees) this morning.
At Reynolds Park (Jefferson County), we hiked along Foxton Road from the upper parking area to the lower lot (0.7 miles). Then we returned along the Songbird Trail to Oxen Draw Trail. Unfortunately, we did not turn up any owls.
A Williamson's Sapsucker flew by along the Elkhorn Trail, just south of the old service road. Townsend's Solitaires, Pine Siskins and House Finches sang in the early morning.
At Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson), we hiked along the Pine Lake trail to Buck Gulch to Strawberry Jack to Parkview trails. An American Three-toed Woodpecker was along the Buck Gulch trail, halfway between Pine Lake and Strawberry Jack.
A pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers was at the bottom of the switchbacks along the Strawberry Jack trail. The male drumming constantly. No Northern Pygmy-Owls at their usual locations (north end of Buck Gulch trail and intersection of Buck Gulch and Strawberry Jack trails).
Our final American Three-toed Woodpecker was encountered along the Strawberry Jack trail, 50 yards west of the Parkview Trail. We enjoyed the 3.0 mile round trip hike after 2516 miles of driving this week.
I had found a Northern Pygmy-Owl near Rampart Range Road and highway 67 (Douglas), so we headed that way. No Northern Pygmy-Owl was found; however, we got our best looks at an American Three-toed Woodpecker. A male was foraging 20 yards north of Highway 67 at 0.2 miles east of Rampart Range Road.
Our trip wound down at Castlewood Canyon Road, north of the old Winkler Ranch. They are starting to build homes on the property now (say goodbye to the best Bobolink fields in Colorado).
Mountain Bluebirds were along Castlewood Canyon Road where it runs south to north. When the road turns east to west (coming from the south), we saw several pairs of Western Bluebirds. Finally, a female Eastern Bluebird was found at the western end of the road (before it turns north to the State Park).
It started raining rapidly. We tried to check McLain Gravel Pit for the Barrow's Goldeneyes observed a few weeks ago. The rain made visibility difficult. We could not pick out the Barrow's Goldeneyes. They are probably gone, however could still be there.
Richard Stevens:
John Top and I started out to search for Northern Pygmy-Owls at 4:30 am. It had snowed last night, but there were clear skies and cold temperatures (33 degrees) this morning.
At Reynolds Park (Jefferson County), we hiked along Foxton Road from the upper parking area to the lower lot (0.7 miles). Then we returned along the Songbird Trail to Oxen Draw Trail. Unfortunately, we did not turn up any owls.
A Williamson's Sapsucker flew by along the Elkhorn Trail, just south of the old service road. Townsend's Solitaires, Pine Siskins and House Finches sang in the early morning.
At Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson), we hiked along the Pine Lake trail to Buck Gulch to Strawberry Jack to Parkview trails. An American Three-toed Woodpecker was along the Buck Gulch trail, halfway between Pine Lake and Strawberry Jack.
A pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers was at the bottom of the switchbacks along the Strawberry Jack trail. The male drumming constantly. No Northern Pygmy-Owls at their usual locations (north end of Buck Gulch trail and intersection of Buck Gulch and Strawberry Jack trails).
Our final American Three-toed Woodpecker was encountered along the Strawberry Jack trail, 50 yards west of the Parkview Trail. We enjoyed the 3.0 mile round trip hike after 2516 miles of driving this week.
I had found a Northern Pygmy-Owl near Rampart Range Road and highway 67 (Douglas), so we headed that way. No Northern Pygmy-Owl was found; however, we got our best looks at an American Three-toed Woodpecker. A male was foraging 20 yards north of Highway 67 at 0.2 miles east of Rampart Range Road.
Our trip wound down at Castlewood Canyon Road, north of the old Winkler Ranch. They are starting to build homes on the property now (say goodbye to the best Bobolink fields in Colorado).
Mountain Bluebirds were along Castlewood Canyon Road where it runs south to north. When the road turns east to west (coming from the south), we saw several pairs of Western Bluebirds. Finally, a female Eastern Bluebird was found at the western end of the road (before it turns north to the State Park).
It started raining rapidly. We tried to check McLain Gravel Pit for the Barrow's Goldeneyes observed a few weeks ago. The rain made visibility difficult. We could not pick out the Barrow's Goldeneyes. They are probably gone, however could still be there.
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