Friday, June 24, 2011

Buena Vista Area, Chaffee County

June 23, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Jerry Petrosky and I went owling in Chaffee County last night. We managed to hear two Northern Saw-whet Owls in BLM Land northeast of Buena Vista. BLM Land between Buena Vista and Salida was also not productive.

After a couple of hours of sleep, we relocated the Lewis's Woodpeckers found yesterday by Jeff S (sorry I do not know how to spell your last name). We could not relocate the Western Screech-Owls that nested last year.

Pinyon Jays were missed at the Buena Vista Overlook and the KOA Campgrounds below the overlook. We then drove Chaffee County Road 301 searching for them. None was found until we reached Ruby Mountain where 10+ Pinyon Jays were flying around.

Our only stop on the way back to Denver was Kenosha Pass, Park County. No Dusky Grouse were found; we did hear two Hermit Thrushes (would have preferred a Veery).

We hiked to the second gate to Twin Cone Peaks trail. A Williamson's Sapsucker and two Red-naped Sapsuckers were in the small aspen grove where the road turns from south to east.

Half a dozen Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, several Wilson's Warblers and a Yellow Warbler were also found. We headed back down the trail at dusk; no owls were found.

We had no better luck for owls across highway 285 at Kenosha Campgrounds.

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