July 13, 2011
Richard Stevens:
Helen Gelon, Ana Wells and I arrived at Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) approximately an hour before sunrise. A Common Poorwill responded to my recording played at the parking area.
We walked the Songbird trail from the eastern parking area to the western lot, however found no Northern Pygmy-Owls.
Then we made the long hike up the Oxen Draw Trail to Eagle's View to Raven's Roost back to our car. Fortune was with us. We came up an American Three-toed Woodpecker just southeast of the Oxen Draw and Eagle's View trails. The intersection is one of the three places I hope to find a Dusky Grouse; however none today. (The other two being the Eagle's View clearing and 400 yards south of the Old Service Road).
Our trek continued up to the clearing at the top of Eagle's View. It provides a good view of the mountains to the south! A Dusky Grouse was heard booming just to the west of the clearing! It took some sneaking around and finally we got a view of the furtive bird!
On the trip back down the Raven's Roost trail, we saw "phantoms" of another Dusky Grouse crossing the trail (perhaps 600 yards south of the Old Service Road).
A male Williamson's Sapsucker called about 200 yards north of the old service road. A second American Three-toed Woodpecker was heard drumming (never seen) about 100 yards south of the old service road.
The woods were quite birdy. We found the expected 3 species of nuthatches, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, and 5 Red Crossbills.
No Townsend's Solitaires were found. Where have they gone? I have searched during 4 recent trips in Jefferson County and not been able to find any.
The plan had been to hang around Jefferson and Park County until dark and continue our owling. Severe approaching thunderstorms changed our minds.
Before heading back to Denver, we did hike Old Kenosha Pass road to the Twin Cone Peaks trail. Several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Wilson's Warblers, a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers and a male Williamson's Sapsucker were observed. The sapsuckers were in the Aspen grove where the trail turns from south to east.
An unidentified thrush was encountered at the Campgrounds. It was not seen long enough to tell whether it was a Hermit or Swainson's. Although it was not a Veery.
I stopped briefly at Barr Lake (Adams) on the way home. The Gray-cheeked Thrush reported yesterday by Wolback could not be found. There are high weeds/brush in the area; the thrush could still be there. Thunder and lightning were not the best conditions in which to search.
Richard Stevens:
Helen Gelon, Ana Wells and I arrived at Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) approximately an hour before sunrise. A Common Poorwill responded to my recording played at the parking area.
We walked the Songbird trail from the eastern parking area to the western lot, however found no Northern Pygmy-Owls.
Then we made the long hike up the Oxen Draw Trail to Eagle's View to Raven's Roost back to our car. Fortune was with us. We came up an American Three-toed Woodpecker just southeast of the Oxen Draw and Eagle's View trails. The intersection is one of the three places I hope to find a Dusky Grouse; however none today. (The other two being the Eagle's View clearing and 400 yards south of the Old Service Road).
Our trek continued up to the clearing at the top of Eagle's View. It provides a good view of the mountains to the south! A Dusky Grouse was heard booming just to the west of the clearing! It took some sneaking around and finally we got a view of the furtive bird!
On the trip back down the Raven's Roost trail, we saw "phantoms" of another Dusky Grouse crossing the trail (perhaps 600 yards south of the Old Service Road).
A male Williamson's Sapsucker called about 200 yards north of the old service road. A second American Three-toed Woodpecker was heard drumming (never seen) about 100 yards south of the old service road.
The woods were quite birdy. We found the expected 3 species of nuthatches, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, and 5 Red Crossbills.
No Townsend's Solitaires were found. Where have they gone? I have searched during 4 recent trips in Jefferson County and not been able to find any.
The plan had been to hang around Jefferson and Park County until dark and continue our owling. Severe approaching thunderstorms changed our minds.
Before heading back to Denver, we did hike Old Kenosha Pass road to the Twin Cone Peaks trail. Several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Wilson's Warblers, a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers and a male Williamson's Sapsucker were observed. The sapsuckers were in the Aspen grove where the trail turns from south to east.
An unidentified thrush was encountered at the Campgrounds. It was not seen long enough to tell whether it was a Hermit or Swainson's. Although it was not a Veery.
I stopped briefly at Barr Lake (Adams) on the way home. The Gray-cheeked Thrush reported yesterday by Wolback could not be found. There are high weeds/brush in the area; the thrush could still be there. Thunder and lightning were not the best conditions in which to search.
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