September 8, 2011
Richard Stevens:
Rebecca Kosten and I were at Rocky Mountain Arsenal when they opened this morning. Temperatures were in the low 60s, winds mild and skies clearing. The arsenal opened too late for Long-eared Owls to be flying around. Perhaps in another couple of weeks it will still be dark when they open?
Our first bird found was an American Redstart at the north side of Mary's Lake. Dozens of Chipping Sparrows and House Finches were along the south side of the lake.
We hiked around the south side of Lake Ladora over to the Rod & Gun Club Pond. Dozens of Chipping Sparrows and a Clay-colored Sparrow were along the south side of Ladora. We heard a Virginia Rail and Marsh Wren. Two Townsend's Warblers flew about the cottonwoods along the west side of the R&G pond.
Our return trip took us to the north side of Lake Ladora. Here a Blackpoll Warbler was with a loose flock of 9 Yellow Warblers, 2 Wilson's Warblers and 6 Black-capped Chickadees.
Afterwards, Rebecca went on to do chores and I continued to Cherry Creek Reservoir to search for yesterday's Pomarine Jaeger sighting. The jaeger was not found during my five hours of birding. Neither was the Sabine's Gull seen Monday.
A loose flock of birds at the west side of the Smoky Hill Group Picnic area included 11 Yellow Warblers (all females or first year birds), 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a Wilson's Warbler. A vireo left unidentified was most likely a Cassin's Vireo (definitely not a Plumbeous Vireo).
I ran into another flock of birds at the willows along the lake (between the Group Picnic Area and the Picnic tables at the handicapped fisherperson's area). This flock included 9 Yellow Warblers (this time 2 adult males), 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, 6 Black-capped Chickadees and a Nashville Warbler. A Cassin's Vireo was with this flock also.
I continued around the reservoir and stopped at the Prairie Loop, Lake Loop, and southwest marina. No jaegers were found. In areas unlikely to relocate the birds, I added 2 additional Townsend's Warblers, another Cassin's Vireo and a Hermit Thrush.
My birding day ended along the DIA Owl Loop. No Short-eared Owls, three Burrowing Owls were found at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue prairie dog town.
Richard Stevens:
Rebecca Kosten and I were at Rocky Mountain Arsenal when they opened this morning. Temperatures were in the low 60s, winds mild and skies clearing. The arsenal opened too late for Long-eared Owls to be flying around. Perhaps in another couple of weeks it will still be dark when they open?
Our first bird found was an American Redstart at the north side of Mary's Lake. Dozens of Chipping Sparrows and House Finches were along the south side of the lake.
We hiked around the south side of Lake Ladora over to the Rod & Gun Club Pond. Dozens of Chipping Sparrows and a Clay-colored Sparrow were along the south side of Ladora. We heard a Virginia Rail and Marsh Wren. Two Townsend's Warblers flew about the cottonwoods along the west side of the R&G pond.
Our return trip took us to the north side of Lake Ladora. Here a Blackpoll Warbler was with a loose flock of 9 Yellow Warblers, 2 Wilson's Warblers and 6 Black-capped Chickadees.
Afterwards, Rebecca went on to do chores and I continued to Cherry Creek Reservoir to search for yesterday's Pomarine Jaeger sighting. The jaeger was not found during my five hours of birding. Neither was the Sabine's Gull seen Monday.
A loose flock of birds at the west side of the Smoky Hill Group Picnic area included 11 Yellow Warblers (all females or first year birds), 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a Wilson's Warbler. A vireo left unidentified was most likely a Cassin's Vireo (definitely not a Plumbeous Vireo).
I ran into another flock of birds at the willows along the lake (between the Group Picnic Area and the Picnic tables at the handicapped fisherperson's area). This flock included 9 Yellow Warblers (this time 2 adult males), 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, 6 Black-capped Chickadees and a Nashville Warbler. A Cassin's Vireo was with this flock also.
I continued around the reservoir and stopped at the Prairie Loop, Lake Loop, and southwest marina. No jaegers were found. In areas unlikely to relocate the birds, I added 2 additional Townsend's Warblers, another Cassin's Vireo and a Hermit Thrush.
My birding day ended along the DIA Owl Loop. No Short-eared Owls, three Burrowing Owls were found at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue prairie dog town.
No comments:
Post a Comment