March 10-11, 2012
Richard Stevens:
We basked in two days excellent birding and weather on the eastern plains. A friend had informed me last year about five Greater Prairie-Chicken leks in Yuma County. We finally had the opportunity to check the directions out.
All five leks were occupied during the two mornings and evening of our explorations!
A sixth lek has public access along CR 45 (listed on the CoBus website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net)
Note as a hint for seeing the Greater Prairie-Chickens: early in the season, they sometimes do not appear/display until after sunrise. I have experience birders leaving before the birds have shown up to dance. Especially on cold, foggy mornings, birders should have some patience. Arriving late, may not mean you have missed the birds.
Between morning and evening visits to leks, we stopped at several friends' yards in Wray.
Northern Cardinals are doing well (for Colorado) in Wray. Over the two days, we watched 6 Northern Cardinals (4 males, 2 females) that were definitely different birds. We suspect that another 2 males and a female or more were missed.
One friend has an eastern Fox Sparrow visiting her yard since late last year.
Striking out on our own, we found 4 Common Redpolls at the east end of Wray. Unfortunately, they were not there the next morning (therefore, not reported to the RBA).
We passed by Bonny Reservoir (not a State Park anymore) in Yuma County. Half a day there added some nice birds to our trip list.
While checking up on for Long-eared Owls on the south side, we found a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
Eastern Bluebirds were in the field along the Republican River below the Bonny dam. While a walk along Yuma County Road 4, east of CR LL.5 found a Harris's Sparrow (just east of the old restroom/camping area south of the road).
The windbreak south of Hale has been hit hard by weather the past few years. The cover does not seem thick enough as a choice for Long-eared Owls to roost or nest. A quick walk through did not find any owls.
The highlight for all was a young male Purple Finch in the trees around the buildings below the dam. It eventually flew to both the north and sides of CR 2!
Hale Ponds was quite birdy. A wren (unknown species) flew along the Republican River (north of the most northeastern pond). Regrettably, none of us captured enough of a look to indicate whether it was a Winter Wren or House Wren (although, we suspected a Winter Wren).
A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers was in the taller cottonwoods west of the eastern line of ponds. A Northern Bobwhite was also in this area. Perhaps they are making a comeback or dog trainers have just lost a few? A flock of 7 Eastern Bluebirds flew along the Republican River as it flowed into Kansas.
After dusk, an Eastern Screech-Owl called for us (north of Hale Ponds). We walked along CR 3 from highway 385, east of a mile. Hoping for a Greater Prairie-Chicken (none) another Eastern Screech-Owl was heard south of Yuma CR 3.
On the trip home, I talked everyone into detouring to Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) hoping to hear a Long-eared Owl. None found, however a calling Eastern Screech-Owl was a nice consolation. Thanks to all, I know they were quite tired!
Richard Stevens:
We basked in two days excellent birding and weather on the eastern plains. A friend had informed me last year about five Greater Prairie-Chicken leks in Yuma County. We finally had the opportunity to check the directions out.
All five leks were occupied during the two mornings and evening of our explorations!
A sixth lek has public access along CR 45 (listed on the CoBus website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net)
Note as a hint for seeing the Greater Prairie-Chickens: early in the season, they sometimes do not appear/display until after sunrise. I have experience birders leaving before the birds have shown up to dance. Especially on cold, foggy mornings, birders should have some patience. Arriving late, may not mean you have missed the birds.
Between morning and evening visits to leks, we stopped at several friends' yards in Wray.
Northern Cardinals are doing well (for Colorado) in Wray. Over the two days, we watched 6 Northern Cardinals (4 males, 2 females) that were definitely different birds. We suspect that another 2 males and a female or more were missed.
One friend has an eastern Fox Sparrow visiting her yard since late last year.
Striking out on our own, we found 4 Common Redpolls at the east end of Wray. Unfortunately, they were not there the next morning (therefore, not reported to the RBA).
We passed by Bonny Reservoir (not a State Park anymore) in Yuma County. Half a day there added some nice birds to our trip list.
While checking up on for Long-eared Owls on the south side, we found a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
Eastern Bluebirds were in the field along the Republican River below the Bonny dam. While a walk along Yuma County Road 4, east of CR LL.5 found a Harris's Sparrow (just east of the old restroom/camping area south of the road).
The windbreak south of Hale has been hit hard by weather the past few years. The cover does not seem thick enough as a choice for Long-eared Owls to roost or nest. A quick walk through did not find any owls.
The highlight for all was a young male Purple Finch in the trees around the buildings below the dam. It eventually flew to both the north and sides of CR 2!
Hale Ponds was quite birdy. A wren (unknown species) flew along the Republican River (north of the most northeastern pond). Regrettably, none of us captured enough of a look to indicate whether it was a Winter Wren or House Wren (although, we suspected a Winter Wren).
A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers was in the taller cottonwoods west of the eastern line of ponds. A Northern Bobwhite was also in this area. Perhaps they are making a comeback or dog trainers have just lost a few? A flock of 7 Eastern Bluebirds flew along the Republican River as it flowed into Kansas.
After dusk, an Eastern Screech-Owl called for us (north of Hale Ponds). We walked along CR 3 from highway 385, east of a mile. Hoping for a Greater Prairie-Chicken (none) another Eastern Screech-Owl was heard south of Yuma CR 3.
On the trip home, I talked everyone into detouring to Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) hoping to hear a Long-eared Owl. None found, however a calling Eastern Screech-Owl was a nice consolation. Thanks to all, I know they were quite tired!
No comments:
Post a Comment