Friday, May 25, 2012

So So Owling Trip

May 22, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I stopped by Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County) at sunrise.  Birding was quite slow.  Winds were calm; temperatures rose quickly.

A 1st year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was the only uncommon bird found.  It fluttered around the tall cottonwoods on the west side the southern ponds.

Afterwards, we headed to the mountains (Pennock Pass & Cameron Pass) to escape the heat. 

We eventually found (heard) 4 Flammulated Owls along Larimer County Road 44H (Pennock Pass).

No Boreal Owls called at Cameron Pass (Jackson).

May 23, 2012

After a few hours of sleep, Bryan Ehlmann and I drove south of Gould (Jackson County).  We managed to find a Burrowing Owl along County Road 27.  A previous sighting was reported along CR 21.

Later we hiked into the Colorado State Forest to examine owl boxes.  On the way in, we ran across an American Three-toed Woodpecker just north of the closure gate at the end of Michigan Creek Road.

No Boreal Owls found in the 31 owl boxes that were checked.

Night owling was shutdown when it started to snow.  We gave up instead of being stuck out miles our vehicle.  It was snowing quite rapidly and the ground was covered quickly.

May 24, 2012

We woke up to a snow covered ground and high winds.  Our decision to return another day for owl searches was easy to make.

In the late afternoon, Rebecca Kosten and I drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  Winds were 6-8 mph; temperatures were in the high 60s.  The winds did not help any finding any birds among the blowing leaves.  The American Redstart reported a few days ago was not relocated.




No comments: