Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Another Look at the Douglas County Carolina Wren

June 13, 2012

Richard Stevens:

We returned Bryan & Sue Ehlmann to Plum Creek in Castle Rock.  Again, the Carolina Wren was cooperative and popped out of the weeds southwest of the intersection of the two trails (west of the Plum Creek trailhead parking area at 2nd and Wilcox Streets.

Again, we were offered only a 10 second look, good enough for an ID, not well enough for a photograph for satisfying viewing.

Afterwards we returned to Denver by way of Lake Gulch Road and Castlewood Canyon Roads.  Eight+ male Bobolink were spotted in the field south of the Winkler Ranch entrance (Mr. Jones and all are now gone, therefore we do not know if the ranch has a new name).

While scoping the field for a count on the Bobolink, we heard and saw a Dickcissel.  It eventually perched on the willows where the creek comes close to the road!

Other birds observed included a dozen Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Western Bluebirds, a Cordilleran Flycatcher (across from the Dickcissel), 2 Wild Turkey (where the road goes east to west, north of the Winkler Ranch), Lincoln's Sparrow, many Vesper Sparrows and a Savannah Sparrow (near Dickcissel spot). 

Spotted Towhees and Evening Grosbeaks were found behind the old ranch house at the northern end of Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas).

We checked for Yellow-billed Cuckoos along the Cherry Creek trail (east of the Walker Pit) and at Hidden Mesa Open Space, (none responded to our recordings).

At dusk, we wandered back at the subdivision and Castlewood Canyon State Park.  We heard (got Northern Saw-whet Owls to respond to our recordings) both at the subdivision above and at Castlewood Canyon State Park.

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