June 7-10, 2012
Richard Stevens:
June 7
Bryan Ehlmann and I passed Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld) on our trip back to Pawnee National Grasslands and then on to northeastern Colorado.
A two hour walked found the usual suspects and an American Redstart. The warbler was on the east side of ponds 3 & 4, which are located south of highway 52. The northern side of the Wildlife Area is closed until July 15th to allow nesting birds to be undisturbed.
Crow Valley Campground only had a few birds, however they were good sightings. A singing "Empidonax flycatcher" turned out to be an Alder Flycatcher.
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak flew about the southwest corner of the Campgrounds.
A check of the two Mountain Plover nests I discovered earlier in the spring found that the eggs had hatched at one of the nests (or a predator got them). There was no sign of the adult or any young.
The female Mountain Plover was staying close to nest #2. We could see at least one egg (did not want to get too close and disturb the adult).
Shortly after noon, we headed to Sterling (Logan).
Later in the afternoon we checked Pioneer Park and Sterling Reservoir. There was not much at Pioneer Park, Sterling Reservoir was more interesting.
While watching a Baltimore Oriole near the picnic area, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo started to call! We never would have found it if it had not! A Barn Owl was found in the cottonwoods at the southeast corner of the State Park.
A pair of Dickcissel were found along Logan County Road 46 (on our way out).
We stood at the Platte River the last hour of daylight hoping for a Purple Martin to fly down the river (none did).
Our birding day ended at Overland Park (southeast end of Sterling). A Baltimore Oriole was in the cottonwoods right along the trail. We got a Yellow-billed Cuckoo to respond to our recording (played at the northeastern end of the park).
No owls or Green Herons were found.
June 8
After checking along the South Platte River for Purple Martin (none found), Bryan Ehlmann and I birded several places around Sterling.
Riverside Cemetery has many tall trees and we thought it might be a good location for nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos (or perhaps a Black-billed Cuckoo, both have nested in Sterling in the past).
No cuckoos were found, however we did find a male Summer Tanager and a male Blackpoll Warbler.
At Pioneer Park (west side of town), a lone Hawk turned out to be a Broad-winged Hawk! We observed no evidence of nesting behavior.
Several Mississippi Kites flew over Columbine Park (center of town).
We were back at the South Platte River about an hour before sunset. It was a fortuitous choice. A Purple Martin was seen flying back and forth, east of the highway!
June 9
Over the last two days, Bryan Ehlmann and I had covered most of Sterling; it was time to move on eastward.
At first light, we walked the western sections of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area. At least two Bell's Vireos were heard between sections 1 & 2 West. Only short looks were accomplished; their song is quite distinctive. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo called in Section 2 West.
A couple of Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen from Highway 55. Then we crossed over to the eastern sections.
We walked the seven mile trip to County Road. Three additional Red-bellied Woodpeckers were counted. A male Northern Cardinal was north of the maintenance building.
Another Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew from the tall cottonwoods along the southern side of Tamarack Pond.
After returning to our car, we rushed over to the southern sections (CR 46 & 89). No Short-eared Owls or Greater Prairie-Chickens were found this evening.
After dark we drove the eastern sections and had two Eastern Screech-Owls respond to our recordings!
June 10
Bryan Ehlmann and I continued south this morning. We heard an Eastern Screech-Owl west of the Foster Grove Campgrounds at Bonny Reservoir (now Bonny Lake Wildlife Area).
A Northern Cardinal was found at Fosters Grove Campgrounds. Half a dozen Wild Turkey wandered around the now closed Campgrounds. No Long-eared Owls were found in the windbreak today.
A male Red-bellied Woodpecker and male Baltimore Oriole were found while hiking the road on the south side of the old lake (now dried up as Colorado had to give water to Kansas). No Long-eared Owls were found at the southern windbreak either.
We drove into Burlington (Kit Carson County) and stopped at the Cemetery north of town. Nothing unusual moved about today. Great-tailed Grackles can be found at the park near I70.
We returned to Hale Ponds (Yuma) just before dusk. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo responded to a recording (northeast of the eastern Hale Pond).
A Common Poorwill responded to our recording (played along CR 4, just south of the eastern Hale Ponds).
After sunset, we managed to get one of the resident Eastern Screech-Owls to our recording. No Barn Owls answered tonight.
Not especially tired, we headed back to Denver.
Richard Stevens:
June 7
Bryan Ehlmann and I passed Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld) on our trip back to Pawnee National Grasslands and then on to northeastern Colorado.
A two hour walked found the usual suspects and an American Redstart. The warbler was on the east side of ponds 3 & 4, which are located south of highway 52. The northern side of the Wildlife Area is closed until July 15th to allow nesting birds to be undisturbed.
Crow Valley Campground only had a few birds, however they were good sightings. A singing "Empidonax flycatcher" turned out to be an Alder Flycatcher.
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak flew about the southwest corner of the Campgrounds.
A check of the two Mountain Plover nests I discovered earlier in the spring found that the eggs had hatched at one of the nests (or a predator got them). There was no sign of the adult or any young.
The female Mountain Plover was staying close to nest #2. We could see at least one egg (did not want to get too close and disturb the adult).
Shortly after noon, we headed to Sterling (Logan).
Later in the afternoon we checked Pioneer Park and Sterling Reservoir. There was not much at Pioneer Park, Sterling Reservoir was more interesting.
While watching a Baltimore Oriole near the picnic area, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo started to call! We never would have found it if it had not! A Barn Owl was found in the cottonwoods at the southeast corner of the State Park.
A pair of Dickcissel were found along Logan County Road 46 (on our way out).
We stood at the Platte River the last hour of daylight hoping for a Purple Martin to fly down the river (none did).
Our birding day ended at Overland Park (southeast end of Sterling). A Baltimore Oriole was in the cottonwoods right along the trail. We got a Yellow-billed Cuckoo to respond to our recording (played at the northeastern end of the park).
No owls or Green Herons were found.
June 8
After checking along the South Platte River for Purple Martin (none found), Bryan Ehlmann and I birded several places around Sterling.
Riverside Cemetery has many tall trees and we thought it might be a good location for nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos (or perhaps a Black-billed Cuckoo, both have nested in Sterling in the past).
No cuckoos were found, however we did find a male Summer Tanager and a male Blackpoll Warbler.
At Pioneer Park (west side of town), a lone Hawk turned out to be a Broad-winged Hawk! We observed no evidence of nesting behavior.
Several Mississippi Kites flew over Columbine Park (center of town).
We were back at the South Platte River about an hour before sunset. It was a fortuitous choice. A Purple Martin was seen flying back and forth, east of the highway!
June 9
Over the last two days, Bryan Ehlmann and I had covered most of Sterling; it was time to move on eastward.
At first light, we walked the western sections of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area. At least two Bell's Vireos were heard between sections 1 & 2 West. Only short looks were accomplished; their song is quite distinctive. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo called in Section 2 West.
A couple of Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen from Highway 55. Then we crossed over to the eastern sections.
We walked the seven mile trip to County Road. Three additional Red-bellied Woodpeckers were counted. A male Northern Cardinal was north of the maintenance building.
Another Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew from the tall cottonwoods along the southern side of Tamarack Pond.
After returning to our car, we rushed over to the southern sections (CR 46 & 89). No Short-eared Owls or Greater Prairie-Chickens were found this evening.
After dark we drove the eastern sections and had two Eastern Screech-Owls respond to our recordings!
June 10
Bryan Ehlmann and I continued south this morning. We heard an Eastern Screech-Owl west of the Foster Grove Campgrounds at Bonny Reservoir (now Bonny Lake Wildlife Area).
A Northern Cardinal was found at Fosters Grove Campgrounds. Half a dozen Wild Turkey wandered around the now closed Campgrounds. No Long-eared Owls were found in the windbreak today.
A male Red-bellied Woodpecker and male Baltimore Oriole were found while hiking the road on the south side of the old lake (now dried up as Colorado had to give water to Kansas). No Long-eared Owls were found at the southern windbreak either.
We drove into Burlington (Kit Carson County) and stopped at the Cemetery north of town. Nothing unusual moved about today. Great-tailed Grackles can be found at the park near I70.
We returned to Hale Ponds (Yuma) just before dusk. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo responded to a recording (northeast of the eastern Hale Pond).
A Common Poorwill responded to our recording (played along CR 4, just south of the eastern Hale Ponds).
After sunset, we managed to get one of the resident Eastern Screech-Owls to our recording. No Barn Owls answered tonight.
Not especially tired, we headed back to Denver.
No comments:
Post a Comment