Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Central Mountain Birding

July 2-8, 2012

Richard Stevens

July 2, 2012

Bryan & Sue Ehlmann, Rebecca Kosten and I headed toward Gunnison.  Today we stopped at Pueblo Mountain Park (Pueblo County) near Beulah.

The 2 Acorn Woodpeckers were around the Lodge (as previously reported).  We also found one of the previously reported Grace's Warblers.

On the return trip to Pueblo, we stopped at the Wildlife Area on the southwest side of Pueblo Reservoir.  The only owls found/heard was a Great Horned Owl.  Western Screech-Owls have been reported in past years.  However, I am not sure any have been found in the past two years.

We stopped at Buffalo Peaks Campgrounds and listened for owls here.  Nothing responded to our recordings.

July 3, 2012

It was after midnight when we arrived at the Buena Vista Overlook (Chaffee County).  Bryan and I spent about three hours here and across highway 24 (along CR 302).  Eventually we found 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls!

After sunrise and a few hours of sleep, the four of us went searching for Pinyon Jays.  No Pinyon Jays were found at the Buena Vista Overlook or the KOA Campgrounds below.

We did run into a flock of 40+ Pinyon Jays while driving Chaffee County Road 301 (from highway 24 to the Ruby Mountain parking area).  Another 25 Pinyon Jays were around the parking area.

Next, we walked around Buena Vista trying to find a Western Screech-Owl.  While we did not conjure up a screech owl, two Lewis's Woodpeckers were found along Pleasant Avenue.

After dark, Bryan and I again went out searching for owls on nearby BLM Land and several miles up Cottonwood Pass.  None was found/heard.

July 4, 2012

This morning the four of us hiked the northern trail above Independence Pass (Lake County).  White-tailed Ptarmigan were missed on a hike about 0.8 miles up the trail.  As lucky would have it, we ran into a pair of Ptarmigan on the walk back to our car.  They were only about 300 yards from the trailhead?  Sometimes you have to almost step on them to see them.

We had only spent about 30 minutes scoping Twin Lakes (Lake).  Nothing uncommon was found.

Our route took us through Aspen, on to Carbondale (hwy 82) and then south along Highway 133 toward McClure Pass (Gunnison County).

We stopped at Bogan Flats Campgrounds, saw little and continued to Prospect Ranch.  This group of cabins attracts Band-tailed Pigeons to any feeders.  We counted at least 18 birds around the subdivision.

A pair of Purple Martin (adult male and female) was found below and west of the waterfall.  They were feeding noisy young (we followed the adults to an aspen tree).

There is a dirt road leading east below hwy 133 at the guardrail below McClure Pass.  Purple Martins have nested in this area in past years.  There appeared to be no activity this summer.

I had mentioned that a Chestnut-sided Warbler was found down here a few years ago.  Several Wilson's Warblers and a MacGillivray's Warbler were found in the willows.

Near the top of the pass, there is a road heading east.  A stop at the cattle guard several hundred yards east of highway 133 provides a superb view of the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak (14,000-foot mountains).

Dusky Grouse sometimes wander around this road at dawn and dusk.  It was a little after Noon and we did not see any. 

We stopped shortly after crossing the cattle guard to check on a tree where I had found nesting Purple Martins several times (latest only two years ago).  None was around today.  However, a male Chestnut-sided Warbler was the greatest consolation prize!

Our trip continued south and then east along Kebler Pass Road (Gunnison County).  We relocated the pair of Purple Martin reported by Jerry Petrosky a few days earlier (got to love GPS waypoints)!

A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was just west of the old cemetery.  Again, I believe Jerry reported him a few days ago also!

Lack of sleep caught up to us and we continued to Gunnison without additional stops.

July 5, 2012

Being in Gunnison in July, we were almost obligated to drive down Gunnison County Road 38 in search of Gunnison Sage-Grouse.  The grouse cooperated nicely.  We found an adult (female?) and 5 young along the ditch just before reaching CR 38 & 38A!

The rest of our day was spent visiting areas where Barn Owls and Western Screech-Owls were found last year.  Unfortunately, none were found today.

After dark, Bryan and I drove up highway 135.  We stopped at the many Campgrounds, set up owl listening stations and played recordings.

Our owl count was just 2 Northern Pygmy-Owls and 7 Great Horned Owls.

July 6, 2012

The four of us drove up Forest Road 765 through Pitkin and stopped at Pitkin and Quartz Campgrounds.  No owls or uncommon birds were found.

A Cumberland Pass (Gunnison County) we hiked around most of the rest of the day.  A White-tailed Ptarmigan was the most interesting bird found.

We arrived in Tincup after dark and set up our listening stations.  Eventually two Northern Pygmy-Owls were heard (one recorded).

July 7, 2012

Early in the morning we walked around Tincup (Gunnison County).  Surprising birds included Rufous Hummingbirds, a pair of Calliope Hummingbirds and a partial albino hummingbird (which we thought to be a Broad-tailed Hummingbird).

We counted many of the suspected nesting birds.  Nothing uncommon stuck out.

Our goal today was to hike up the trail to Mt Kreutzer (13, 091 feet).  The highlight was a female White-tailed Ptarmigan and 3 young.

After dark we set up listening stations around Mirror Lake.  The results were 2 Northern Pygmy-Owls heard.  Owling has been rather slow this trip (this summer).

July 8, 2012

Today the four of us took on the strenuous Fairview Peak trail.  The trail goes past the old Fairview Mine and Jackson Lake.  It is/was the most difficult hike made this trip.

Highlights include American Three-toed Woodpeckers (3), Black Swift (2), possible Timberline Brewer's Sparrow (pair) and a MacGillivray's Warbler.

We all missed soft beds and showers and returned to Gunnison shortly after sunset.

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