Long Day of Birding In the Heat

Richard Stevens:

September 10, 2012

Jeffrey Poulin and I headed to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson County) at 5:45 am.  We arrived 30 minutes later and walked in cool temperatures (middle 50s).  It was a little cold for the birds to be moving about, however we figured to get above the birds and catch them on our trip back down the mountain.  We hoped to run into a Northern Pygmy-Owl on the trip up, which did not happen.  In all we hiked about 2 miles up the mountain.

It was a fantastic morning.  Absolutely no wind, the woods were quiet except for the birds.  Although I thought, we did not see as many birds as would have been expected.

Eventually we ran into three American Three-toed Woodpeckers although none allowed us good looks.  Locations were:

1. (PVR) --Buck Gulch Trr/100 yds/south Pine Lake Loop (Stevens) first 9/10
2. (PVR) --Strawberry Jack Trr/70 yds/uphill of switchbacks (Stevens) first 9/10
3. (PNF) --Strawberry Jack Tr/160 yds/south/Parkview Tr (M. Brown/Stevens) last 9/10

(PVR): Pine Valley Ranch Park
(PNF): Pike National Forest

When we arrived at the location # 3 dozens of Western Bluebirds were flying around.  More than I can remember seeing in one place in Colorado.

Other birds along Parkview Trail included several dozen Tree Swallows and 3 Plumbeous Vireos.  When a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew through the area, all the Western Bluebirds disappeared for 15 minutes (they returned later).

A search for American Dippers along the South Platte River came up empty (I have never looked so long for a Dipper, and then to miss them).

Jeffrey dropped me off at Bear Creek Lake Park (Jefferson) at noon and I spent the rest of the day covering the trails.  I hiked many of the 15 miles of trails from noon to 6:30 pm.  Again, I probably only walked about 5.2 miles (according to my gps).

The day warmed up quite a bit.  The sun reflecting off the white sands and dirt made it somewhat uncomfortable.  My Water bottle came in quite handy.

The birdiest (is that a word?) time was the beginning of my trek.  A Cassin's Vireo and 2 Townsend's Warblers were along the bike path between 470 and the stone monument to Mr. Morrison (west of the park entrance).

It was and continued to be a strange day.  Birds were difficult to find.

I tried to stay as close to Bear Creek on the hike to the Reservoir proper (2.55 miles according to my gps). It was also the shadiest path.

Highlights included a Northern Waterthrush along Bear Creek where Owl Loop Trail forks to the right (off Bear Creek trail).

A Hermit Thrush and 2 Wilson's Warblers wandered in the thickets farther east where there is a beaver dam below and cement wall.  The only birds on the water were a dozen Double-crested Cormorants and one Ring-billed Gull.

Misses: I did not locate the Northern Waterthrush reported at Bear Creek and the Lake or later the Northern Waterthrush reported where Turkey Creek enters the lake.

Out on the vast rolling hills south, east and north of the lake (no shade) many Vesper Sparrows and a flock of 7 Lark Sparrows dominated numbers.  My final Say's Phoebe count was five.

Finally, I took the Mt Carbon Loop.  A drainage ditch here is lined with a few cottonwoods and willows.  Another pair of Townsend's Warbler was here (just northeast of the intersection of the Carbon Trail and the signed "rerouted trail").

It was a long birding day as the sun set over the western mountains.  The hot sun finally drained the last of my energy and I skipped a planned owling excursion.