Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Return to Adams County

October 30, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I went over to Barr Lake (Adams County) to search for the Black-bellied Plovers reported last Saturday.  Winds were less than 5 mph; temperatures were in the low 60s.

We hiked out to the extreme southwest corner of the shrinking lake and then several miles northeast to the boat ramp (which is quite far from the water now).

No Black-bellied Plovers were found.  We did have an American Golden-Plover in the extreme southwest corner of the lake.

The Harris's Sparrow was again observed in the brush by the old farm equipment behind the Visitor's Center.  Few birds were found at the banding area.

Then we drove over to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams).  The two Harris's Sparrows were quite cooperative and visited below the eastern feeder by the Contact Station (the old Visitor's Center).

We hiked the west and south sides of Lake Ladora.  The Surf Scoter was not found; however, the Swamp Sparrow was relocated in the southeast corner cattails.

After lunch, Bryan and I visited a friend's ranch in Weld County.  Reports of a possible Northern Saw-whet Owl got our attention.  Unfortunately, we could not find the owl in question.

We returned to Denver by way of Bennett.  Neither the resident Long-eared Owl nor the previously reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found.  There were plenty of Eurasian Collared-Doves flying around (as if anyone has to hunt for one these days).

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