Friday, November 2, 2012

Visits to Morgan and Adams Counties

November 1, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I made a quick trip to Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County) this morning.  Winds were less than 5 mph; temperatures reached into the 60s.

We arrived about an hour before sunrise and waited for Short-eared Owls to hunt north of the northwestern Campgrounds.  Unfortunately, none showed this morning.

The resident Eastern Screech-Owl also did not cooperate (no response to our recording).  At least one Long-eared Owl continues around the Campgrounds.  A Great Horned Owl did call from north of the Visitor's Center and west of the Campgrounds. 

Only a few birds were along the western Campgrounds.  The highlights were a Harris's Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow around the Pelican Campgrounds.

We spotted a Dunlin from the dam, east of the southern outlet parking area.  Several Bonaparte's Gulls flew over the shrinking lake.

Later in the afternoon, Rebecca Kosten and I looked for a place to walk and chose the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.  Winds remained less than 5 mph; temperatures went to the high 70s.

Red winged Blackbirds have found the feeders at the Contact Station. We waited 40 minutes for them to fill up and leave (for ten minutes).

The two Harris's Sparrows, a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos, and one Tree Sparrow quickly came.

Nothing uncommon was on Lake Ladora. Four Cackling Geese were the highlight.

While hundreds of ducks were on Lower Derby Lake.

The ducks on Derby included at least two Greater Scaup, dozens each of Canvasbacks, Redheads, Lesser Scaups, Ring-billed Ducks, etc. 

We enjoyed the walk to the Rod and Gun Club bird blind in spite of few bird sightings.

The sunset was dull as the sun had disappeared into clouds an hour before.

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