Sunday, January 13, 2013

Adams County Fox Sparrow

January 13, 2013

Richard Stevens:

After walking around yesterday for half a day in temperatures 0 to -11 degrees, I promised my feet they would not be in hiking boots today.  Once again, I did not quite make it through the day. 

In the afternoon, we went over to Barr Lake (Adams County) and watched the feeders on both sides of the Visitor's Center.  At least we watched from inside today.  Warm birding is kind of nice!

Many American Goldfinches and Dark-eyed Juncos took advantage of the abundance feeders and seed on the ground on the north side of the center.  A few Black-capped Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows came to the seed on the south side of the building.

I forecast that any uncommon birds would capitalize on the free food at least once an hour or so.  This was confirmed when the Fox Sparrow briefly came out of the bushes behind the building.  It took one and a half hours, but we finally relocated the bird.

There is a Rabbit Brush with yellow flowers/leaves? behind a short bare bush just to the left of the tall deciduous tree at the southwest corner of the building.  He only came of the of the Rabbit Brush once.  However, this may have been influenced by the now and then visit of the resident Sharp-shinned Hawk?

Afterwards, we drove the DIA Owl Loop hoping for a Snow Bunting sighting; never happened.  We did find several Rough-legged Hawks, a Red-tailed Hawk and a young Ferruginous Hawk along the drive.

Thousands of Horned Larks flew around the fields between 128th avenue and 114th avenue to the south.  No longspurs or Snow Buntings were among them.  In addition, no Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

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