February 1, 2013
Richard Stevens:
This morning Michael Berg and I went to Loveland Pass (Clear Creek). It was on the news at 3:00 am that the pass was now open (after three days of closure). Winds were 20+ mph, which is quite slow for Loveland Pass. Many times anemometer readings are 35+ mph with gusts into the 50s. On some trips last year, winds reached well into the 60+ mph.
With recent snowstorms and blowing snow, the untracked snow-covered ground was quite picturesque to scan. Fresh Ptarmigan tracks helped in finding our target bird today! Fortunately, we did not have to strap on our snowshoes and tramp through the fresh new snow.
Being the first people up on the Pass this morning proved to be quite instrumental. We encountered 2 pairs of White-tailed Ptarmigan. The first pair was less than 20 yards below the western side of the Summit (just across from the eastern parking area). The second pair was east of highway 6, directly across from the first pullover on the west side of the highway.
Birders who contact me are told that weekdays are better for Ptarmigan searches than weekends. Many young skiers and snowboarders use the pass to avoid the ski lift ticket prices at nearby ski areas. Human traffic can be quite high at times. This definitely does not aid in a Ptarmigan search.
In the afternoon I went to look for the female Eastern Towhee reported northeast of Barr Lake State Park (Adams County). Glenn Walbek found it yesterday only a few dozens of yards from where one was reported on 1/4. Winds measured at 25 mph, gusts to 34 mph. One gust registered at 41 mph.
There was little hope that a bird who likes to stay on the ground would expose herself to such winds. I walked from the railroad tracks to the first house on the south side of 160th avenue and back at least three times. No towhee found, I did run into a flock of 4-6 White-crowned Sparrows, 2 House Finches and a Brown Creeper.
I drove 160th avenue and surrounding roads for an hour near sunset. No Snowy Owl was found either.
Colorado provided another beautiful sunset tonight. I hope a few birders took the time away from birding to look at it! We always wonder how many people bother glancing at Colorado's fantastic winter sunsets.
Richard Stevens:
This morning Michael Berg and I went to Loveland Pass (Clear Creek). It was on the news at 3:00 am that the pass was now open (after three days of closure). Winds were 20+ mph, which is quite slow for Loveland Pass. Many times anemometer readings are 35+ mph with gusts into the 50s. On some trips last year, winds reached well into the 60+ mph.
With recent snowstorms and blowing snow, the untracked snow-covered ground was quite picturesque to scan. Fresh Ptarmigan tracks helped in finding our target bird today! Fortunately, we did not have to strap on our snowshoes and tramp through the fresh new snow.
Being the first people up on the Pass this morning proved to be quite instrumental. We encountered 2 pairs of White-tailed Ptarmigan. The first pair was less than 20 yards below the western side of the Summit (just across from the eastern parking area). The second pair was east of highway 6, directly across from the first pullover on the west side of the highway.
Birders who contact me are told that weekdays are better for Ptarmigan searches than weekends. Many young skiers and snowboarders use the pass to avoid the ski lift ticket prices at nearby ski areas. Human traffic can be quite high at times. This definitely does not aid in a Ptarmigan search.
In the afternoon I went to look for the female Eastern Towhee reported northeast of Barr Lake State Park (Adams County). Glenn Walbek found it yesterday only a few dozens of yards from where one was reported on 1/4. Winds measured at 25 mph, gusts to 34 mph. One gust registered at 41 mph.
There was little hope that a bird who likes to stay on the ground would expose herself to such winds. I walked from the railroad tracks to the first house on the south side of 160th avenue and back at least three times. No towhee found, I did run into a flock of 4-6 White-crowned Sparrows, 2 House Finches and a Brown Creeper.
I drove 160th avenue and surrounding roads for an hour near sunset. No Snowy Owl was found either.
Colorado provided another beautiful sunset tonight. I hope a few birders took the time away from birding to look at it! We always wonder how many people bother glancing at Colorado's fantastic winter sunsets.
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