Northeastern Colorado

February 3-7, 2013

Rebecca Kosten;

A friend of Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann was hurt in a severe accident on his ranch.  Richard and Bryan have taken over the ranch chores until the friend recovers.  They do manage to get in a little birding now and then.  This weekend's snowstorm may put a damper on ranch chores.

February 3, 2013

Late last night Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann went looking for Northern Saw-whet Owls in the Castlewood Canyon State Park, Douglas County area.

They heard two Saw whet Owls along the western side of the park.  None was found in the subdivision of homes northwest of the park.

Early in the morning, they drove to Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area, Logan County.  A report of another American Woodcock sighting spurred the trip.  The Woodcock, which has been seen twice in the past week on a private ranch, was not relocated.

On the trip northeast, they stopped at Boyd Ponds Wildlife Area, Morgan County.  A search for the Stub-tailed Wren reported twice in the past two weeks was not successful.

They walked the South Platte River through the Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area in search of any additional American Woodcocks.  None was found.

Their Wildlife Area list included: two Common Redpolls, three Northern Cardinals, five Red-bellied Woodpeckers and four Eastern Screech-Owls (dusk into dark).

February 4, 2013

Another search for the American Woodcock near Jumbo Reservoir, Logan/Sedgwick Counties was unsuccessful.  A hike between Jumbo Reservoir and Little Jumbo Reservoir found two Long-eared Owls and a Hermit Thrush.

A first year Thayer's Gull was at the southeast corner of Jumbo Reservoir.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker was lurking around the windbreak at the Red Lion Wildlife Area, Logan County.

They visited Ovid Woods, Sedgwick County.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker was at the north end of the woods. A Brown Thrasher was near the bridge at the southern woods.  A White-throated Sparrow was in the brush along the S. Platte River near the Ovid Sewage Ponds.

Another Red-bellied Woodpecker was at Julesburg Wildlife Area, 0.2 miles east of the parking lot.

Yet another Red-bellied Woodpecker was at Sedgwick Bar Wildlife Area, Sedgwick County.  A nice flock of seven Eastern Bluebirds added some color to the landscape.

At dusk, they watched a Short-eared Owl flying over the field south of Jumbo Reservoir, Sedgwick County.

February 5, 2013

Stevens and Ehlmann walked the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area, Logan at dusk.  No Greater Prairie-Chickens or Sharp-tailed Grouse were found.  They did see a Short-eared Owl flying along the northern end of the field, northwest of Sedgwick County Roads 89 and 46. 

Sharp-tailed Grouse have not been reported in northeast Colorado since 5/16/2006, 10/21/2001 and 1/7/1995.

February 6, 2013

Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann took time out from ranch chores to bird just a bit.

Still looking for a wandering American Woodcock along the S. Platte River, they searched at Pony Express Wildlife Area, Sedgwick County.  Again, there was no success.  Highlights were a Stub-tailed Wren (most likely Winter Wren, however it did not call) and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

February 7, 2013

Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann birded around Julesburg, Sedgwick County today.

A male Northern Cardinal was in the yard across from the Julesburg Elementary School, corner of West 5th and Spruce Streets.

Three Eastern Screech-Owls were relocated at the Julesburg Wayside Rest Stop.  No uncommon doves today.  This includes the site of the Common Ground-Doves of 11/12/2011.