April 19-24, 2013
Rebecca Kosten: Richard had written his trip reports for the past week. We are switching internet providers and have been unable to reliably connect to the internet. Richard is on another grouse trip this week, so I am updating the blog.
April 24, 2013
Bryan Ehlmann and I returned to Denver City Park (Denver) to get better photos of the Bonaparte's Gulls. The number of Bonaparte's Gulls appeared to "grow" to fifteen or so.
In the afternoon, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) to see if the Glossy Ibis stayed through the snowstorm.
The Glossy Ibis was not found at the Bellevue Wetlands or the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands. I scope every White-faced Ibis at least five times and never found one with blue skin around the base of the bill.
Two Marbled Godwits feed in the tall grasses just east of the Cottonwood Creek Pond. A few Tree Swallows and Cliff Swallows hawked insects over the pond.
A pair of Ospreys perched on the telephone poles around the Bellevue Wetlands. A Marsh Wren chattered in the cattails. Two Virginia Rails walked out of the cattails and gave us good looks!
Another birder reported seeing eleven Ospreys earlier in the day!
Burrowing Owls were found at three locations along the DIA Owl Loop drive. Again, we missed Short-eared Owls.
April 23, 2013
Rebecca Kosten and I waited for the snow to melt off the roads and then went for a drive into Denver.
The ten Bonaparte's Gulls were still swimming around Ferril Lake in Denver City Park (Denver County).
On the way home, we drove through Rocky Mountain Arsenal to look for the Bison. The male Greater Scaup was still on Lake Ladora.
To stretch our legs, we walked to the Rod & Gun Club Pond. Two Sage Thrashers were near the trailhead!
No uncommon gulls were among the several dozen Ring-billed Gulls around Havana Ponds.
April 22, 2013
Snow! Did not leave the house!
April 21, 2013
While out replenishing supplies, Rebecca Kosten and I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County). We did not find any Short-eared Owls; Burrowing Owls were observed at three locations.
Later, Bryan Ehlmann and I drove east to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld). The northern sections/ponds are closed until July 15. Birders can walk the southern sections/ponds (Ponds 1 to 4).
The highlight was a Black-and-white Warbler in the tall cottonwoods along the western side of the ponds!
We continued east to visit a friend (reported the Snowy Owl back on 3/21/2012. A Mountain Plover was found on private land near Highway 52 and Weld County Road 77.
He informed us about a Burrowing Owl colony east of CR 75 and 1/2!
Later in the afternoon, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and relocated the Glossy Ibis in the cattails near the Bellevue Wetlands.
Six American Avocets were walking around the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands.
The two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were again on the southwest sand spit!
April 20, 2013
I enjoyed a great day of birding, switched birding partners twice. Winds were mild and high temperature was around 60 degrees.
Highlights:
Adams County
Bryan Ehlmann and I watched a Short-eared Owl before sunrise. It was in the field southwest of the dead end of Gun Club Road off 114th avenue. Burrowing Owls were observed at three Locations along the DIA Owl Loop.
Douglas County
Rebecca Kosten and I drove down to Titan Road and Roxborough Road.
Along the way, we watched a Broad-winged Hawk circling over Titan Road and Rampart Range Road.
The Long-billed Curlews, about 20, were east of Roxborough Road at 0.8 miles south of Titan Road.
Next stop, the Burrowing Owl was west of the southern entrance to Chatfield Reservoir. The Eastern Phoebe was north of the Plum Creek Delta footbridge.
Jefferson County
Within 30 minutes, both the Golden-crowned Sparrow and Fox Sparrow appeared under the platform feeder behind the Red Rocks Park Trading Post.
Adams County
We relocated the alternate plumaged Common Loon first reported by Kathy Mihm-Dunning on Lake Ladora, Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The Greater Scaup was still on Lower Derby Lake.
While looking for the Bison, I saw a plover like bird fly into the field at the southwest corner of 7th avenue and "B" Street. It turned out to be a Mountain Plover and landed 10 yards from our car.
Nothing uncommon was on Lakecrest or the Greenwood Village Recreation Ponds.
No Short-eared Owls were found at sunset along the DIA Owl Loop.
Warning: Last night I missed the Glossy Ibis at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). A State patrol officer stopped me for going 30 mph in a 25 mph zone. It took the last 20 minutes of daylight to settle.
April 19, 2013
Bryan Ehlmann and I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) late in the afternoon. Hundreds of gulls were on the southwest sand spit.
A Glaucous Gull (1st/2nd cycle) was among the many gulls. We also could pick out two Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Burrowing Owls were along the DIA Owl Loop. No Short-eared Owl appeared tonight.
Rebecca Kosten: Richard had written his trip reports for the past week. We are switching internet providers and have been unable to reliably connect to the internet. Richard is on another grouse trip this week, so I am updating the blog.
April 24, 2013
Bryan Ehlmann and I returned to Denver City Park (Denver) to get better photos of the Bonaparte's Gulls. The number of Bonaparte's Gulls appeared to "grow" to fifteen or so.
In the afternoon, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) to see if the Glossy Ibis stayed through the snowstorm.
The Glossy Ibis was not found at the Bellevue Wetlands or the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands. I scope every White-faced Ibis at least five times and never found one with blue skin around the base of the bill.
Two Marbled Godwits feed in the tall grasses just east of the Cottonwood Creek Pond. A few Tree Swallows and Cliff Swallows hawked insects over the pond.
A pair of Ospreys perched on the telephone poles around the Bellevue Wetlands. A Marsh Wren chattered in the cattails. Two Virginia Rails walked out of the cattails and gave us good looks!
Another birder reported seeing eleven Ospreys earlier in the day!
Burrowing Owls were found at three locations along the DIA Owl Loop drive. Again, we missed Short-eared Owls.
April 23, 2013
Rebecca Kosten and I waited for the snow to melt off the roads and then went for a drive into Denver.
The ten Bonaparte's Gulls were still swimming around Ferril Lake in Denver City Park (Denver County).
On the way home, we drove through Rocky Mountain Arsenal to look for the Bison. The male Greater Scaup was still on Lake Ladora.
To stretch our legs, we walked to the Rod & Gun Club Pond. Two Sage Thrashers were near the trailhead!
No uncommon gulls were among the several dozen Ring-billed Gulls around Havana Ponds.
April 22, 2013
Snow! Did not leave the house!
April 21, 2013
While out replenishing supplies, Rebecca Kosten and I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County). We did not find any Short-eared Owls; Burrowing Owls were observed at three locations.
Later, Bryan Ehlmann and I drove east to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld). The northern sections/ponds are closed until July 15. Birders can walk the southern sections/ponds (Ponds 1 to 4).
The highlight was a Black-and-white Warbler in the tall cottonwoods along the western side of the ponds!
We continued east to visit a friend (reported the Snowy Owl back on 3/21/2012. A Mountain Plover was found on private land near Highway 52 and Weld County Road 77.
He informed us about a Burrowing Owl colony east of CR 75 and 1/2!
Later in the afternoon, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and relocated the Glossy Ibis in the cattails near the Bellevue Wetlands.
Six American Avocets were walking around the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands.
The two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were again on the southwest sand spit!
April 20, 2013
I enjoyed a great day of birding, switched birding partners twice. Winds were mild and high temperature was around 60 degrees.
Highlights:
Adams County
Bryan Ehlmann and I watched a Short-eared Owl before sunrise. It was in the field southwest of the dead end of Gun Club Road off 114th avenue. Burrowing Owls were observed at three Locations along the DIA Owl Loop.
Douglas County
Rebecca Kosten and I drove down to Titan Road and Roxborough Road.
Along the way, we watched a Broad-winged Hawk circling over Titan Road and Rampart Range Road.
The Long-billed Curlews, about 20, were east of Roxborough Road at 0.8 miles south of Titan Road.
Next stop, the Burrowing Owl was west of the southern entrance to Chatfield Reservoir. The Eastern Phoebe was north of the Plum Creek Delta footbridge.
Jefferson County
Within 30 minutes, both the Golden-crowned Sparrow and Fox Sparrow appeared under the platform feeder behind the Red Rocks Park Trading Post.
Adams County
We relocated the alternate plumaged Common Loon first reported by Kathy Mihm-Dunning on Lake Ladora, Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The Greater Scaup was still on Lower Derby Lake.
While looking for the Bison, I saw a plover like bird fly into the field at the southwest corner of 7th avenue and "B" Street. It turned out to be a Mountain Plover and landed 10 yards from our car.
Nothing uncommon was on Lakecrest or the Greenwood Village Recreation Ponds.
No Short-eared Owls were found at sunset along the DIA Owl Loop.
Warning: Last night I missed the Glossy Ibis at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). A State patrol officer stopped me for going 30 mph in a 25 mph zone. It took the last 20 minutes of daylight to settle.
April 19, 2013
Bryan Ehlmann and I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) late in the afternoon. Hundreds of gulls were on the southwest sand spit.
A Glaucous Gull (1st/2nd cycle) was among the many gulls. We also could pick out two Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Burrowing Owls were along the DIA Owl Loop. No Short-eared Owl appeared tonight.
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