Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Yuma. Weld, Larimer, Jackson County Continued Grouse Trip

Rebecca Kosten: compiled from Telephone Transcripts

April 7, 2013

After driving 700 miles yesterday (Gunnison to Elkhart, Kansas, to Wray) our weary group stood at the Yuma County Road 45 Lek just before sunrise.  Sixteen male Greater Prairie Chickens danced and chucked around the lek.  No females were detected.

Their next target birds were longspurs.  Alas, none was found while driving several hours around the Pawnee National Grasslands area in Weld County.  The Mountain Plover discovered last week could not be relocated.

A drive around the CSU Campus in Fort Collins, Larimer County was more successful.  They found a flock of 400+ Bohemian Waxwings at South Sherwood and West Mulberry Streets.

Their final target bird of the day was a Boreal Owl.  A snowstorm started as they approached 20 miles to the Cameron Pass Summit.  Fortunately, it was not snowing at the Summit.

With several hours of daylight remaining, they continued on to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.  Hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds kept other species from coming to the feeders.  No Rosy Finches appeared. 

The White-throated Sparrow was not relocated at the Gould Store.  An American Three-toed Woodpecker called and drummed across highway 14, north of the Visitor's Center.

After dark, Stan Waylons and Richard Stevens heard three Boreal Owls between the Cameron Pass Summit and the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.





No comments: