May 1, 2013
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I ventured out into the snowstorm to see what birds may have stopped their migration.
Our first stop was Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County). We relocated the Tennessee Warbler and found a Blackpoll Warbler in the west side windbreak (southern ponds, northern ponds are closed until July 15). We did scope pond # 5, north side and saw a Broad-winged Hawk at the northwest corner of the parking area.
We continued east to visit a friend's ranch. Along Highway 52, east of Prospect Valley (Weld County) we found several flocks of sparrows and longspurs. Vesper Sparrows appeared to be everywhere (at least 600+ were counted).
Longspurs included at least 51 McCown's Longspurs, four Chestnut-collared Longspurs and one very late Lapland Longspur.
The Mountain Plover nesting on my friend's ranch had a buddy (now two!).
The windbreak around his ranch house had many warblers, unfortunately no uncommon ones. They included two Orange-crowned, a male Wilson's, two Yellow Warblers and sixty one Yellow-rumped Warblers. Vireos were represented by one Warbling Vireo!
Other birds in the trees were a couple of Western Tanagers, a Brown Thrasher, two Spotted Towhees, two House Wrens and many White-crowned Sparrows. Other sparrows included Brewer's, one Clay-colored, a couple of Lark, Song and a Lincoln's Sparrow.
The highlight was a nesting pair of Long-eared Owls. We hope to keep track of their nesting and look forward to successful breeding (again, they had one fledgling last year, before I knew of the location).
Burrowing Owls have returned to just south of I76 (along 75.5 road).
Snow continued to fall until sunset. We decided to not stay around and look for Short-eared Owls.
NOTE: Bob and Jan Miller tried for American Three-toed Woodpeckers and Northern Pygmy-Owls at Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson) in the snowstorm. They did not have any success (sorry, that was expected).
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I ventured out into the snowstorm to see what birds may have stopped their migration.
Our first stop was Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County). We relocated the Tennessee Warbler and found a Blackpoll Warbler in the west side windbreak (southern ponds, northern ponds are closed until July 15). We did scope pond # 5, north side and saw a Broad-winged Hawk at the northwest corner of the parking area.
We continued east to visit a friend's ranch. Along Highway 52, east of Prospect Valley (Weld County) we found several flocks of sparrows and longspurs. Vesper Sparrows appeared to be everywhere (at least 600+ were counted).
Longspurs included at least 51 McCown's Longspurs, four Chestnut-collared Longspurs and one very late Lapland Longspur.
The Mountain Plover nesting on my friend's ranch had a buddy (now two!).
The windbreak around his ranch house had many warblers, unfortunately no uncommon ones. They included two Orange-crowned, a male Wilson's, two Yellow Warblers and sixty one Yellow-rumped Warblers. Vireos were represented by one Warbling Vireo!
Other birds in the trees were a couple of Western Tanagers, a Brown Thrasher, two Spotted Towhees, two House Wrens and many White-crowned Sparrows. Other sparrows included Brewer's, one Clay-colored, a couple of Lark, Song and a Lincoln's Sparrow.
The highlight was a nesting pair of Long-eared Owls. We hope to keep track of their nesting and look forward to successful breeding (again, they had one fledgling last year, before I knew of the location).
Burrowing Owls have returned to just south of I76 (along 75.5 road).
Snow continued to fall until sunset. We decided to not stay around and look for Short-eared Owls.
NOTE: Bob and Jan Miller tried for American Three-toed Woodpeckers and Northern Pygmy-Owls at Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson) in the snowstorm. They did not have any success (sorry, that was expected).
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