August 30 to September 5, 2013
Richard Stevens:
August 30, 2013
Bryan Ehlmann and I planned on a two day trip to northeastern Colorado to look into the advancement of fall migration along the Colorado eastern border. As you will see, birding was so good that we stayed longer. Only forecasted 105 degree temperatures in Wray for September 6th persuaded us to return to Denver.
As we made a quick walk between the boat ramp and dam at Barr Lake (Adams County), a text message about a Curlew Sandpiper at Jackson Reservoir was received. We almost ran to our car and tried to stay under the speed limit during the rush to Jackson Reservoir (Morgan).
The Curlew Sandpiper was not difficult to find. Several birders had their scopes pointed in the direction of the bird. It was the second Morgan County sighting (the other 8/23/2012).
It was only the fourth Colorado State record and my third State Curlew Sandpiper. I had missed the Kiowa County bird of 6/30/1998. However, I had the first State sighting (8/7/1996, single person sighting hence not a record) and saw the Prewitt Reservoir bird (9/17/2005) and the first Morgan County sighting.
Bryan and I then hiked the northeast and southeast corners of the reservoir and added many interesting birds to our day list. These included Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalaropes, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, and Pectoral Sandpipers.
While we did not find the previously reported Mountain Plovers at the northeast corner, three Mountain Plover in the field just outside of the State Park (walking around at County Roads CC & 5.
As we left Jackson Reservoir, we scoped the mudflats at nearby Andrick Wildlife Area. Two Black-necked Stilts, several Killdeer and two Pectoral Sandpipers were there.
For a change, it was not raining at dusk. The cool, calm evening prompted us to walk around Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington Counties) after dark. Many bird songs filled the air. Eastern Screech-Owls were heard below the dam (east of the ranger's home) and at the western inlet canal!
August 31, 2013
At first light, Bryan and I drove Logan County Road 93. While we did not find the ten Greater Prairie-Chickens reported last week by Bill Kaempfer, three wandering birds were quite satisfying. (Search four to five miles south of I76).
Little Jumbo Reservoir was a gold mine of birds today. We relocated a Bell's Vireo and found a fall male Magnolia Warbler in the riparian area along the eastern side of the lake.
Many common birds included a Brown Thrasher, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers, eastern White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wrens, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Barn Owl.
Nearby Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) added a couple of interesting birds. A Canada Warbler fluttered about with several Yellow-rumped Warblers in the north side woods. A Black-bellied Plover walked around the southwest shore.
Forster's Terns, Black Terns and Ring-billed Gulls flew over the lake. The previously reported pair of Common Loons could not be found.
A drive around the county roads northeast of Jumbo Reservoir did not find any Dickcissels at last year's locations. We stood around Sedgwick Draw (Sedgwick) at dusk; no Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.
Only one Eastern Screech-Owl answered our recordings played at three known nesting spots.
September 1, 2013
Bryan and I once again modified our birding plans (to head to Julesburg) when we received a text message about a Vermilion Flycatcher in Sterling. Instead, we stayed the night in town and sat in front of the VEFL yard for two hours at sunrise. Unfortunately, the Vermilion Flycatcher did not appear. We supplied out cell phone number to the homeowner and struck out for Sterling Reservoir (Logan).
A Barn Owl flew out of the trees around the Campgrounds. The riparian area around the picnic area added a male Northern Cardinal to our trip list.
The only additional uncommon bird was a Common Tern flying over the lake. No uncommon gulls could be picked out of the hundreds along the northwest shore (private land, no public access). Sabine's Gulls are a possibility this time of year.
Pioneer Park on the west side of Sterling was quiet birdwise. Not even the resident Eastern Screech-Owl could be enticed to come out of its tree.
Overland Park on the east side of town was equally slow. The park is extremely dry this year in spite of the almost daily thunderstorms. The Overland Park Museum across the street was a little better. A Blue-headed Vireo flew around the trees south of the parking lot.
Bravo and Footbridge Wildlife Areas (Logan) were briefly birded without any uncommon birds found. Today was the first day of dove hunting season. We tried to stay as far away as possible from the eager hunters.
September 2, 2013
Our birding day started with a return to Logan County Road 93. Today we only found one Greater Prairie-Chicken (better than none)!
Only day two of 2013 dove hunting season, however we could not resist birding Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan). Eventually we hiked the fourteen miles round trip from Highway 55 to Logan County Road 93. Another mile was added when we hiked western sections also.
We stayed along the S. Platte River on the trek east and near the southern edge of the riparian area on the trip back west. The dove hunters were mainly interested in the rows of trees along the open fields where most of the doves prefer.
Talking to friends who are dove hunters, the first two days of dove hunting season are the most crucial to success. Shortly after those days, the doves "figure out" it is time to disappear. For the most part, they do not hide in numbers in the woods but appear to go around homes where hunting is prohibited.
Birding was fantastic today. Our day list in the Wildlife Area included: one Bell's Vireo, a Blue-headed Vireo, two Townsend's Warblers, two Black-and-white Warblers, an Ovenbird, a Northern Waterthrush and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. If the cuckoo had not called, we never would have found it.
Our superb success at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area induced us to return to Little Jumbo Reservoir. Every direction we turned birds were flying about. Added to our day list: Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird, Bell's Vireo (2), Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo and 2 American Redstarts.
Nearby Jumbo Reservoir was also magnificent with many birds to scope. Another Magnolia Warbler, two Black-and-white Warblers and two American Redstarts were in the northern woods (apparently, the Canada Warbler had moved on elsewhere). A young Baltimore Oriole flew around the eastern Campgrounds.
Heading east, a stop at the Julesburg Elementary School found a Chestnut-sided Warbler, another young Baltimore Oriole and two American Redstarts (as suggested, birding here during school hours is not recommended).
DePoorter Lake was slow in the hot afternoon. Nearby Julesburg Wayside Rest Stop was also quite. Two Chimney Swifts flew overhead.
Two Eastern Screech-Owls called after dark when we walked with Roger Danka on his ranch.
September 3, 2013
Our fall migration journey turned southward today. At first light, Bryan and I traipsed around the windbreak at Sand Draw Wildlife Area (Sedgwick County).
A Barn Owl flew out of the southern evergreens and landed farther north (we did not pursue, not wanting to scare it away from the isolated oasis of trees).
A Blue-headed Vireo was in the deciduous trees along the southern end of the Wildlife Area. This was one of the few visits to Sand Draw where I did not see a Field Sparrow.
Our next stop was the town of Holyoke. A Mississippi Kite and several Chimney Swifts flew over Holyoke City Park. A Cassin's Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo were high in the tall trees surrounding the park. Nothing uncommon was found at the Civic Center.
A lone American Redstart flew around the Holyoke Cemetery. A singing Dickcissel was probably the same one reported on 9/1 by Steve Mlodinow.
The Fishing Ponds were empty of birds and we continued south.
It was going to be too late in the day to visit friends in Wray, so we bypassed Wray and headed to Beecher Island. I have always wanted to do some owling but never been in the area at dusk.
A female Baltimore Oriole and Blue-headed Vireo were found a Beecher Island when we arrived. No owls responded to our recordings played at dusk (my most successful time to find calling Eastern Screech-Owls is 20-60 minutes after sunset and again 60-20 minutes before sunrise).
September 4, 2013
Bryan and I walked around the Wray Fishing Unit (Yuma) at sunrise. While we found no Eastern Screech-Owls, a Barn Owl looked down on us from a high perch west of the ranger's home.
A molting male Summer Tanager was in the windbreak along the entrance road. Yet another female Baltimore Oriole flew around the buildings.
Stalker Pond was more interesting. A Wood pewee was nice enough to sing, letting us know he was an Eastern bird! A Red-eyed Vireo, rattling House Wrens, and a silent Wood pewee caught our attention.
Almost obligatory stops at three friend's homes in Wray added three male, two female Northern Cardinals, dozens of Eurasian Collared-Doves, two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two Baltimore Orioles, and another Summer Tanager to our trip list.
Finally, after declining many offers of food and inviting conversations, Bryan and I motored down to Bonny Reservoir (Yuma).
A walk under the trees along the northern side of the trickle called the Republican River (from Highway 385 to the old Foster's Campgrounds) found some interesting birds. A Great Crested Flycatcher called briefly and gave us fits trying to locate it in the leaves moving around in the 6 mph winds.
An American Redstart and male Northern Cardinal were around the Campground area. I played an Eastern Screech-Owl recording trying to draw out some passerines. Instead, an Eastern Screech-Owl emerged from an old cottonwood, quite upset that I had awakened him.
Other birds encountered included two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Bullock's Oriole, a young molting Blue Grosbeak, another Baltimore Oriole and half a dozen House Wrens.
An American Redstart and Magnolia Warbler were along the Republican River below the dam (north of Hale, CR 4). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo responded to our recording (played at our campsite at the northwestern Hale Pond).
No Common Poorwills called at dusk; however, an Eastern Screech-Owl was a nice consolation!
September 5, 2013
Temperatures continued to rise the last few days. It may have reached 100 degrees yesterday?
Bryan and I walked my "4 mile Hale Pond route" starting at 30 minutes before sunrise. Another Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found (this time, just west of the Kansas border). Red-bellied Woodpeckers numbered five or more. We managed to find the Eastern Screech-Owl who called last night (GPS waypoints).
A flock of 7 Eastern Bluebirds flew back and forth across County Road 4 (again just west of the Kansas border).
Later we visited a friend in Kansas and were invited to a late breakfast. He had gone to high school with my parents (Mankato High, MN). This I discovered about 12 years ago when I was walking my Hale Pond loop during a downpour. He drove a rickety old truck sliding down CR 4, which was a soupy mess, stopped to ask what the heck I was doing (other than trying to stay on my feet in the slippery mud).
I introduced him to birding and mentioned Minnesota sometime in the conversation. He mentioned Mankato High School, which my parents had attended. In short, the world can be a small place and we have been friends ever since.
Once again, I am off track. After breakfast, Bryan and I birded the Burlington Cemetery. It has a great bird list, however nothing moved about today. Burlington's other two "hotspots" were also slow.
Tomorrow's temperatures were predicted to reach 105 and we decided to head back to Denver.
Our next stop was Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson County). A Broad-winged Hawk had found shade in the trees below the dam. A Great Crested Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, American Redstart and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were in the eastern windbreak.
Unfortunately, we could not find the Carolina Wren reported on 8/31. That would have been a great Kit Carson County bird.
Our final stop was the Rest Stop along I70, just outside of Bennett. Every now and then, an interesting bird shows up here. Today we found an Olive-sided Flycatcher and another Cassin's Vireo!
