Saturday, September 7, 2013

Birding Around Aurora, Arapahoe & Adams Counties

September 6, 2013

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I checked out Aurora Sports Park (Arapahoe County) early this morning.  Temperature was 51 degrees (nice)!

Whenever I am on the Colorado plains, it reminds me of the pioneers who braved the trip across Colorado.  This morning it was almost cold at 51 degrees.  Later in the day, the temperature reached 97 degrees.  What tremendous conditions the early visitors had to endure (without cars, air conditioners, known water supplies, not to mention rattlesnakes).

Bryan and I walked the eastern edge of the Sand Creek riparian area to the southern border of the park (about 1 mile).  A Great Horned Owl called near the southern end.

Then we entered the woods, followed the Sand Creek back to the north end, and turned west to the maintenance office (in all about a 3 mile hike).

Birds were few and far between.  One flock of 4 Black-capped Chickadees, a Wilson's Warbler, an Orange-crowned Warbler and Cassin's Vireo was the highlight of the trek.

I dropped Bryan off and headed to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  A stop at Star K Ranch (Adams) found no sign of migration, yet, hopefully soon.  The highlight was a Brown Thrasher along the southern marsh area.  Star K Ranch is just north of another section of Sand Creek and west of Aurora Sports Park.

I scoped the mudflats at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and did not find any uncommon birds.  Thirty minutes at the Smoky Hill group picnic area found only a female Yellow Warbler and a couple of House Finches.  Temperatures started to rise rapidly around this time (noon).

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