January 30 to February 1, 2014
Richard Stevens:
January 30
Bryan Ehlmann and I wanted to make a run for the Snowy Owl in Lincoln County, hoping to miss the snowstorms previously and those to come. We left Denver at 2:30 am, planned to drive the Snowy Owl location before sunrise.
This was a great decision. When we arrived, we observed the Snowy Owl flying across highway 94 (from south to north) just east of Lincoln County Road 11 (west of Horse Creek). It disappeared as quickly as it appeared (did not hear of additional sightings this Thursday).
Snow was predicted behind us; we decided to continue south. A stop at Rocky Ford (Otero) found many Eurasian Collared-Doves and one White-winged Dove. No Inca Doves (our target) could be found.
A detour to La Junta and our trek continued south to Kim and Cottonwood Canyon (Baca). We relocated Rufous-crowned Sparrows, a Greater Roadrunner, Canyon Towhees and Chihuahuan Ravens in Cottonwood Canyon. The previous seen Winter Wrens and reported Swamp Sparrow were not found.
At dusk, we found a Western Screech-Owl near the camping area and a Great Horned Owl farther west.
January 31, 2014
After spending the night in Springfield, Bryan and I drove south to the old Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek area (Baca County). It was a long shot to find one; we did not.
An Eastern Screech-Owl was in a windbreak at a friend's ranch east of the old lek road.
Heading north, a stop below Two Buttes Reservoir dam found two interesting birds. A Barn Owl hid in one of the crevasses along the northern rocky wall. A male Ladder-backed Woodpecker flew around the taller cottonwoods.
We walked the Lamar Community College woods where a Red-bellied Woodpecker was found at the northern end and a pair of Northern Cardinals was seen at the southern end. A Brown Thrasher was probably the most uncommon of the birds we found.
We ended our birding day at Mike Higbee Wildlife Area east of Lamar. Two Harris's Sparrows were observed fluttering about Clay Creek.
While it was snowing back in Denver, Lamar saw no snow and temperatures in the middle 20s today.
February 1, 2014
We spent the night in Lamar delaying a drive back into the snowstorms that were hitting Denver.
A quick stop at Mike Higbee Wildlife Area (Prowers County) did not relocate the two Harris's Sparrows found yesterday. A pair of Rusty Blackbirds walking near the highway 50 Bridge was a nice consolation!
We then headed back toward Denver by way of highway 94 to relocate the Snowy Owl. Our luck was not as good today; the bird was not found.
Back in Denver, after dropping Bryan off, I picked up Rebecca Kosten and drove the DIA Owl Loop (extended version: Bromley Lane, east to Haysmount Road, south to 120th avenue, then the Loop [120th, Trussville south to 114th, east to Quency Street, south to 96th avenue]).
We counted over 1000 Horned Larks before giving up on an exact count. Many stops did not find one Lapland Longspur among them. Another birder about an hour ahead of us reported dozens, perhaps hundreds of Lapland Longspurs. Our luck was not as fortunate.
Our raptor count was great (species represented: Ferruginous, Rough-legged, Red-tailed, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon). We kept our eyes open for Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings; neither appeared.
Richard Stevens:
January 30
Bryan Ehlmann and I wanted to make a run for the Snowy Owl in Lincoln County, hoping to miss the snowstorms previously and those to come. We left Denver at 2:30 am, planned to drive the Snowy Owl location before sunrise.
This was a great decision. When we arrived, we observed the Snowy Owl flying across highway 94 (from south to north) just east of Lincoln County Road 11 (west of Horse Creek). It disappeared as quickly as it appeared (did not hear of additional sightings this Thursday).
Snow was predicted behind us; we decided to continue south. A stop at Rocky Ford (Otero) found many Eurasian Collared-Doves and one White-winged Dove. No Inca Doves (our target) could be found.
A detour to La Junta and our trek continued south to Kim and Cottonwood Canyon (Baca). We relocated Rufous-crowned Sparrows, a Greater Roadrunner, Canyon Towhees and Chihuahuan Ravens in Cottonwood Canyon. The previous seen Winter Wrens and reported Swamp Sparrow were not found.
At dusk, we found a Western Screech-Owl near the camping area and a Great Horned Owl farther west.
January 31, 2014
After spending the night in Springfield, Bryan and I drove south to the old Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek area (Baca County). It was a long shot to find one; we did not.
An Eastern Screech-Owl was in a windbreak at a friend's ranch east of the old lek road.
Heading north, a stop below Two Buttes Reservoir dam found two interesting birds. A Barn Owl hid in one of the crevasses along the northern rocky wall. A male Ladder-backed Woodpecker flew around the taller cottonwoods.
We walked the Lamar Community College woods where a Red-bellied Woodpecker was found at the northern end and a pair of Northern Cardinals was seen at the southern end. A Brown Thrasher was probably the most uncommon of the birds we found.
We ended our birding day at Mike Higbee Wildlife Area east of Lamar. Two Harris's Sparrows were observed fluttering about Clay Creek.
While it was snowing back in Denver, Lamar saw no snow and temperatures in the middle 20s today.
February 1, 2014
We spent the night in Lamar delaying a drive back into the snowstorms that were hitting Denver.
A quick stop at Mike Higbee Wildlife Area (Prowers County) did not relocate the two Harris's Sparrows found yesterday. A pair of Rusty Blackbirds walking near the highway 50 Bridge was a nice consolation!
We then headed back toward Denver by way of highway 94 to relocate the Snowy Owl. Our luck was not as good today; the bird was not found.
Back in Denver, after dropping Bryan off, I picked up Rebecca Kosten and drove the DIA Owl Loop (extended version: Bromley Lane, east to Haysmount Road, south to 120th avenue, then the Loop [120th, Trussville south to 114th, east to Quency Street, south to 96th avenue]).
We counted over 1000 Horned Larks before giving up on an exact count. Many stops did not find one Lapland Longspur among them. Another birder about an hour ahead of us reported dozens, perhaps hundreds of Lapland Longspurs. Our luck was not as fortunate.
Our raptor count was great (species represented: Ferruginous, Rough-legged, Red-tailed, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon). We kept our eyes open for Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings; neither appeared.
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