June 6, 2014
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I went to check on a Short-eared Owl nesting spot. A pair appears to be successfully nesting in Weld County. We do not want to approach the nest to see if there are eggs. We assume a female has been on the nest for about a week now. Some young need to pop out to confirm successful breeding.
Later we hiked Barr Lake (Adams) from the Visitor's Center to the boat ramp. Mosquitoes are plentiful now. Even the 14 mph winds (gusts to 23 mph) did not keep them from attacking us. A male Summer Tanager was south of the banding station. The Barn Owl stuck his head out of the nesting box near the banding station.
Many regular summer visitors are now around. These include Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Western Wood-pewee, and Snowy Egrets.
A visit to a friend's ranch in Weld County added a Long-eared Owl and Mountain Plover to our day list. The Long-eared Owls have a nest. However, again we do not want to approach the nest to see if there are any eggs. If there are, young should be hatching any day?
A Mountain Plover female (we assume) has laid three eggs in our friend's field. Every now and then, she gets up and walks around eating. Give us a chance to advance closer to determine progress. The hope is that the recent hailstorms do not hurt her or crack her eggs. We have not been there when it has hailed. She must sit on the nest when hail comes?
Our birding day ended at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld). The northern sections are closed until July 15th. We did not relocate a previously reported Green Heron (assuming it was found at the southern sections).
The hike was a pleasant end to our birding day. Winds at 23 mph, gusts to 36, kept mosquitoes down to just a few. The only rain we saw all day was while driving between Prospect Valley and Banner Lakes Wildlife Area. After dark, a tornado did come through the area (glad we were home)!
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I went to check on a Short-eared Owl nesting spot. A pair appears to be successfully nesting in Weld County. We do not want to approach the nest to see if there are eggs. We assume a female has been on the nest for about a week now. Some young need to pop out to confirm successful breeding.
Later we hiked Barr Lake (Adams) from the Visitor's Center to the boat ramp. Mosquitoes are plentiful now. Even the 14 mph winds (gusts to 23 mph) did not keep them from attacking us. A male Summer Tanager was south of the banding station. The Barn Owl stuck his head out of the nesting box near the banding station.
Many regular summer visitors are now around. These include Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Western Wood-pewee, and Snowy Egrets.
A visit to a friend's ranch in Weld County added a Long-eared Owl and Mountain Plover to our day list. The Long-eared Owls have a nest. However, again we do not want to approach the nest to see if there are any eggs. If there are, young should be hatching any day?
A Mountain Plover female (we assume) has laid three eggs in our friend's field. Every now and then, she gets up and walks around eating. Give us a chance to advance closer to determine progress. The hope is that the recent hailstorms do not hurt her or crack her eggs. We have not been there when it has hailed. She must sit on the nest when hail comes?
Our birding day ended at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld). The northern sections are closed until July 15th. We did not relocate a previously reported Green Heron (assuming it was found at the southern sections).
The hike was a pleasant end to our birding day. Winds at 23 mph, gusts to 36, kept mosquitoes down to just a few. The only rain we saw all day was while driving between Prospect Valley and Banner Lakes Wildlife Area. After dark, a tornado did come through the area (glad we were home)!
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