Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A Hike Around Aurora Reservoir

August 12, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I circled Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County) this afternoon.  It requires a 7.8-mile hike.  We took our time as temperatures were still in the low 80s at 8:00 pm when we drove the DIA Owl Loop.

A few interesting birds included a Pectoral Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper.  Other birds included a Loggerhead Shrike, Say's Phoebe, many Western Kingbirds, two Eastern Kingbirds, and a Virginia Rail (southwestern cattails).  Raptors included Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawks and a Prairie Falcon.

Misses included the Red-headed Woodpecker, Long-billed Curlew and Barn Owl reported yesterday by David Suddjian.

Grasses around the Aurora Reservoir were quite high, not where a Long-billed Curlew would be expected.  We scoped much of the shorter grasses around the nearby Arapahoe County Race Trail.  No Long-billed Curlews were found.

Additional Red-tailed Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, American Kestrels and another Prairie Falcon were observed during our drive around the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County).  Burrowing Owls continue around the prairie dog town at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue.

We watched the Perseids meteor shower at Trussville between 114th & 120th.  Darkness was better here; the meteor shower put on a good show.  The only migrating birds that we could pick out were Chipping Sparrow (with their distinctive flight call).

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