Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Aurora Reservoir to Castlewood Canyon State Park

September 14, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I conducted a two man fall count at Aurora Reservoir this morning.  The 8.8-mile trail around the reservoir has few trees and few birds.

Highlight was a Mew Gull with many Ring-billed Gulls at the southwest marina area.  We did see several Western Kingbirds and a Say's Phoebe.

Later we decided to head to Castlewood Canyon State Park and the Winkler Ranch.

A stop at Whispering Pines Park found a Black-and-white Warbler east of the restrooms.

A walk along the Cherry Creek trail (trailhead east of Walker Pit) added a Townsend's Warbler (cottonwoods west of trail) and Cassin's Vireo (willows east of trail) to our day list.

Bobolinks appear to be long gone from the Winkler Ranch.  A few Western Bluebirds were along Castlewood Canyon Road (missed Mountain and Eastern).  Half a dozen Vesper Sparrows and a Savannah Sparrow were also found.

After dark, we relocated one of the Northern Saw-whet Owls at Castlewood Canyon State Park.

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