Monday, October 6, 2014

Barr Lake and Adams County Birding

October 6, 2014

Richard Stevens:

After spending the last few days visiting relatives and friends in hospitals, I took the time today to walk around Barr Lake (Adams County).  It was a fantastic fall day with mild winds and temperatures in the high 70s.

It was not as "birdy" as hoped; however, a few nice birds kept my interest.  A single Sabine's Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull flew along the southern shore, making several passes during my visit.  Both gulls had been reported previously (Sabine's, Stevens 9/15 & Lesser Black-backed Gull (Madsen:Clasen, 9/23).

Many shorebirds were on the mudflats and sand spit.  Unfortunately, most of the uncommon ones appeared to have moved on elsewhere.  One Semipalmated Plover was the most interesting.

On the trip back to the banding station riparian area, two Barn Owls flew around near the northern point (north of banding station).

Passerines were few in the riparian area.  I did find one Townsend's Warbler with a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers at the western edge of the banding station area.  A few Chipping Sparrows remained (not as many as last week).  At least one House Wren and empidonax flycatcher were still around.

Neither the previously reported Swamp Sparrow nor Common Tern was found by me.

A drive around the DIA Owl Loop was uneventful.  For the second trip, I could not find a Burrowing Owl at the Quency Street prairie dog town. Again, two Red-tailed Hawks stood in the middle of the town.  My late dates are 10/27, 10/4, 10/3, 10/1.  Burrowing Owls could be gone here for 2014.  No Short-eared Owls were observed today.

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