Sunday, January 25, 2015

A Short Week In Jackson County

January 21-24, 2015

Richard Stevens:

We spent four days resting, owling and snowshoeing in Jackson County.  The first day it snowed; weather was quite nice after that.  Winds at night were calm for the Cameron Pass area (10-12 mph).  Many winter nights, anemometer readings will be 15+ mph with gusts close to 30 mph.

Each morning we dropped by the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.  Rosy Finches were quite regular, however low in numbers.  Only one Black Rosy Finch was seen in the four mornings we visited.

One morning we drove Jackson County Road 26 hoping to find a Greater Sage-Grouse; without success.  No Greater Sage-Grouse were found this trip on our only venture to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. 

Two mornings (1/22 & 1/23) the male American Three-toed Woodpecker appeared in the firs north of the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.  We did not look for him the other days.

Most of our snow shoeing treks were only a few miles on relatively flat landscapes.  I did go down to the Crags Campgrounds one evening and hear a Boreal Owl just south of the Campgrounds.  Boreal Owls were heard west of Cameron Pass on 1/22, 1/23 & 1/24.

Another afternoon, a Dusky Grouse walked across highway 14 at 100 yards west of Cameron Pass.

Red Crossbills were run across on two of our snowshoe trips.  Unfortunately, no White-winged Crossbills were among them.

One afternoon we drove into Steamboat Springs (Routt County).  A pair of Sharp-tailed Grouse was at their previously reported location (see Colorado Birding Society's website).  Another six were found at a private ranch.

A final glance at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center on 1/25 found 28 Rosy Finches (no Black) and we returned to Denver.

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