Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Again Northeastern Colorado

December 28-30, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I went on a Christmas Count scouting trip to Northeastern Colorado.  Typical winter weather included temperatures in the 40s, winds 8+ mph, gusts sometimes to 24 mph.

December 28

We enjoyed a fantastic day at Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area (Yuma County).  Red-bellied Woodpeckers and a Winter Wren were observed at Hale Ponds.  A red Fox Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow were found in wood piles along Yuma County Road 4.

Another Red-bellied Woodpecker and 10+ Eastern Bluebirds flew around the small town of Hale and below the Bonny Reservoir dam.

A Northern Cardinal fluttered about the old Wagon Wheel Campgrounds.

The highlight was a five owl day.  Eastern Screech-Owls at Hale and the eastern end of Bonny Reservoir, Long-eared Owls at Foster's Grove, Great Horned Owl along the south side of the old reservoir, a Northern Saw-whet Owl (undisclosed location) and a Barn Owl along County Road 4 (private property).

December 29

Bryan and I continued north to Logan County.  A Greater Prairie-Chicken was found before sunset at the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area.

The northern sections added a Northern Cardinal, two Eastern Screech-Owls, three Red-bellied Woodpeckers and ten Eastern Bluebirds to our trip list.

At Ovid Woods (Sedgwick), we found another Northern Cardinal and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Two Eastern Screech-Owls called as we ate dinner at Roger Danka's Ranch.

December 30

Bryan and I headed back to Denver today.  Snow flurries and high winds marked the day.  We relocated a Red-bellied Woodpecker at Brush Wildlife Area.  Misses: the Eastern Screech-Owl and a reported Winter Wren.

Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) was slow.  Two Long-eared Owls (different locations) were relocated.  Dozens of American Robins did not have a Varied Thrush with them.

Two Long-eared Owls were relocated at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Adams) about 30 minutes before sunset.  A Great Horned Owl was heard calling in the Pond # 13 area.

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