December 17 to 21, 2014
Richard Stevens:
Bryan Ehlmann and I made another trip to northeastern Colorado.
December 17
A stop at Boyd Ponds outside of Fort Morgan (Morgan County) produced the highlight of the day. A Winter Wren was along the South Platte River (behind Log Lane Village).
The resident Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Screech-Owl were relocated at Brush Wildlife Area. A previously reported Winter Wren was not found.
Our birding day ended with a couple of hour drive around the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County).
First, we encountered a Greater Prairie-Chicken along County Road 93 (between CR 44 & 46). This has been a successful location in past years.
While searching for Short-eared Owls north of CR 46/east of CR 93 (Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area) we observed another Greater Prairie-Chicken walking leisurely across the field below the hill at CR 46 & CR 89.
December 18
Bryan Ehlmann, Roger Danka and I stopped at several private ranches in Sedgwick County this morning. Long-eared Owls (2 & 1, separate locations) and a Harris's Sparrow were found.
A walk around Depoorter Lake (Sedgwick) did not find any Field or White-throated Sparrows today. A Harris's Sparrow was along the South Platte River.
In the afternoon we relocated an Eastern Screech-Owl at the north side of Jumbo Reservoir and Long-eared Owls between Jumbo Reservoir and Red Lion Wildlife Area (Logan County). At sunset, a Short-eared Owl flew around the fields south of Jumbo (Sedgwick).
December 19
Our trip continued with visits to several ranches in Logan County. American Woodcocks had been recorded at two of them in past years. No one has found one yet this winter.
Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) is ice covered. Few gulls, only Ring-billed were found. The highlight was a Snow Bunting that flew over several times and landed east of the southern restroom area.
Our birding day ended at Sedgwick Draw (Sedgwick). No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight. Sedgwick Cemetery only had a few White-crowned Sparrows (Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Harris's Sparrow reported in past trips).
December 20
Our last day in Logan/Sedgwick Counties, Bryan and I spent the day around Sterling (Logan). Overland and Pioneer Parks had few birds. No Eastern Screech-Owls responded to our recordings.
A couple of hours were expended at North Sterling Reservoir in search of Snow Buntings; without success. Like most of the lakes in Colorado, it was also ice covered. A Short-eared Owl flew out of the trees when we hiked the southern side of the lake.
Misses: no Barn Owls could be found this trip.
December 21
Bryan and I said goodbye to Roger and started south to Bonny Reservoir (Yuma). We drove Yuma County 45 before sunrise in search of a Greater Prairie-Chicken; without success.
An Eastern Screech-Owl was found/relocated at a friend's home west of Wray.
Before the day was over, we enjoyed a five-owl day. Long-eared Owls were at Foster's Grove, Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area. Great Horned Owls were at Wagon Wheel picnic area. A Northern Saw-whet Owl at an undisclosed location and a Short-eared Owl was perched in the riparian area at Wagon Wheel. Misses: the resident Barn Owl(s) did not show up at a friend's nearby ranch (for a six-owl day).
Bryan and I walked a three mile streak of the Republican River at Hale Ponds (one of my favorite loops) and found a Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebirds. An Eastern Screech-Owl called without prompting at Hale Ponds. No uncommon sparrows encountered this trip.
We ended our day at Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson County). A Swamp Sparrow was observed below the dam at the north end of the lake. No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.
Bryan Ehlmann and I made another trip to northeastern Colorado.
December 17
A stop at Boyd Ponds outside of Fort Morgan (Morgan County) produced the highlight of the day. A Winter Wren was along the South Platte River (behind Log Lane Village).
The resident Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Screech-Owl were relocated at Brush Wildlife Area. A previously reported Winter Wren was not found.
Our birding day ended with a couple of hour drive around the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County).
First, we encountered a Greater Prairie-Chicken along County Road 93 (between CR 44 & 46). This has been a successful location in past years.
While searching for Short-eared Owls north of CR 46/east of CR 93 (Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area) we observed another Greater Prairie-Chicken walking leisurely across the field below the hill at CR 46 & CR 89.
December 18
Bryan Ehlmann, Roger Danka and I stopped at several private ranches in Sedgwick County this morning. Long-eared Owls (2 & 1, separate locations) and a Harris's Sparrow were found.
A walk around Depoorter Lake (Sedgwick) did not find any Field or White-throated Sparrows today. A Harris's Sparrow was along the South Platte River.
In the afternoon we relocated an Eastern Screech-Owl at the north side of Jumbo Reservoir and Long-eared Owls between Jumbo Reservoir and Red Lion Wildlife Area (Logan County). At sunset, a Short-eared Owl flew around the fields south of Jumbo (Sedgwick).
December 19
Our trip continued with visits to several ranches in Logan County. American Woodcocks had been recorded at two of them in past years. No one has found one yet this winter.
Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) is ice covered. Few gulls, only Ring-billed were found. The highlight was a Snow Bunting that flew over several times and landed east of the southern restroom area.
Our birding day ended at Sedgwick Draw (Sedgwick). No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight. Sedgwick Cemetery only had a few White-crowned Sparrows (Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Harris's Sparrow reported in past trips).
December 20
Our last day in Logan/Sedgwick Counties, Bryan and I spent the day around Sterling (Logan). Overland and Pioneer Parks had few birds. No Eastern Screech-Owls responded to our recordings.
A couple of hours were expended at North Sterling Reservoir in search of Snow Buntings; without success. Like most of the lakes in Colorado, it was also ice covered. A Short-eared Owl flew out of the trees when we hiked the southern side of the lake.
Misses: no Barn Owls could be found this trip.
December 21
Bryan and I said goodbye to Roger and started south to Bonny Reservoir (Yuma). We drove Yuma County 45 before sunrise in search of a Greater Prairie-Chicken; without success.
An Eastern Screech-Owl was found/relocated at a friend's home west of Wray.
Before the day was over, we enjoyed a five-owl day. Long-eared Owls were at Foster's Grove, Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area. Great Horned Owls were at Wagon Wheel picnic area. A Northern Saw-whet Owl at an undisclosed location and a Short-eared Owl was perched in the riparian area at Wagon Wheel. Misses: the resident Barn Owl(s) did not show up at a friend's nearby ranch (for a six-owl day).
Bryan and I walked a three mile streak of the Republican River at Hale Ponds (one of my favorite loops) and found a Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebirds. An Eastern Screech-Owl called without prompting at Hale Ponds. No uncommon sparrows encountered this trip.
We ended our day at Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson County). A Swamp Sparrow was observed below the dam at the north end of the lake. No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.
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