Ten Days in North Park

December 4 to 14, 2014


Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I headed to Jackson County to scout and count Christmas Counts over the next week.

December 4, 2014

We stopped at several birding locations in Larimer County on the trip up to Cameron Pass.

A quick stop at 88th avenue and Colorado Blvd (South Platte Birding Area) found a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes south of 88th avenue.

Lake Loveland was a great stop.  We relocated the Red-necked Grebe and Bonaparte's Gulls.

One of the Greater White-fronted Geese continued at Prospect Ponds Natural Area.

The seven Tundra Swans were still on Rawhide Reservoir.

After dark, we found Boreal Owls west of Cameron Pass restroom pullover (Jackson) and south of the Crags Campgrounds.

December 5

Snowed again today, we drove over to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center at sunrise and before the snowstorm.  Eighteen+ Rosy Finches (no Blacks) came to the feeder.  Other birds included Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks and Steller's Jays.

The male American Three-toed Woodpecker was relocated north of highway 14 (north of Visitor's Center).

The rest of the day, we watched the falling snow from our warm cabin.

December 6

Snow and high winds continued.  Again early in the morning, we watched Rosy Finches and the usual birds at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center feeders.  I cross-country skied up County Road 21 without finding much of interest.

When the snows lessen in the afternoon, we visited a friend's ranch.  She had 600+ Rosy Finches coming to her feeders.  All three species were represented (480 Gray-crowned, 110 Brown-capped, and 10 Black).

It was too windy for any successful owling attempts.

December 7, 2014

Rebecca and I snow shoed the Zimmerman Lake Loop Trail (Larimer) today.  Temperatures were in the lows 30s, winds were calm.  We found a pair of White-winged Crossbills just before reaching the junction in the trail.

Back at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center, we relocated an American Three-toed Woodpecker north of highway 14.  Only a few Rosy Finches visited the feeders in the afternoon.

December 8

Snowed most of the day, stopped briefly at Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and found 20+ Rosy Finches (no Blacks).

December 9

The weather finally cleared today.  Rebecca and I drove through the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Jackson) searching for Gyrfalcons; without success.

A Greater Sage-Grouse was encountered on the Refuge (along the first road west of the Visitor's Center).

Nine Rough-legged Hawks were the raptor of the day.  Two Golden Eagles were nice sightings.

December 10

After the roads cleared late in the morning, Rebecca and I drove to Steamboat Springs (mainly to replenish supplies).

A female American Three-toed Woodpecker responded to a recording played along the road to the maintenance shed.  She allowed us five minute views before disappearing back into the woods.

Several dozen Red Crossbills flew back and forth.  Unfortunately, none was White-winged Crossbills.

On the way back to Gould, we heard Boreal Owls at two stops along Rabbit Ears Pass (Jackson & Grand).

December 11

Another snowy day with high winds.  We stopped by the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and watched the usual suspects including 12 Rosy Finches (no Black).

Most of the day was spent in our warm cabin.  Winds were too strong to go owling.

December 12

Colorado State Forest Christmas Count:

Winds died down around 1:00 am and I went out for a walk at Cameron Pass (Jackson).  Joined by the Ehlmanns, Washburn & Simmons we heard a Boreal Owl west of Cameron Pass.  It was not persuaded to come into view.

Several additional stops along highway 14 were also unsuccessful.

After sunrise, we relocated an American Three-toed Woodpecker north of the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and highway 14.

About thirty Rosy Finches (no Black) came to the Visitor's Center feeders.

American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found at three locations.  Twelve Greater Sage-Grouse were found at five locations (all previously staked out). The highlight was a Long-eared Owl found near the Colorado State Forest boundary!

Later...........

Sharp-tailed Grouse were later found in Steamboat Springs (Routt).  On the way back to Gould, a Boreal Owl was relocated on Rabbit Ears Pass (Jackson).

December 13

Rabbit Ears Pass Christmas Count:

Six of us watched before sunrise, 12+ Rosy Finches at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.

Rabbit Ears Pass (Jackson/Grand) provided the highlights today.  We encountered three American Three-toed Woodpeckers, a pair of White-winged Crossbills (with 60+ Red Crossbills) and a Northern Pygmy-Owl (up maintenance shed road).

Two Boreal Owls were heard on Rabbit Ears Pass (one in Jackson County, one in Grand County).

Later we found a Boreal Owl up Ruby Jewell Road.  All were able to see that one!  Another Boreal Owl was heard 0.2 miles west of Cameron Pass.