Sunday, April 26, 2015

A Long Drive Back to Loveland Pass, Then Back to Denver

April 23, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Our trip to search for White-tailed Ptarmigan on Loveland Pass (Clear Creek/Summit Counties) was a success.  However, traffic due to construction was horrible.  It took hours to go a dozen miles.

Eventually, four White-tailed Ptarmigan were spotted below the ragged rocks on the eastern side of the Summit.  One or two Brown-capped Rosy Finches were observed flying overhead.

A stop at Genesee Mountain Park (Jefferson) on the way back to Denver added a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers near the top of the park.

We detoured to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson) where a female American Three-toed Woodpecker was found below the Parkview and Strawberry Jack Trails.  No Northern Pygmy-Owl could be found.

Our plan to search for Northern Pygmy-Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls south of Bailey was canceled when it started to rain quite a bit.

On the way home, I stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  Dozens of White-faced Ibis walked around the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands. 

Later I found two Marbled Godwits, four Willets and a Greater Yellowlegs on the swim beach!  Photos later!  I did run into a Maine birder and pointed him to the shorebirds. 

Sorry Jerry, I called on my radio, did not get an answer (Jerry Petrosky was at the park, birding a different area).

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