Sunday, May 3, 2015

Pine Valley Ranch Park, Barr Lake and DIA Owl Loop.

May 2, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I birded Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson County) in the late morning.  We did not walk up Buck Gulch Trail in search of American Three-toed Woodpeckers.  No Three-toed Woodpeckers were along the hillside above Pine Lake today.

A small flock of sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Wilson's Warbler had another surprise for us.  An adult Nashville Warbler fluttered about the willows also!

A hike west down the Narrow Gauge Trail found an American Dipper under the footbridge.  At the western end gate, I played a Northern Pygmy-Owl recording.  To our surprise, a Northern Pygmy-Owl called back!

After dropping Bryan off, I drove over to Barr Lake (Adams County).  After reaching the Osprey platform about 0.5 miles northeast of the Visitor's Center footbridge, I returned.  Two Ospreys were still on the nesting platform.

A Barn Owl was in the owl box by the banding station.  I played a White-eyed Vireo recording and the previously reported White-eyed Vireo answered!  I only was able to get a couple of quick looks before it disappeared in brushes in the water.

Several Swainson's Hawks, many House Wrens, a Song Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow were encountered during the hike.

A Common Loon was again observed from the Niedrach Boardwalk.  It was quite a bit farther out than when I photographed it on 4/10 (photos on Colorado Birding Society's website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net (recent witness photos) link.

Nine Burrowing Owls were spread across four locations along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County). I would speculate that most of the females are in burrows lying or on eggs.

No Short-eared Owls appeared this afternoon.

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