August 21, 2015
Richard Stevens:
Terry Michaels and I enjoyed this late summer day mostly in Elbert County. It was warmer than yesterday (low 80s); winds were 8 mph or less. Skies were hazy due to smoke from the California wildfires.
We departed Denver/Aurora by way of the Jewell-Yale Loop (Arapahoe). Four Loggerhead Shrikes and two dozen Western Kingbirds remained along East Yale. We took Quincy Road (Arapahoe CR 30 to CR 137 (Kiowa-Bennett Road), then south to Kiowa. Several Sage Thrashers and a Common Nighthawk were along CR 137 (Arapahoe).
Only one Dickcissel was found along Elbert Road (at 4.1 miles south of Kiowa & Hwy 86). A Long-billed Curlew wandering the same field was quite a surprise.
A Long-eared Owl was found on a friend's ranch farther south. Bob had mentioned hearing a Poorwill at dusk and we planned to return before sunset.
Heading back north, no uncommon birds were found around Kiowa. A detour to the Highway 86 ponds (Elbert) east of Kiowa found none of the birds reported on Monday. A Sora was unexpected.
We drove some of the unpaved Elbert Roads in search of additional Long-billed Curlews, a Mountain Plover or whatever; without success.
Then once again turned north and east toward Elizabeth (Elbert). A stop at the Cemetery was quite fortunate. A Cassin's Vireo was observed while we looked at a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. An interesting drumming (not right for a Downy Woodpecker) turned out to be a Red-headed Woodpecker!
Additional travels down unpaved county Roads south of Elizabeth added two Eastern Kingbirds, many Western Kingbirds (no Cassin's Kingbirds), two Sage Thrashers, Grasshopper Sparrows, a Savannah Sparrow and Prairie Falcon.
Our route CR 5 to CR 98 to Elbert Road was uneventful. We continued to my friend's ranch, picked up Bob who took us to several ranches where Long-eared Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls have nested. Unfortunately, neither was around today.
Back at Bob's ranch, sure enough a Common Poorwill was enticed to respond to our recordings. A flyby Short-eared Owl was an added bonus.
We drove through the western side of Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) on the trip home. No owls called tonight.
Terry Michaels and I enjoyed this late summer day mostly in Elbert County. It was warmer than yesterday (low 80s); winds were 8 mph or less. Skies were hazy due to smoke from the California wildfires.
We departed Denver/Aurora by way of the Jewell-Yale Loop (Arapahoe). Four Loggerhead Shrikes and two dozen Western Kingbirds remained along East Yale. We took Quincy Road (Arapahoe CR 30 to CR 137 (Kiowa-Bennett Road), then south to Kiowa. Several Sage Thrashers and a Common Nighthawk were along CR 137 (Arapahoe).
Only one Dickcissel was found along Elbert Road (at 4.1 miles south of Kiowa & Hwy 86). A Long-billed Curlew wandering the same field was quite a surprise.
A Long-eared Owl was found on a friend's ranch farther south. Bob had mentioned hearing a Poorwill at dusk and we planned to return before sunset.
Heading back north, no uncommon birds were found around Kiowa. A detour to the Highway 86 ponds (Elbert) east of Kiowa found none of the birds reported on Monday. A Sora was unexpected.
We drove some of the unpaved Elbert Roads in search of additional Long-billed Curlews, a Mountain Plover or whatever; without success.
Then once again turned north and east toward Elizabeth (Elbert). A stop at the Cemetery was quite fortunate. A Cassin's Vireo was observed while we looked at a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. An interesting drumming (not right for a Downy Woodpecker) turned out to be a Red-headed Woodpecker!
Additional travels down unpaved county Roads south of Elizabeth added two Eastern Kingbirds, many Western Kingbirds (no Cassin's Kingbirds), two Sage Thrashers, Grasshopper Sparrows, a Savannah Sparrow and Prairie Falcon.
Our route CR 5 to CR 98 to Elbert Road was uneventful. We continued to my friend's ranch, picked up Bob who took us to several ranches where Long-eared Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls have nested. Unfortunately, neither was around today.
Back at Bob's ranch, sure enough a Common Poorwill was enticed to respond to our recordings. A flyby Short-eared Owl was an added bonus.
We drove through the western side of Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) on the trip home. No owls called tonight.
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