Saturday, December 26, 2015

Up to Boulder, Search for Long-billed Thrasher

December 24, 2015

Richard Stevens: email sent to "cobirders" listserve:

Hello cobirders,

Yesterday, Terry Michaels and I made the rounds along the front range.

Adams County
We started before sunrise watching a Short-eared Owl flying along third creek at Gun Club Road.  Raptors included the usual: 2 Prairie Falcons, 2 Ferruginous Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and a pair of American Kestrels.

Jefferson County
We walked the fence line east of Wadsworth Blvd from 26th avenue to 30th avenue and back.  On the trip back, we briefly saw the Carolina Wren under a evergreen tree near Wadsworth Blvd & 29th Avenue.

Broomfield County
We relocated a Mew Gull with many Ring-billed Gulls, a few California Gulls and Herring Gulls at the Parkside Center Pond.  No uncommon gulls were at Siena Reservoir.  A Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Glaser Reservoir.

Boulder County
Missed any thrasher at Union Reservoir.  We did see three Wilson's Snipe, four Song Sparrows, two Blue Jays and many Dark-eyed Juncos along the ditch into the park.

The Golden-crowned Sparrow was with half a dozen White-crowned Sparrows at the Teller Lake # 5 windbreak.  Missed the Harris's Sparrow.

Adams County
With some daylight left, we went to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area.  Eventually we saw four Long-eared Owls.  Be sure to see directions for the open access hours which are tricky at the Wildlife Area (Wildlife Area books at Walmart or Sporting Goods Stores).  Missed Short-eared Owls at dusk.

Continued Good Birding!

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