January 29, 2017
Richard Stevens:
California birder Paul Olsen and I headed to the mountains today. Anyone who has tried to drive up I70 on a Sunday knows you need to go before 6:00 am and definitely return before Noon because of traffic. Loveland Pass had been closed the last two days because of snowstorms; we had no choice but to go today.
We found two White-tailed Ptarmigan below the western side of the Loveland Pass Summit before many skiers or tourists arrived.
Later we visited a friend's home and saw three species of Rosy Finches and other mountain species. My friend has asked me not to advertize his address.
A brief stop at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit) found six Barrow's Goldeneyes swimming about.
After dropping Paul off at DIA, I walked the First Creek Trail (Denver). The spot where the Harris's Sparrow has been seen during my last two visits was today trampled down by a car and horses.
A flock of 16 White-crowned Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 10 Dark-eyed Juncos and 4 House Finches was on and below the hill just east of the Light Rail tracks. I did not find the Harris's Sparrow among them. This was I first encountered the Harris's Sparrow back on December 5, 2016.
My last stop was the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams). I walked the Legacy Trail searching for owls in the evergreen trees. No Barn Owls were observed today. A Long-eared Owl was found in the New Mexico Locust trees south of the trail (scoped from between the third and fourth evergreen tree west of the closed trail sign.
A Great Horned Owl called from behind the old Visitor's Center (now called Contact Station).
Richard Stevens:
California birder Paul Olsen and I headed to the mountains today. Anyone who has tried to drive up I70 on a Sunday knows you need to go before 6:00 am and definitely return before Noon because of traffic. Loveland Pass had been closed the last two days because of snowstorms; we had no choice but to go today.
We found two White-tailed Ptarmigan below the western side of the Loveland Pass Summit before many skiers or tourists arrived.
Later we visited a friend's home and saw three species of Rosy Finches and other mountain species. My friend has asked me not to advertize his address.
A brief stop at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit) found six Barrow's Goldeneyes swimming about.
After dropping Paul off at DIA, I walked the First Creek Trail (Denver). The spot where the Harris's Sparrow has been seen during my last two visits was today trampled down by a car and horses.
A flock of 16 White-crowned Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 10 Dark-eyed Juncos and 4 House Finches was on and below the hill just east of the Light Rail tracks. I did not find the Harris's Sparrow among them. This was I first encountered the Harris's Sparrow back on December 5, 2016.
My last stop was the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams). I walked the Legacy Trail searching for owls in the evergreen trees. No Barn Owls were observed today. A Long-eared Owl was found in the New Mexico Locust trees south of the trail (scoped from between the third and fourth evergreen tree west of the closed trail sign.
A Great Horned Owl called from behind the old Visitor's Center (now called Contact Station).