Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Conclusion: CoBus Western Slope Bird Breeding Survey

July 13-July 22, 2017

July 13, 2017

Two groups today.  Group A (rste, tmit, rkos, sehl): took Kebler Pass to Ohio Pass to Crested Butte.  They relocated a Purple Martin, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Virginia's Warbler and pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers along the way.  A Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard at Ohio Pass.  Returning west, they found a Flammulated Owl west of the Kebler Pass summit.

Group B (dkin, bmar, jwas, rsim): Found a Lewis's Woodpecker in Paonia (Delta).  An American Dipper at Paonia Reservoir.  MacGillivray's and Virginia's Warblers seen at Bogan Flats Campgrounds.  A dozen Band-tailed Pigeons were at Prospect Ranch.  Highlight: a Chestnut-sided Warbler at the Marble Cemetery.  A Dusky Grouse was just south of the cattle guard on Old McClure Pass Road.  A Northern Pygmy-Owl was near Bogan Flats Campgrounds.  No owls when they returned to the Paonia Reservoir area.

July 14, 2017

Group A (rste, tmit, bmar): birded Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Pitkin County.  Missed Black Phoebe at Crystal River Hatchery.  One Dusky Grouse seen crossing gravel track at Avalanche Campgrounds.  Owls: Northern Pygmy-Owl.  Missed Flammulated and Boreal Owls.

Group B (dkin, jwas, rsim): went toward Spring Park Reservoir, Garfield into Eagle County.  One Lewis's Woodpecker and Orange-crowned Warbler found near Reservoir, Eagle County. 

Returning to Carbondale, they missed Purple Martins at Sunlight Ski Area, did find six Pinyon Jays.  One Northern Pygmy-Owl after dark.

July 15, 2017

Group C (rste, rkos, sehl): returned to Denver by way of Independence Pass.  Richard hiked the north side of Highway 82 and found one White-tailed Ptarmigan.  Rebecca and Sue caught a glimpse of two Brown-capped Rosy Finches flying over the southern side.

Group A & B (tmit, jwas, rsim, dkin, bmar): birded Rifle Gap Reservoir, Harvey Gap Reservoir and Silt area: Little to report.  Five Pinyon Jays at Rifle Gap Reservoir, Garfield County. Common Loon at Harvey Gap Reservoir.  Highlight: Black Swift at Rifle Falls.  

Weather with winds and rain was not good this week for owling.  Few owls were found in their limited attempts.

July 16-17

Today they birded up Coffee Pot Road, Garfield County staying overnight at White Owl Lake.  Final bird count was American Three-toed Woodpeckers (3, at two locations), Purple Martins (4, over two locations), two Pinyon Jays, four Juniper Titmice.

Owling was better.  They located over two nights, four Northern Saw-whet Owls, two Flammulated Owls and one Boreal Owl.

July 18

The CoBus Group (tmit, dkin, jwas, rsim, bmar) went to Sylvan State Park, Eagle County.  Highlight was a male White-winged Crossbill in the State Park.  Willow Flycatchers and two American Three-toed Woodpeckers also at Park.  Windy night resulted in no owls.

July 19

CoBus Group was in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area, Eagle County today.  Highlights included:

Four Purple Martins nesting along Homestake Creek.  One Northern Pygmy-Owl seen here during day.

Dusky Grouse (five total, adult male, adult female w/3 young, 2 locations) crossing road to Campgrounds

Flammulated Owls found at all four locations at GPS points from previous years.

Northern Pygmy-Owl also near previous year GPS

Many Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, all over the place.  At least three Rufous Hummingbirds and one Calliope Hummingbird also.

Campgrounds area various habitats: Cordilleran Flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers, Dusky Flycatcher

Northern Pygmy-Owl at Gold Camp.

Misses: Boreal Owls, most likely in the area, still not found any.  White-tailed Ptarmigan, they did not climb above tree line.

Flammulated Owl was observed at Notch Mountain Creek.  Two Flammulated Owls along Missouri Creek Road.

July 20

Late start after owling most of the night, the CoBus Group went up Shrine Pass, Eagle County.  Highlights were one White-winged Crossbill, a pair of Pine Grosbeaks and two American Three-toed Woodpeckers.  After dark, a Northern Pygmy-Owl called.

July 21-22

Today the Group went up Rock Creek to the A.M. Bailey Birding Sanctuary, Summit County.

An American Three-toed Woodpecker was 1/2 up the trail between the parking lot and Bird Sanctuary.

Williamson's Sapsucker and two Red-naped Sapsuckers at Sanctuary Aspen Grove.

Other birds: two Fox Sparrows, Willow Flycatchers, Hammond's Flycatchers, Cordilleran Flycatchers, Wilson's Warblers, MacGillivray's Warblers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

A White-tailed Ptarmigan was found about 2 miles up the Ptarmigan trail.

Northern Pygmy-Owls called near the Sanctuary after midnight.

July 22

The CoBus Group headed to Gould for Saturday night's meeting.

Nothing uncommon at Wolford Mountain Experimental Recreation Area, Grand County.

Gore Pass was inviting.  Seven American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found: two at Sheep Creek, three at Gore Creek and one at Rock Creek.

Female Dusky Grouse and three young were along Forest Road 243, Gore Creek Loop. 

Misses: any owls and White-winged Crossbills found in past years.

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