September 14-22, 2017
September 14
I wanted to search for the many uncommon birds reported at Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington). First, I made a stop at Barr Lake (Adams). I hiked from the Visitor's Center footbridge (mile 0 & 9) to mile 1.5 (west of footbridge) and back to mile 8.0 (east of footbridge).
Many shorebirds walked along the weedy shore below the Niedrach Boardwalk. These included a Dunlin, three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Long-billed Dowitchers, a Stilt Sandpiper, six Baird's Sandpipers and two Least Sandpipers. The Dunlin confused me for a while, as it was unexpected. A Blackpoll Warbler fluttered about the western end of the Boardwalk!
On the east side of the Visitor's Center I observed a Western Kingbird (footbridge), two House Wrens (mile 8.9), two Wilson's Warblers (mile 8.9), Cassin's Vireo (mile 8.9), one Warbling Vireo (mile 7.8), four Wilson's Warblers (mile 8.2) one Philadelphia Vireo (mile 8.05), a Spotted Towhee.
Misses included the two target birds. I did not find the Painted Bunting reported yesterday by Ira Sanders near the teepee (prairie trail). Two Clay-colored Sparrows, six Brewer's Sparrows and a Sage Thrasher were along the trail. In addition, I did not relocate the Varied Thrush reported by Marion Warren at the boat ramp picnic area.
After three hours, I headed to Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington). Eventually my bird list there included Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plovers, Marbled Godwits, Pectoral Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Tern.
A Townsend's Warbler and Cassin's Vireo were found at the inlet area. While a Blue-headed Vireo and Ovenbird were found below the dam. After dark, I heard an Eastern Screech-Owl near the eastern primitive camping area!
September 15
Most of the day was spent walking Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan). Without a means of return trip, the hike is about fourteen and a half miles. Ever since retirement, I thought my "job" was to try to stay in shape. In this effort, I have tried to walk at least 8-10 miles a day. Today my gps recorded 15.2 miles. This total took my Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area distance over 1500 miles (1501.6 to be exact). I believe I am one of the few (if any) to walk the southern sections of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (13.2 miles). In search of Greater Prairie-Chickens and Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse, I have done that five times over the years. Take plenty of water, it is a long hike.
The highlight of the trip today was a Black-throated Green Warbler found in section 4 East. My bird count today was:
Wood Duck - pair
Turkey Vulture - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Swainson's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 8
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 2
Killdeer - 2
Eurasian Dotterel
Wilson's Snipe - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 4
California Gull - 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Eastern Screech-Owl - 4
Great Horned Owl - 2
Common Nighthawk - 6
Common Poorwill - 1 heard
Whip-poor-will
Hummingbird sp. - 1 - unknown species/prob. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher - 2
Red-headed Woodpecker - 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 6
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 12
Western Wood-Pewee - 1
Western Kingbird - 14
Eastern Kingbird - 2
Plumbeous Vireo - 2
Cassin's Vireo - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 6
Black-billed Magpie - 24 - plus
American Crow - 34
Horned Lark - 22
Tree Swallow - 2
Cliff Swallow - 1
Barn Swallow - 62
Black-capped Chickadee - 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
Rock Wren - 1
House Wren - 7
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 18
Gray Catbird - 2
Brown Thrasher - 1
European Starling - 120 - plus
American Pipit - 4
Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Yellow Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 - female
Northern Waterthrush - 1
MacGillivray's Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Eastern Towhee - 1 - most likely hybrid
Chipping Sparrow - 2
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1
Brewer's Sparrow - 2
Field Sparrow - 1
Vesper Sparrow - 25
Lark Sparrow - 16
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 4
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 6
Dark-eyed Junco - 4
McCown's Longspur - 1
Northern Cardinal - 3 - 2m, 1f
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 60 - plus
Western Meadowlark - 20 - plus
Yellow-headed Blackbird - 4
Brewer's Blackbird - 6
Common Grackle - 8
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 - pair
House Finch - 12 - plus
American Goldfinch - 6
House Sparrow - 40 - plus
SPECIES: 85
Misses: no gallinaceous birds or Short-eared Owls found at dusk along southern sections (Logan CR 46/CR 89)
No Bell's Vireos (may have migrated south)
Less expected however have been recorded: American Woodcock and Whip Poor-Will or exotic doves
September 16
Two Eastern Screech-Owls were heard in the early morning at my friend's ranch in Sedgwick County.
An early morning trip to Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) found a Common Tern, Short-eared Owl and Baltimore Oriole. Surprisingly, the only shorebirds were Killdeer.
Roger Danka and I drove around Sedgwick County in search of uncommon birds (Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark, uncommon sparrows, Sprague's Pipit, etc); none was found.
I said goodbye to Roger and headed toward Wray. A stop at Sand Draw Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) found two Field Sparrows along the eastern fence. An Eastern Screech-Owl responded to my recording after sunset.
September 17
I searched unsuccessfully for the adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Upland Sandpiper found on 9/15 by Kathy Mihm-Dunning at Stalker Pond (Yuma). Two male Northern Cardinals were relocated at the western end of the property.
Nearby Wray Fishing Unit did not add any uncommon birds to my trip list. Best bird was probably a White-throated Sparrow (east of the entrance road).
Most of my day was spent visiting friends that live in and nearby Wray. I ate too much as they all wanted to feed me. Eventually I found:
Northern Cardinals (7 males, 2 females; over three yards)
Eastern Bluebird (1, private yard #1)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (juvenile, private yard #1)
Indigo Bunting (private yard #2)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (2; private ranch #2)
Field Sparrow (private ranch #1)
Magnolia Warbler (private ranch #6)
Misses: hoped for a Whip Poor-will, Eastern Meadowlark and Sprague's Pipit. Low odds, none was found.
An hour before sunset, I drove Yuma County Road 45. A Greater Prairie-Chicken was found between hwy 385 and the Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek. A Short-eared Owl was near CR 45 & CR PP.
September 18
Most of the hot day (over 90 degrees) was spent at a friend's ranch. I stopped by Stalker Pond and missed the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron for the second time. One Northern Cardinal flew around the windbreak at the entrance to the Wray Fishing Unit.
A drive along Yuma CR 45/CR PP, did not find any uncommon birds at sunset.
September 19
Missed the Stalker Pond Yellow-crowned Night-Heron for the third time. A Common Tern flew around the lake. Also found were an Eastern Phoebe and a male Northern Cardinal (again).
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird did not return (last seen on 9/17) private yard #1.
Lack of new birds, I wandered Yuma County. A male Summer Tanager and Eastern Phoebe peaked my interest at Beecher Island. The history here is quite fascinating. Walked the self tour, it is worth the time.
After visiting a friend's ranch south of Yuma, we drove his property and found two Greater Prairie-Chickens. At one time, his father-in-law counted up to 102 Greater Prairie-Chickens on the ranch. Increased grazing and reduced prairie chicken numbers have lowered that number quite a bit.
A hovering Short-eared Owl was a nice bonus!
September 20
Went north of Wray to Holyoke today, still searching for a surge of migrating birds, that was not found.
Holyoke Cemetery (Phillips) was the best stop. A Cassin's Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo were in the cottonwoods at the southeast corner.
Holyoke Fishing Pond added a Cassin's Kingbird and two Eastern Kingbirds to my trip list.
A Broad-winged Hawk was perched in a tall cottonwood at the northeast corner of Holyoke City Park.
Another hot day, I relaxed most of the afternoon. Standing water is rare in Phillips County. A drive along Phillips CR 2 and CR 29 & 31 was not exciting.
I wandered the southern edge of Phillips County at dusk. No Greater Prairie-Chickens, Short-eared Owls or Pipits were found.
September 21
Back in Wray, I drove Yuma CR 45 before sunrise. One Greater Prairie-Chicken was again found between hwy 385 and the Lek.
I missed the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron for the third time and gave up on it. I decided to drive to Bonny Reservoir.
The highlight of the day was a Sprague's Pipit at what birders are calling Pipit Hill (northeast of Yuma CR LL.5 and CR 4).
Additional birds found included at Hale: two Red-bellied Woodpeckers; at Hale Ponds: two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two Eastern Screech-Owls; at Wagon Wheel Campgrounds: five Red-headed Woodpeckers; near Foster's Grove: Long-eared Owl; and a Field Sparrow along CR 2.
September 22
In the morning, I walked the Republican River from Kansas to Hale Ponds (it is not that far). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was 150 yards west of Kansas. Later a Bay-breasted Warbler was found along the Republican River at 100 yards east of Yuma CR LL.5.
I could not relocate the Sprague's Pipit found yesterday.
High winds started around 8:00 am; heat was coming. I decided to head for home and not stay out another day.
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