Wednesday, October 11, 2017

A Pleasant Walk Along First Creek Trails

October 10, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca and I went for a walk today along the First Creek Trail (from Tower Road, Denver County to the western end, Adams County.  We did not expect much of anything, just stretching our legs.

Temperatures reached 59 degrees; winds were 4-5 mph on this pleasant sunny day.

Highlight in Denver County was a Great Horned Owl perched only 12 feet off the trail.  He did not appear disturbed by us as he stayed both on our outward and return trip.

A shy Hermit Thrush came out briefly from the willows about 40 yards west of Pena Blvd.

Once we crossed Buckley into Adams County, a few additional birds were encountered.  Two Yellow-rumped Warblers caught our attention where the trail comes the closest to First Creek.

As we were deciding if they were Audubon's or Myrtle birds, Rebecca noticed a Palm Warbler in the same cottonwood.  A little farther west a second Great Horned Owl was spotted perched low in a cottonwood tree.

Continuing west, a male Spotted Towhee popped out of the bushes (Knapweed?)  where first creek turns south and enters the cattails around the small pond at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal fence boundary.

I traversed the green gate to survey the southern pond (really an extension of the big pond.  The Marsh Wren did not respond to my pishing today.  Two White-crowned Sparrows were the only birds found.

We continued north along the trail and continued back to Buckley Road.  Our third Great Horned Owl of the day was in the cottonwood trees along the trail north of the above pond.  The grove of trees just north of the old electric pump had no birds today.  According to Jacob Washburn, it was hopping with birds on Saturday (10/7). 

Saturday's Eastern Phoebe was not relocated when we walked the north side of First Creek to Pena Blvd and back.

We said "Hi" to the Great Horned Owl on the way back to our car.

Other raptors observed today included three Red-tailed Hawks, one Ferruginous Hawk and one American Kestrel.  Six Sandhill Cranes rattled as they flew overhead heading south.

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