October 7, 2017
Richard Stevens:
Paul Howard joined Terry Michaels and me on most likely our last trip up Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park (Larimer County). With Highway 34 closed, the trip took longer than usual. We scoped Lake Estes before sunrise however found nothing uncommon. Trail Ridge Road opened around 9:00 am (overnight snow and icy conditions needed to be cleared).
We only had to walk about 50 yards down the Medicine Bow Curve trail before spotting two beautiful White-tailed Ptarmigan in white plumage below the trail.
Back at the Trading Post, we looked over the eastern side and saw approximately 20 Brown-capped Rosy Finches and two Gray-crowned Rosy Finches flying around!
We continued west and down Trail Ridge Road to the Colorado River Trail parking area (Grand County). The distinctive drumming of an American Three-toed Woodpecker was heard as we got out of the car. It took another 15 minutes for us to see the bird.
Four Barrow's Goldeneyes were spotted swimming on Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand County). Then our trek led us north on highway 125 toward Rand (Jackson County). At Rand we debated on taking Jackson County Road 27 to Highway 14 and then to Gould. Not knowing the condition of CR 27 (snow, mud?) we continued north on Hwy 125 to Walden, then east on Hwy 14 to Cameron Pass (Jackson).
Eventually we heard Boreal Owls at Cameron Pass and Crags Campgrounds. Terry was able to put a spotlight on the Crag's owl!
No owls were found during several stops at Campgrounds along hwy 14 as we drove toward Fort Collins. We hoped for Northern Pygmy-Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls or a late Flammulated Owl.
Our long day ended back in Denver.
Richard Stevens:
Paul Howard joined Terry Michaels and me on most likely our last trip up Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park (Larimer County). With Highway 34 closed, the trip took longer than usual. We scoped Lake Estes before sunrise however found nothing uncommon. Trail Ridge Road opened around 9:00 am (overnight snow and icy conditions needed to be cleared).
We only had to walk about 50 yards down the Medicine Bow Curve trail before spotting two beautiful White-tailed Ptarmigan in white plumage below the trail.
Back at the Trading Post, we looked over the eastern side and saw approximately 20 Brown-capped Rosy Finches and two Gray-crowned Rosy Finches flying around!
We continued west and down Trail Ridge Road to the Colorado River Trail parking area (Grand County). The distinctive drumming of an American Three-toed Woodpecker was heard as we got out of the car. It took another 15 minutes for us to see the bird.
Four Barrow's Goldeneyes were spotted swimming on Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand County). Then our trek led us north on highway 125 toward Rand (Jackson County). At Rand we debated on taking Jackson County Road 27 to Highway 14 and then to Gould. Not knowing the condition of CR 27 (snow, mud?) we continued north on Hwy 125 to Walden, then east on Hwy 14 to Cameron Pass (Jackson).
Eventually we heard Boreal Owls at Cameron Pass and Crags Campgrounds. Terry was able to put a spotlight on the Crag's owl!
No owls were found during several stops at Campgrounds along hwy 14 as we drove toward Fort Collins. We hoped for Northern Pygmy-Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls or a late Flammulated Owl.
Our long day ended back in Denver.
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