Continued Search for Snowy Owls on the Eastern Plains

January 25

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 32 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 12 mph.

Terry Michaels and I continued our search for Snowy Owls on the Eastern Plains.  None was found during this trip.

We looked for the Snow Buntings at Sterling Reservoir (Logan).  Unfortunately, none was found today.  One Bohemian Waxwing among a flock of 40+ Cedar Waxwings was a nice surprise.

We continued east and south zig zagging the county roads searching for Snowy Owls.

Eventually we spent the night at Bonny Reservoir (Yuma).

January 26

It was a cold day on the Eastern plains today.  We measured 23 degree temperatures with winds 11-12 mph with gusts to 36 mph.

We woke to an Eastern Screech-Owl calling about 30 minutes before sunrise.  Nothing uncommon held our interest at Hale Ponds, Hale or Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area and we turned toward Denver.  Again, we tried to stay on back roads hoping of a Snowy Owl sighting.  None was found today.

A stop at Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) found one Common Redpoll that was with a flock of House Finches and a couple of American Goldfinches.

Many raptors (Red-tailed, Rough-legged, one Prairie Falcon, one Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrels, Northern Harriers and two Merlins) were observed while we continued on the less traveled county roads.