North Park Trip

March 12-15, 2018

Rebecca Kosten and I headed up to North Park for a few days.  Typical for the area this time of year, temperatures were in the middle 40s.  Winds were 6-9 mph with gusts to 12 mph at night.

March 12

On the trip up, we stopped at Fort Collins City Park (Larimer).  The Red-necked Grebe (David Leatherman, 2/28) was still there.  We stopped at the Joe Wright Reservoir parking areas, found no Boreal Owls.

We walked highway 14, west of Cameron Pass and eventually heard two Boreal Owls. It was a strange night as winds were calm.  Another Boreal Owl was heard at Ranger Lakes.

March 13, 2018

Five Greater Sage-Grouse came to the Jackson County 26b leks around sunrise.  It was the first time I have observed them dancing this season.

Rebecca and I continued on to Steamboat Springs (Routt).  Target birds were Sharp-tailed Grouse and Bohemian Waxwings.  Fifty percent was not bad.  Two Sharp-tailed Grouse were found along Anglers Drive (east of the McDonalds Restaurant).

While searching for Bohemian Waxwings another two Sharp-tailed Grouse were found along Elk Lane.  Both locations are traditional wintering spots for Sharp-tailed Grouse.  

On the way to Craig, we detoured to the 80 Route.  There was no way our SUV would make it down the road.  

March 14, 2018

About an hour before sunrise, we drove down Moffat County Road 3.  A Sharp-tailed Grouse crossed the road as we drove to the Lek.  Another five Sharp-tailed Grouse were on the Lek.  Unfortunately, a scope is required to view the birds off in the distance.

Next, we returned to Craig and searched unsuccessfully for Bohemian Waxwings.  Then we drove west to Oxbow State Trust Lands.  Public access is closed this time of year; however, birds can be seen and heard from the parking area.  Two Sage Thrashers and a Sagebrush Sparrow were added to our trip list.

Another search for Bohemian Waxwings around Craig was unsuccessful.

After dinner, we listened for Boreal Owls on Rabbit Ears Pass (Routt/Grand).  None was heard this night; winds were 18-22 mph.  Hearing the soft calling owls is quite difficult under these conditions.

March 15, 2018

About two hours before sunrise, a Boreal Owl was heard 1/4 mile up Ruby Jewell Road (Jackson).  Flammulated Owls are heard in the same area; however, it may be too early for them to be in the area?

An American Three-toed Woodpecker was encountered as we hiked back to our SUV parked at Michigan Creek & Ruby Jewell Road.

Again, we checked the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center feeders without finding any Rosy Finches.  The Rosy Finches reported around Gould also avoided us.

We had missed the inclement weather down in Denver and west of the Front Range this week.  A snowstorm was predicted to arrive farther north of west of the Front Range; we decided to return to Denver a day early.