April 10, 2018
I enjoyed a spectacular spring day and successful bird searches today.
It was another spectacular spring day in Colorado. Temperatures reached 70 degrees under partly sunny skies. Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 13 mph.
I could not remember seeing a Sage Thrasher in Denver County and headed to Westerly Creek Park (Denver). Sue Clasen & Mary Keithler found on at the Park this morning. There was also a chance to relocate the Harris's Sparrow reported by Jason Begood on 4/1.
A walk from 23rd and Beeler Street to 26th Street did not find either target birds.
On the way back, I crossed Beeler and checked the bushes in the park northwest of Beeler & 25th street. While trying to identify a White-crowned Sparrow under the bushes, the Sage Thrasher popped up to the top of the bushes (4:05 pm).
Photos in the Colorado Birding Society's photo library; recent favorite photos link
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net
My next stop was Expo Park in Aurora (Arapahoe). G. Stacks had found a Greater White-fronted Goose in the park this morning. The only geese among the hordes of people were twenty three White-cheeked Geese.
After receiving a text message about a Sagebrush Sparrow (Bob Righter, 4/10) along the 12 mile beaver trail at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) I headed that way.
As I walked along the trail, a sparrow scurried along the gravel path in front of me. It was 15 feet south of the Number 3 signpost. Later it wandered north to 10 feet north of the post.
While trying to photograph the sparrow a dog walker who was talking on a cell phone walked by and scared the sparrow back into the willows.
After pointing out that, she had to pass a "no dogs allowed" sign to get to this point, she offered some nasty words and continued south.
I waited about 20 minutes. The sparrow reappeared just about the time the dog walker decided to return and make the point that she had a "right of way" down the trail.
I waited another 20 minutes and the Sagebrush Sparrow reappeared. This time it was at the willows/tall trees on the west side of the trail and first reached when walking south from the parking area.
Photos in the Colorado Birding Society's Photo Library.
NOTE: I watched where the first Sagebrush Sparrow sighting flew into the willows. The second sighting was quite farther north. I do wonder if there are two Sagebrush Sparrows here. Two Sagebrush Sparrows were not however, seen at the same time.
NOTE: I watched where the first Sagebrush Sparrow sighting flew into the willows. The second sighting was quite farther north. I do wonder if there are two Sagebrush Sparrows here. Two Sagebrush Sparrows were not however, seen at the same time.
My birding day ended by watching a Long-eared Owl deep in the Russian Olive trees along the road to the Shooting Range.
Not a bad afternoon of birding.
No comments:
Post a Comment