May 21-25, 2018
Terry Michaels and I headed northeast to Sterling to catch the end of Spring Migration. Quite a few nice birds were still about.
May 21
Temperature today reached 78 degrees. Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 14 mph. Nice weather for this time of year, especially since some areas of Colorado experienced severe thunderstorms.
At first light, we found two Long-eared Owls at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan). A walk along the dam found a male Blackburnian Warbler in the cottonwoods between the southern parking area and the Reservoir community. In the past, Eastern Screech-Owls have nested here; none was found today.
Then we stopped at Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington) for about four hours. Highlights were the Alder Flycatcher found the day before by Steve Larson & Glenn Walbek. The Golden-winged Warbler, a Baltimore Oriole and two Least Flycatchers were also still around. Shorebirds were slim pickens with no uncommon birds.
Shortly after sunset, we heard an Eastern Screech-Owl at Pioneer Park in Sterling.
May 22
Temperatures rose to 80 degrees. Winds were lighter at 4-5 mph with a few gusts to 17 mph in the afternoon.
We started our birding day with a walk along the South Platte River at Overland Park (southeast side of Sterling). Our target bird was a Black-billed Cuckoo. They once nested along this corridor. Today only one Yellow-billed Cuckoo was encountered.
The riparian area along the Platte was jumping with birds. Others observed included an American Redstart, male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and male Baltimore Oriole. Still it was a little disappointing. However, as we left, Terry spotted a Purple Martin flying back and forth along the Platte east of Hwy 6.
Next stop was back to Pioneer Park to see what the daylight would reveal. Among just a few birds moving about, a Blackpoll Warbler and Veery stuck out.
Finally, we drove north to Sterling Reservoir. We checked the northern Campgrounds, dam area, eastern picnic area and the southern riparian area. Highlights included a Northern Parula (northern Campgrounds), Gray-cheeked Thrush (eastern picnic area) and Barn Owl (southernwoods).
A Western Bluebird and many Mountain Bluebirds hung around the eastern Campgrounds. A Hermit Thrush and Spotted Towhee were not well hidden in the southernwoods.
Several Chimney Swifts flew over the eastern side. A male Baltimore Oriole was at the northern Campgrounds when we returned for another look at the Northern Parula. We hung around back at the southernwoods at sunset and dusk. No Eastern Screech-Owls were detected.
May 23
Temperatures continued to rise with a high of 82 degrees today. Summer is coming and it felt hot. Winds were 5-6 mph with afternoon gusts to 23 mph. We birded around Sterling during the morning, and then drove county roads to the north and east after lunch.
Riverside Cemetery was the hottest spot this morning. We ran across a Gray-cheeked Thrush, another Northern Parula and another male Baltimore Oriole. There may have been a female Baltimore Oriole; we did not see it well enough to rule out a female Bullock's Oriole. Two Mississippi Kites flew overhead while we birded the Cemetery.
Locations north of Sterling where I had found Dickcissels and Greater Prairie-Chickens in the past did not provide sightings today. Afternoon winds did not aid our birding. We stopped at two "hotspots" private ranches where American Woodcocks, Purple Martins and uncommon warblers have been recorded in the past four years. None was found today.
We made it to the edge of Sedgwick County where we had found Sharp-tailed Sparrow (1) on 10/11/2000 and 10/23/2011. None was encountered today. I never decided on whether the lone birds were migrants or stayed the summer.
A friend offered us some great barbecue and our birding day was cut short. His ranch was one of Dan Bridges' best Logan County spots. I sort of "inherited" it when Dan "retired" from birding.
May 24
Temperatures continued to climb; high was 86 degrees today. Winds were a mild 5-6 mph. As usual this time of year, gusts rose to 18 mph in the afternoon.
I hung around Sterling once last day. We started early in the morning and tried another time to find a Black-billed Cuckoo at Overland Park. No luck, we did see two Yellow-billed Cuckoo (copulating, rare sighting), male Baltimore Oriole, 1st year American Redstart, a young Rose-breasted Grosbeak and two Mississippi Kites resting in a cottonwood. We also obtained glimpses of the lone Purple Martin flying along the Platte River at the east side of Hwy 6. This may be the northern edge of Overland Park.
Columbine Park in Sterling added a pair of Mississippi Kites, a Cordilleran Flycatcher and another American Redstart to our trip list. We both heard a Great Crested Flycatcher, however never did see it.
We returned to North Sterling Reservoir because of a report of three Hudsonian Godwits there yesterday (Mark Holmgren). Unfortunately, we found neither the Hudsonian Godwits nor Willet that Mark reported. The continuing Gray-cheeked Thrush at the eastern picnic area was the consolation.
Then we headed west along Highway 14 into some inclement weather.
May 25
Temperatures climbed into the low 90s today. Winds were mild at 3-4 mph with gusts to 9 mph (accounted for the hot temps?)
We started early in the morning with the prospect of a 3+ mile walk to find Baird's Sparrows at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. It was at least that long. Finally, we found two Baird's Sparrow singing along the Pronghorn Loop. The long hike back to the car as the morning warmed up was less strenuous with the success of our search.
Our plan was to return to Denver by way of Briggsdale and Crow Valley Campgrounds. By the time we arrived, it was quite warm. Our best find was the Eastern Phoebe. Other birds included Bullock's Orioles, Orchard Oriole, Plumbeous Vireo, Spotted Towhees and an Eastern Bluebird. Later we heard that our misses included a Magnolia Warbler.
Storms rolled in and we did not stay until sunset to look for Short-eared Owls at Lower Latham Reservoir.
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