Richard Stevens:
Western Trip Continued: 2018
July 1
Temperatures were back to 82 degrees. Winds 6-7 mph with gusts to 16 mph.
Terry and I drove down Gunnison County Road 38 an hour before sunrise. A female with four young Gunnison Sage-Grouse walked along the road (north of the CR 38a intersection). A singing Sagebrush Sparrow along CR 38 was quite a surprise.
We continued into Saguache County without any additional Gunnison Sage-Grouse sightings.
A Gray Flycatcher was encountered along CR 32. No uncommon warblers appeared this trip (Chestnut-sided Warbler 10/17/2007).
No Least Flycatchers up found during a hike up the Neversink Trail today.
We stopped at several friends' ranches. A Western Screech-Owl continued at private ranch #3. No Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been heard/seen this year.
Nothing uncommon was found along the Waunita Hot Springs (road 884) in the late afternoon. No owls were heard.
July 2
Only 82 degrees today, winds 7-8 mph with gusts to 18 mph.
We birded along Highway 135 from Gunnison to Almont, then Gunnison CR 742 to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass. Campgrounds explored included: Cold Springs, Lodgepole, Spring Creek, Rivers End, and Lake View.
Nothing uncommon could be found on Taylor Park Reservoir (Gunnison). A walk around Lake View Campgrounds found two pairs of American Three-toed Woodpeckers, six Band-tailed Pigeons a Veery and two Hermit Thrushes (calling).
The Gunnison County section of Cottonwood Pass added a Slate-colored Fox Sparrow, Red-naped Sapsuckers, a lone male Purple Martin, a Dusky Grouse and a White-tailed Ptarmigan to our trip list. Earlier in the year, Jacob Washburn and Amy Davenport had found a White-tailed Ptarmigan in Chaffee County.
Owling was great this night. Conditions included calm winds, an 85 percent waning moon.
Our count:
Northern Pygmy-Owl (2, separate locations)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (1, traditional nesting tree)
Flammulated Owls (4, three locations)
July 3
High temperature was 81 degrees. Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 15 mph.
We drove up to Schofield Pass (Gunnison) this morning. A strenuous hike near the summit eventually found a White-tailed Ptarmigan!
Other birds seen included a Williamson's Sapsucker, three Slate-colored Fox Sparrows, Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, an Orange-crowned Warbler and Brewer's Sparrows.
The area has been good for an interesting hummingbird sighting or two. Today a Rufous Hummingbird was the only one encountered.
We drove up Kebler Pass in the afternoon. Two Purple Martins were relocated at their usual location. An American Three-toed Woodpecker was around the cemetery area as were a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers. A Dusky Grouse crossed the road just to the east.
After dark, we only could find one, Flammulated Owl (responded to our recordings). Winds were quite high this night.
July 4
Temperatures a consistent high of 84 degrees. Winds 4-5 mph with gusts to 10 mph.
Terry and I headed south of Highway 50 today as we took highway 149 and Sapinero Mesa (Gunnison CR 26). The Pine and Conifer Forests are famous for their American Three-toed Woodpeckers. Two Gunnison Sage-Grouse crossed CR 26 north of the Cutoff.
Sapinero Mesa BLM land added two American Three-toed Woodpeckers and a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers to our day list.
A pair of Black-throated Gray Warblers were seen near Gateview. Grace's Warblers were again found near the Cutoff.
Half a dozen Pinyon Jays flew across the Alpine Tunnel Road. Two Northern Pygmy-Owls called after dark (Gunnison CR 868).
We spent the whole night owling Alpine Corral, CR 26 & CR 30. Beside hearing two Common Poorwills we counted:
Northern Pygmy-Owls (2 CR 26 locations)
Flammulated Owl (CR 26)
Flammulated Owls (2, CR 30)
bird of the night: Boreal Owl (CR 30)
July 5
High temperature of 84 degrees. Winds at 10-11 mph with gusts to 23 mph.
Cimarron Pass was explored today. Our stops today included Cimarron Wildlife Area and Fish Creek and Silver Jack Reservoirs. Campgrounds included Big Cimarron, Beaver Lake, and Silver Jack.
In no particular order (my tired mind escapes me today, fortunately I jotted down the bird sightings)
Cimarron Campgrounds: Dusky Grouse and Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eight American Three-toed Woodpeckers eventually found along Cimarron Pass road.
Silver Jack Campgrounds: Hooded Warbler (fifth time in the last six years), Dusky Grouse (2), American Three-toed Woodpecker (1), Williamson's Sapsuckers (pair), Flammulated Owl (2)
Northern Saw-whet Owls: one at Beaver Lake, two south of Big Cimarron.
Fish Creek Reservoirs: Flammulated Owl and Northern Pygmy-Owl
We waited until dark at Cowboy Reservoir, which is very interesting to get to, even in a 4-wheel drive jeep. A Northern Pygmy-Owl or two answered our recordings.
Birding day ended at Owl Pass: Boreal Owl responded to our recordings. Unfortunately no White-winged Crossbills were encountered this trip.
July 6
An unbelievable 93 degrees, very hot for the mountains. Winds were 12-13 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
Cinnamon Pass from Lake City
Nothing uncommon at Lake San Cristobel
Two Grace's Warblers, Broad-tailed & a Rufous Hummingbird at Mill Creek Campgrounds (Hinsdale)
Three American Three-toed Woodpeckers seen at Burrows Park Town site (Hinsdale)
Three Brown-capped Rosy Finches flew overhead at Cinnamon Pass summit.
Animas Forks Ghost Town: another American Three-toed Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird and Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. No Long-eared Owls this trip
No owls heard as we backtracked to Engineer Pass
July 7
Hotter yet with a high of 96 degrees; what is happening? Winds 10-11 mph with gusts to 26 mph.
Lake City to Ouray by way of Engineer Pass today. 4-wheel drive vehicle is a most get drive Engineer pass that goes along Henson Creek (especially the last six miles). Again, sightings maybe out of order (notes taken):
A Boreal Owl responded to a recording played near Yellowstone Gulch north of Capitol City (Hinsdale County) about two hours before sunrise.
Nellie Creek trail (4-wheel drive): four American Three-toed Woodpeckers (male, female, young male & female).
Whitmore Falls is a short, strenuous hike. It is known for Black Swift sightings of which none was found today.
Another four Brown-capped Rosy Finches and a Purple Martin flyovers at Engineer Pass summit.
Owls:
Northern Saw-whet Owl at Poughkeepsie Gulch Road (Hinsdale)
Boreal Owl (rare!) North Fork Cutoff (San Juan County)
July 8
What a day makes. High in Telluride was only 78 degrees. Winds 2-3 mph with gusts to 7 mph.
NOTE: 4-wheel drive vehicle is necessary for many of the following roads.
We eventually birded in San Miguel County today. From Ouray we took Ouray CR 361 (Yankee Boy Basin Road) to the Sneffels Creek Trail. Stops along the way did not find any owls.
Two Black Swifts flew over the Waterfalls (Ouray). Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds flew around Sneffels Ghost Town. We also found Slate-colored Fox Sparrows, a MacGillivray's Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Gray Jays.
A Black Swift flew over Camp Bird (Ouray) as we drove onto Imogene Pass Road. A lone Williamson's Sapsucker was at the base of the trail.
The highlight of the day was sighting a White-tailed Ptarmigan while we hiked up toward Ptarmigan Lake (Ouray).
Imogene Pass is on the border of Ouray and San Miguel Counties. Tomboy Ghost Town is reached shortly after entering San Miguel County. HOWEVER, the Telluride side (San Miguel) was closed due to a rock slide.
We had to circle back to Ridgway and enter Telluride by way of Hwy 62 and Hwy 145. No owling was conducted today due to heavy rains.
July 9
Afternoon storms continued to keep the high temperature down to 78 degrees. Winds 6-7 mph with gusts to 14 mph.
Still one of my favorite detours is to Alta Ghost Town (San Miguel County). We started out several hours before sunrise. I would not recommend that for anyone who has not driven the road before. It was my fourth trip.
We arrived at Alta Lakes on schedule about 1.5 hours before sunrise. A Boreal Owl responded to our recordings. We had also set up our two "owl listening stations" on the way up Forest Road 632. Later we confirmed a Northern Pygmy-Owl calling (station #1)!
Two American Three-toed Woodpeckers, two Dusky Grouse, two Black Swifts and Slate-colored Fox Sparrow were also added to our day list!
The rest of the day was planned for our target bird search, a San Miguel County White-tailed Ptarmigan. Sometimes fortune shines. It took less than an hour for Terry to find one! The Ptarmigan was a new county bird for both of us.
Not quite noon yet, we saved a day and drove Ophir Pass Road (planned for tomorrow). The drive to the San Juan County Line is spectacular! At times, the road is just a shelf. At other times, we passed through Aspen Groves and Pine Forests.
Several Black Swifts flew overhead during the drive. We stopped to watch a female Dusky Grouse escort three young across the road.
Other birds seen included an American Three-toed Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsuckers, hummingbirds (Broad-tailed, Rufous and our first Calliope of the year) and two Brown-capped Rosy Finches. It is a mystery where they came from and or are they nesting in the area.
The Calliope Hummingbird was not the early record for Ophir Pass. A male showed up in Ophir on 6/30/2017.
Our "owl listening stations" picked up a Northern Pygmy-Owl contact call. Inclement weather kept us from owling most of the night.
July 10
High temperature was 78 degrees again. Winds 6-7 mph with gusts to 14 mph.
We arrived at Lizard Head Pass several hours before sunrise and set up our "owl listening stations". Eventually they picked up two Northern Pygmy-Owls calling. We added a Northern Saw-whet Owl.
The San Miguel County side of Lizard Head Pass added a Fox Sparrow, Red-naped Sapsuckers and an American Three-toed Woodpecker to our trip list.
The bird(s) of the day turned out to be two White-winged Crossbills accompanied by a flock of 14 Red Crossbills (up Dolores Forest Road 578).
Lizard Head Wilderness area (Dolores) added Orange-crowned Warblers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, a Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warblers, Green-tailed Towhee, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, a Dusky Grouse and an American Three-toed Woodpecker to our day list.
The Trout Lakes area (San Miguel) was disappointing on the trip back to Telluride.
Heavy rains canceled owling for the night. Several Black Swifts we observed flying around Bridal Veil Falls after the rain stopped.
We were on the wrong side of Black Bear Pass and decided to skip it this year. Black Bear Pass from Red Mountain Pass is one way east to west.
July 11
High temperature in Silverton was 73 degrees. Winds high at 12-13 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Our second Calliope Hummingbird of the trip was found at a feeder in Silverton. Several Rufous Hummingbirds and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were also found.
We headed up the Silverton to Animas Forks Road today.
A hike up Minnie Gulch Road added a White-tailed Ptarmigan to our trip list. That makes the four year in a row to find one here (San Juan County).
An American Three-toed Woodpecker was added to our trip list at Eureka Gulch Road (San Juan).
Another American Three-toed Woodpecker was found at the Animas Ghost Town.
Owling was canceled due to inclement weather.
July 12
High in Montrose today was 87 degrees. Winds were 9-10 mph with gusts to 16 mph.
We camped at Top of the Pines Campgrounds (Ouray). Wandering around before sunrise did not find any owls.
Our Ouray Grace's Warbler was a great consolation prize! Then Terry found a Northern Saw-whet Owl just outside of the Campgrounds!
Ridgway State Park (Ouray) was quite slow this morning. Both a Gray Vireo and Gray Flycatcher were added to our Ouray County lists.
Billy Creek Wildlife Area provided an Ouray County Black Phoebe for us at the bridge over the Creek. A Gray Vireo was heard and two Pinyon Jays seen flying by as we walked County Road 48.
Other birds encountered at the Wildlife Area included Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo, Pine Grosbeaks and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
We continued north to Montrose and then east to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park. A female Dusky Grouse and two young walked along the South Rim Road (about 200 yards west of the entrance kiosk.
Among the many birds seen were Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays, Fox Sparrows, Pinyon Jays, Plumbeous Vireo, Green-tailed Towhees, Orange-crowned Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Gray Flycatcher, Virginia's Warbler, Bushtits, White-throated Swifts, Gray Catbirds, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Gray Vireo, a Townsend's Warbler, and Spotted Towhees.
We hiked to the Warner Point western overlook just before sunset. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was enticed to call! A dusk a Common Poorwill called from the western parking area.
We called it an early night and retired in Delta.
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