August 20-24, 2018
Richard Stevens:
August 20
Fantastic day with high Temperature of 77 degrees. Winds were calm (uncommon for up here) a few gusts to 4-5 mph near sunset.
Jacob Washburn, Jamie Thompson, Rebecca Kosten and I headed up to Gould (Jackson County).
Our target bird was the possible first Jackson County Piping Plover reported yesterday at Eighteen Islands Reservoir. Unfortunately, none of the shorebirds (Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, and Semipalmated Sandpiper) was there today.
We had no better luck later at Walden Reservoir (Jackson). We did not find the Caspian Tern and Pectoral Sandpiper reported yesterday.
To enjoy the cool afternoon (it was getting late) we parked near the Jackson County Greater Sage-Grouse lek until sunset. No Greater Sage-Grouse appeared this evening. We assumed that they did not stay around the lek after the lekking season was over. A beautiful sunset lit the sky above.
August 21
Nice weather continued with a high temperature of 63 degrees. Winds were only 3-4 mph most of the day. Gusts of 8 mph recorded at dusk.
The four of us drove to Teller City Ghost Town (Jackson). Along the trip, we stopped several times to bird. At a stop at the lakes on the east side of the road, a Purple Martin was observed circling above the trees. It disappeared on the far side of the lake. The area was too marshy for us to pursue the Purple Martin and search for a nesting tree.
We enjoyed a couple of hour walk around Ghost Town historical site. The site is isolated and gets few visitors. Part of the road is quite rough and may require a truck or 4-wheel drive vehicle during some weather conditions.
Two American Three-toed Woodpeckers were encountered during the hike. We continued south to the Town of Rand. No Burrowing Owls were at the Jackson County Road 27 site.
On the trip back, we stopped at the eastern end of Jackson County Road 21 to listen for owls. None was heard this night.
August 22
A pleasant high of 70 degrees today. Winds continued to remain calm to 3 mph!
Before sunrise, the four of us drove through the eastern side of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Jackson). Six Greater Sage-Grouse were observed walking along the side of Jackson County Road 31.
Nothing uncommon was moving around the Visitor's Center and we then birded the western side auto loop.
Sage Thrashers, White-crowned Sparrows, Brewer's Sparrows, two Willets are still around their nesting areas. The Black-throated Sparrow we found on 8/11/2018 was not relocated. The Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers reported on 8/19/2018 also were not relocated.
A return trip to Walden Reservoir again found few birds moving about. Winds were quite strong. The highlight was a McCown's Longspur walking along the road at the north side of the Lake.
No Boreal Owls were heard at Cameron Pass this evening.
August 23
Another day like yesterday. High temperature was 70 degrees with calm winds!
Jacob and I hiked up Ruby Jewell Road about two hours before sunrise. Regrettably no Boreal or Flammulated Owls were found this morning.
After sunrise, we observed a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers at the clearing 0.4 miles east of Michigan Reservoir Road (Jackson County Road 41).
We hiked around the end of CR 41 and down to North Fork of the Canadian River. Highlight was a Hermit Thrush which is considered uncommon (rare) here.
Back at the KOA Campgrounds near the entrance to the Colorado State Forest (CR 41), we found both Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds (no Calliope).
After a nice barbecue, the four of us walked down to the Crags Campgrounds east of Gould. A Boreal Owl was heard along the fire road south of the Campgrounds.
It was the only Boreal Owl heard this evening. We had later stop to listen at the Joe Wright Reservoir parking area (Larimer County).
August 24
It warmed up a bit, high temperature was 77 degrees. Winds continued to be calm to 3 mph!
Before heading back to Denver, we stopped at Ranger Lakes Campgrounds to listen for Boreal Owls. None was heard. After sunrise, we found a male American Three-toed Woodpecker drumming along the north side of the Lake.
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