October 4, 2018
Richard Stevens:
High temperature in Buena Vista was 67 degrees today. Winds were 10-11 mph with gusts to 29 mph. Surprisingly, winds were calm at Cottonwood Lake area.
Cottonwood Pass (Chaffee CR 306) is closed from Avalanche Trailhead to the Summit and Gunnison CR 742. After a late start, I spent the day up CR 306 and CR 344.
It was still possible to reach Ptarmigan Lake (Chaffee) by way of CR 344. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is a must; however, I would not take mine on this road. It also requires a 3/4 miles strenuous hike after the road ends. There are easier routes to get a White-tailed Ptarmigan for Chaffee County.
South Cottonwood Creek and Cottonwood Lake have few bird reports. Clark's Nutcrackers, Canada Jays, nuthatches, woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, Pinyon Jays and Mountain Chickadees are common along CR 344.
The drive was a nice adventure on this superb fall day. I set up my "owl listening stations" along CR 344 on the trip toward Cottonwood Lake. Eventually I would find American Three-toed Woodpeckers at two locations.
Owling was a bust. The Owl stations did not pick up any owl calls either.
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