December 16, 2018
Richard Stevens:
Temperatures only reached 32 degrees in Silverthorne. It was warmer than the higher elevations we birded in the day. Winds were 23-24 mph; some gusts were measured at 31 mph.
The CoBus seventh Summit County Christmas Count was conducted today. Terry Michaels and my assignment was snow shoeing to A.M. Bailey Bird Sanctuary and above.
Our goal was to add White-tailed Ptarmigan to the Christmas Count for the first time. The trek took up most of our day (daylight).
An American Three-toed Woodpecker was observed drumming on a Pine Tree about 1/2 mile north of the trailhead.
After reaching the Bird Sanctuary, the strenuous part of our day started. Terry and I started up the Ptarmigan trail (the ridge north of the sanctuary). Fortunately, we did not go more than a mile before Terry spotted two Ptarmigan along the ridge.
Back down at the Sanctuary, we played various owl recordings. A Northern Pygmy-Owl responded with a brief contact call.
No additional owls were run across on the return trip to our jeep.
After sunset, Terry, Jacob and I snow shoed around the Montezuma area. A Boreal Owl was heard up the Saint John's trail. No Flammulated Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls or additional Northern Pygmy-Owls were heard this night.
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