Wandering East of Barr Lake

March 1, 2019

Richard Stevens:

It was a warm "calm" day before the storm with temperatures to 47 degrees.  Winds 15-16 mph with gusts to 28 mph.  Forecasts are for 4-6 inches of snow in the next two days.

I left home shortly after sunrise in search of owls along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams/Denver).  None was found.  Burrowing Owls should show up any day now.  March 1 is "birders spring" not to be confused with official spring March 20.

A detour over to the First Creek Trail found three Rusty Blackbirds walking along the east and west forks of First Creek, just north of the 56th Avenue Bridge.

Back at Barr Lake, I was not able to relocate the Glaucous Gull reported this morning.  The Bald Eagle count stood at thirty-eight (assorted ages).

A three-hour hike at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld) was quite interesting.  My owl count was seven Long-eared Owls, two Barn Owls and one Great Horned Owl!

Two Long-eared Owls were in the Pond 3 western windbreak.  Another four were in the windbreak west of Pond 3 and the Canal.  A final Long-eared Owl was in the windbreak west of Pond 7.

A Northern Shrike hunted at the southwest corner of the Wildlife Area.  While a Say's Phoebe flew around the northern parking area.  Misses included the Swamp Sparrow found on my last two visits.

The Great Horned Owl was in the cottonwoods south of Pond 12.

Nothing uncommon was found at Ireland Reservoir #5 and Ireland Reservoir #1.

Four male and two female Great-tailed Grackles flew around the Town of Barr.  A return visit to Barr Lake did not find the Glaucous Gull.  

No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening along the DIA Owl Loop.