Birding Douglas & Jefferson Counties

June 29, 2019

Richard Stevens:

It was another hot one today.  High temperature was 96 degrees.  Winds were 12-13 mph with gusts to 27 mph.

My birding day started before sunrise at Castlewood Canyon State Park/Franktown area (Douglas County).  Target birds were owl's specifically Northern Saw-whet Owls.  

None was found at the State Park.  One did respond to a recording northwest of the Park.  A brief stop at the Creekside Trail found one Ovenbird.

One of the Eastern Phoebes was observed along Cherry Creek, south of the Hwy 86 bridge on my way out of the area.  I did not take the time to see if the Common Loon was still on Walker Gravel Pond.

The next stop was Daniels Park (Douglas).  It has been four days since an Ash-throated Flycatcher was reported there.  None was found today.  One Eastern Bluebird and three Western Bluebirds were spotted along Daniels Park road between the Park and Highway 85.

A thirty minute survey of the old Lewis's Woodpecker area just east of Louviers (Douglas) did not find any woodpeckers.

Next, I hiked from Waterton Canyon Bridge to the scuba ponds at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas).  No phoebes (target bird) were found.

Two American Redstarts both adult males were observed.  One was on the north side of the Platte River between the Waterton Bridge and the iron fence at the large drainage entering the Platte from the north.

The second American Redstart was on the west side of the Platte, 50 yards north of when the riverside path entering the State Park proper (signed "entering State Park).

Many other birds were ran across including dozens of Cedar Waxwings hawking insects, dozens of Yellow Warblers, a dozen or so singing Yellow-breasted Chats, several Spotted Towhees and one Gray Catbird.

By now if was afternoon and I decided to checkout the Sharptail Ridge Wildlife Area located four miles south of Titan Road and North Roxborough Park Road (southern entrance to Chatfield State Park).

It was my first visit to this Wildlife Area (Douglas).  Except for a few willow trees near the parking area and pavilion, the open space is high "wild grasses".  I have not heard of any other birder visits.

The trail goes south for over seven miles to intersections with other Douglas County trails.  I had enough time to hike about 4 miles south and return.  The Park closes 60 minutes after sunset.

There was always a chance for an uncommon sparrow, Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Bobolink or Dickcissel.  None was found.  I did observe at least three Grasshopper Sparrows.

A Say's Phoebe attending a nest back at the parking area and two Yellow Warblers in the nearby willows were on the short list of birds encountered.  I could add a flyover Golden Eagle, American Kestrel and Common Raven, American Crows, Horned Larks and a Killdeer to my new list.  

After dark, I searched for owls (Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl) up Deer Creek Canyon; without success.