Saturday, July 13, 2019

Afternoon Walk at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

July 12, 2019

Richard Stevens:

I brought Jamie Thompson back to Denver, picked up Rebecca and headed to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams).  Temperatures reached 93 degrees today.  Winds were 8-9 mph with gusts to 22 mph.

The breeze was quite cool when the sun went behind clouds at 5:00 pm.  We walked the New Mexico Locust tree grove at the southwest corner of Lake Ladora.  An American Robin was the only bird found.  

It occurred that this was not the correct parking area where the Ash-throated Flycatcher had been reported yesterday.  We parked at the new parking area at the southeastern corner of Lake Ladora and walked to the Locust grove about 1/2 mile to the south.

At least eighty White-tailed Deer stood around the pond just south of the parking area.  Another 30-40 were west of the trail.  They ignored us and we continued south.

Shorebirds around the pond included one Willet, two Western Sandpipers, two Baird's Sandpipers, and four American Avocets.  Four Say's Phoebes and two Western Kingbirds were the only birds encountered.

When we reached the main road back at the parking area, an Ash-throated Flycatcher flew out of the tall cottonwoods at the southwest corner of Lake Ladora, grabbed a bug and perched on the brown road marker.

By the time I got my camera out, the Ash-throated Flycatcher had retreated to the cottonwood.  Only a rather poor witness photo was obtained.

We decided to drive the 9 mile Wildlife Loop in the cool evening air.  No Burrowing Owls and few birds were encountered.  We enjoyed the cool drive after the warm day.  No Red-headed Woodpeckers, Sage Thrashers or other uncommon birds were run across.

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