Hot Day at Barr Lake

July 13, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature today was 97 degrees.  Winds were 13-14 mph with gusts to 28 mph when the thunderstorm came.

In the morning, I spent 3 to 4 hours searching for herons at the northwest corner of Barr Lake (Adams County).  The search was between mile 2.0 and 4.0.  Three Great Blue Herons were the only found.  Access is east of Buckley Road north of 120th avenue.

Afterwards I took 120th avenue west to Lowell Blvd and Metzger Farm Open Space (Adams).  I stood for an hour 50 yards from the Oriole nest without seeing the male Baltimore Oriole or any female activity.

When I photographed the male Baltimore Oriole (Colorado Birding Society's Photo Library on June 22, at least three male Bullock's Orioles and two female Bullock's Orioles were in the area.  None was encountered today.

In the afternoon, I picked up Rebecca and we went back to the northwest corner of Barr Lake.  This time I brought our high top rubber field boots.  The boots were necessary to walk the last 50 yards to the bird blind at mile 2.2 (parking area is mile 2.7).

No additional herons were found.  A Sora and one or two Virginia Rails called in the cattails west of the blind.  Boots were not necessary to reach mile 2.0 (if you do not mind having wet hiking boots).  No uncommon birds were observed.

No Burrowing Owls or any owls were found along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams/Denver).  Some organization bulldozed the prairie dog town at Trussville and 114th avenue.  We are still trying to find out whom.