Guanella Pass & Campgrounds

September 12, 2019

Richard Stevens:

It was a great escape from the heat with a high temperature of 55 degrees in Bailey.  Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

Two hours before midnight I set up my "owl listening stations" at Whiteside Campgrounds along Guanella Pass Road (Grant side).  Two Northern Saw-whet Owls eventually landed in trees around the campsite.

I was not tired so continued to Burning Bear Campgrounds (also Park County).  After playing owl recordings for less than 30 seconds, a Northern Pygmy-Owl returned the call!

In the morning, I drove up toward Guanella Pass.  The distinctive drumming of an American Three-toed Woodpecker was heard across from the entrance to Duck Lake.  A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was observed flying from pine to pine on the east side of the road!

A hike up the south side of the unnamed hill at the southeast corner of the Summit found an adult female and young White-tailed Ptarmigan wandering 20 yards below the top of the hill.

I continued over the hill to the parking area and decided to take the Square Top Mountain trail.  Target birds were additional White-tailed Ptarmigan or perhaps a Black Swift.  Neither was found; however, I did find a nice Slate-colored Fox Sparrow and two Wilson's Warblers.

Birds found at the Guanella Pass Campgrounds included yet another American Three-toed Woodpecker, Wilson's Warblers, a male MacGillivray's Warbler, a singing Hermit Thrush and a small flock of four Red Crossbills.

No owls were found after dark.