Sunday, September 15, 2019

Wellington Lake and Jefferson County

September 11, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature at Wellington was 60 degrees.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

I left Denver a little after sunset to search for owls along CR 560 (Jefferson).  Eventually three Flammulated Owls and one Northern Pygmy-Owl were heard all before midnight.  Only one Flammulated Owl was observed.  Too many birders have been in the area in the past month.  I did not want to disturb the owls any more than has already occurred (registering for fall counts).

While camping another Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard near the Campground at Wellington Lake.  After sunrise, two American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found while I hiked around Wellington Lake.

Later I hiked into the Pike National Forest (Pine Valley Ranch Park, Jefferson) by way of CR 550.  A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was found feeding a young male.  Western Bluebirds, one Cordilleran Flycatcher, and many Chipping Sparrows were also counted.

Late in the afternoon, I visited a friend who lives in Bailey (Park).  He has had visits from several large hummingbirds over the years.  Today Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds and a Calliope Hummingbird visited his feeders.

Blue-throated Hummingbird: 7/2/2014
Rivoli's Hummingbird: 7/22/2017

After dark, we hiked roads around Bailey.  None was found.  However, while sitting back at his house and playing my "owl listening stations", a Northern Saw-whet Owl was enticed into flying in.

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