September 23-27, 2019
Richard Stevens:
September 23
It was a hot 88 degrees on the Plains today. Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 18 mph.
Terry Michaels and I drove east for another fall migration search. Eastern migrants were rare.
Back at the South Republican Wildlife Area (Yuma), we again stuck out on Sprague's Pipits at Pipit Hill. It really is a bit early to find them here.
A Blue-headed Vireo and Nashville Warbler were along the Republican River northeast of the 90 degree bend in Yuma County Road 2. In recent years, this area has been one of the more interesting spots at the Wildlife Area.
We relocated the male Red-bellied Woodpecker along the South Gated Road. Two Spotted Towhees and a Brown Thrasher were just about it for sightings.
Hale Ponds added a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and another Brown Thrasher to our bird list. A mystery wren at the northeastern Hale Pond was more likely a Marsh Wren and not a Winter Wren. It quickly dove into the cattails, appeared too big for a Winter Wren.
After sunset, an Eastern Screech-Owl called north of the ponds. We searched Hale Ponds and then into Kansas looking for Common Poorwills or any goatsuckers, without success.
September 24
Another change in our fluctuating temperatures with a high of 66 degrees. Winds were calm today.
The day was spent round Wray. No Greater Prairie-Chickens appeared as we sat near the Yuma CR 45 lek at sunrise. Neither was any found on the drive to the Kitzmueller Ranch.
A Broad-winged Hawk perched in a cottonwood at the northwest corner of Stalker Lake. A late migrating Baltimore Oriole was discovered below the dam.
The male Northern Cardinal flew around the evergreen windbreak at the Wray Fishing Unit.
A male Red-bellied Woodpecker continued at the southeast corner of Wray City Park.
We stopped at four yards of my friends. Birds observed included three male and one female Northern Cardinal, one Harris's Sparrow and one Common Poorwill sunning on a window ledge!
September 25
High was 78 degrees. Winds were 3-4 mph.
We continued north into Phillips County today.
Holyoke City Park added a Tennessee Warbler and Red-bellied Woodpecker to our trip list.
A Blue-headed Vireo moved around the cottonwoods at the eastern end of the Holyoke Fishing Pond. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds hawked insects along the south side of the Pond.
A visit to Frenchman Creek Wildlife Area was disappointing. It has supplied many uncommon sparrows over the years. Today only one Field Sparrow was found. A Towhee gave us fits. It took over an hour to identify it as a Spotted Towhee. Highlight was yet another migrating Broad-winged Hawk!
A drive west to Haxtun Sewage Ponds found no birds (no shorebirds).
September 26, 2019
High temperature was 77 degrees. Winds were 12-13 mph with gusts to 27 mph on this windy day.
Our trek continued north this morning. A stop at Sand Draw Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) found similar birds to Frenchman Creek Wildlife Area yesterday. A Broad-winged Hawk and Barn Owl were in the western windbreak. A Field Sparrow and Loggerhead Shrike were along the eastern boundary.
Sedgwick Bar Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) added a male Red-bellied Woodpecker and a pair of Eastern Bluebirds to our day. We missed Northern Cardinals at Julesburg Wildlife Area but found yet another Broad-winged Hawk.
Julesburg Wayside Rest Stop was interesting. Besides a Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird, we heard an Eastern Towhee calling. When finally narrowing down the location of the bird in willows along the South Platte River, it turned out to look like a Spotted Towhee. Could it have been a hybrid?
In the afternoon, we stopped at Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick Counties). Highlights included a Black-bellied Plover, a Semipalmated Plover (found yesterday by Dan Stringer) and a Common Tern.
At sunset, we watched Sedgwick Draw; no Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.
September 27, 2019
More seasonal temperatures, the high was 66 degrees. Winds were 8-9 mph with gusts to 17 mph.
We stopped at Prewitt Reservoir on our way back to Denver. An Eastern Screech-Owl called from the northern camping area just before sunrise.
The shorebird hotspot, the inlet canal was not so much today. A Black-bellied Plover was the highlight for uncommon shorebirds. We did not find the reported "possible" American Golden-Plover reported on 9/25.
The riparian area below the dam (north of the ranger's home) was more exciting. Best sighting was a Black-throated Green Warbler. A Cassin's Vireo and many Yellow-rumped Warblers also fluttered about the area. A Red-bellied Woodpecker drummed along the canal.
From the northwest end of the dam, we could see half a dozen Common Terns, several Forster's Terns and one Black Tern flying around.
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