October 14-18, 2019
Richard Stevens:
October 14, 2019
What a superb day with a high of 75 degrees. Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph.
I returned to Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas) in the morning to attempt for better photos of the shorebirds.
The Plum Creek Delta shorebirds continued and included the American Golden-Plover, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers. One of the Burrowing Owls remained at the southeast entrance to the State Park.
My plan was to drive to the Eastern Colorado border and check Sprague's Pipit spots. I timed the drive to arrive at a Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek in Yuma County just before sunset. Regrettably no Prairie-Chickens were found this evening.
When I arrived at Hale Ponds (South Republican Wildlife Area, Yuma) an Eastern Screech-Owl was enticed to respond to my recordings.
October 15, 2019
Temperatures reached 66 degrees. It was a windy day at 15-16 mph and gusts to 26 mph.
First thing in the morning, I scoped Pipit Hill below the Bonny Reservoir dam. Two of the previously reported five Sprague's Pipits were found.
Later a walk around Hale Ponds found a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers near the Kansas border (but in Colorado). Four Eastern Bluebirds were observed along the road from Kansas to the western Hale Pond.
A wren popped out of the cattails at the western pond. Regrettably, it only allowed two brief looks and remained unidentified during an hour wait.
Hopper Ponds has been dried up for several years. It is one of the better spots to find uncommon sparrows at the Wildlife Area. While no uncommon sparrows were found, a Nashville Warbler was spotted under the bushes.
Fosters Grove was a good stop. Best bird was a Black-throated Green Warbler just west of the building. A male Northern Cardinal added a quick glance of red color to my day.
Other birds encountered included six Wild Turkeys, a Lincoln's Sparrow, two Lark Sparrows, many White-crowned Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows.
I arrived in Wray in late afternoon and walked around the City Park and the hospital. One of the Red-bellied Woodpeckers continued at the Park. No Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were encountered around the Hospital.
Just before dark, I visited a friend's ranch and caught a glimpse of a Harris's Sparrow. One of his Eastern Screech-Owls called shortly after sunset.
October 16, 2019
Temperatures dropped to a high of 61 degrees. It was another windy day, 18-19 mph with gusts to 28 mph.
I drove Yuma County Road 45 (turns into CR P) a half hour before sunrise. No Greater Prairie-Chickens or Short-eared Owls appeared this morning.
The plan was to search for Sprague's Pipits in Phillips & Sedgwick Counties today. Five stops were made on the trip north.
A friend in Holyoke (Phillips) had a White-throated Sparrow visiting her yard.
Bird of the day would be a Black-throated Green Warbler at Holyoke City Park. While a Townsend's Warbler was the only uncommon bird found at the Cemetery.
A brief walk at Frenchman Creek Wildlife Area did not find any uncommon birds. A Field Sparrow and Loggerhead Shrike were observed at Sand Draw Wildlife Area.
The afternoon was spent searching previous locations of Sprague's Pipit sightings. Unfortunately, none was found today.
The searches included around Phillips CR 49-51, Sedgwick CR 59 (btw 26 & 30), CR 20 btw CR 45 & CR 63.
A Harris's Sparrow and Eastern Screech-Owl were seen at Roger Danka's Ranch near sunset.
October 17, 2019
What a different day makes with a high of 83 degrees today. Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 14 mph.
Roger Danka and my Sprague's Pipit search today was around CR 30 to CR 36, CR 29 to CR 35. Again, no Sprague's Pipits were encountered.
A stop at DePoorter Lake found two Harris's Sparrows along the South Platte River. The Red-bellied Woodpecker at Ovid Woods is a reliable sighting.
While the Northern Cardinal was missed at Julesburg Wildlife Area, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and White-throated Sparrow were found.
Nothing uncommon was found at Jackson Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick). Shortly after sunset, we observed a Short-eared Owl flying across the field below the reservoir at CR 24.8, west of Sedgwick CR 3.
October 18, 2019
Temperatures would reach 81 degrees at Prewitt Reservoir today. Winds were calm at 1-2 mph with a gust or two reaching 6 mph.
Friday, it was time to return home. The only stop made was Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington). Shorebirds were few however did include two Pectoral Sandpipers.
Gulls were more interesting. I found an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Bonaparte's Gull and one whitish Gull. After viewing photos later in the weekend, the light Gull turned out to be an Iceland Gull!
Few passerines fluttered about below the dam. A Swamp Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were just about all that were found.
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