Search for Owls and a Varied Thrush

December 10, 2019

Richard Stevens:

It was another superb day around Denver.  High temperature was 40 degrees.  Winds were calm to 3 mph in Lakewood.

Rob Baker and I left Denver at 4:00 am.  Our target bird was a Northern Pygmy-Owl or possibly a Northern Saw-whet Owl.  

We walked Foxton Road from the large to small parking areas at Reynolds Park (Jefferson).  Our return was along the Songbird trail and then up Oxen Draw Trail.  Regrettably, there was no hint of a Northern Pygmy-Owl this morning.

At nearby Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson) we hiked up to the Strawberry Jack trail intersection with the Skipper Trail and back.  Then we hiked the Narrow Gauge trail to its western end.  Again, no owls were encountered.

Our return trip to Denver was by way of Jefferson CR 126 to Hwy 67.  Fortunately, Rob spotted a Northern Pygmy-Owl hunting from low in a willow along the South Platte River (east of CR 126 and Forest Road 529!

Rob did not have additional time and we returned to his hotel at I25 and Hampden.  After dropping Rob off, I was close enough to the Lakewood Varied Thrush spot and gave it a try.

I walked back and forth along the boundary of Carmody Park for an hour behind the houses along South Hoyt Court.  No other birders or Varied Thrush appeared; there were however many dog walkers.  A flock of 22 Bushtits hung around where the park and entrance path intersected.

I asked numerous dog walkers if they had seen a Varied Thrush or people with binoculars.  After almost a dozen inquiries, one local person had heard of the infamous sighting.

Taking her directions, I detoured over to South Hoyt.  Less than 30 minutes into my stakeout, the Varied Thrush made a brief appearance!  By the way, original directions were way off.