January 6, 2020
Richard Stevens:
High temperature today was 56 degrees on the northeastern plains. Winds stayed 8-9 mph throughout the day.
Terry Michaels, Jacob Washburn, Dave King and I birded in northeastern Colorado after yesterday's Sterling Christmas Count.
Before sunrise, we hiked the field north of Logan CR 46 & CR 89. One Greater Prairie-Chicken was observed below the northern hill when we set up out scopes.
We returned to the Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area and covered it by hopscotching. Jacob and Dave were dropped of at the western end (west of Hwy 55); while Terry and I started at section 1 East. When Jacob and Dave caught up to our car, they drove to Tamarack Pond and continued to the eastern end of the Wildlife Area. When Terry and I got to the car, we drove to the southern section across I76 and hiked west.
Terry and I found another Greater Prairie-Chicken wandering section southern west. The bird was about 3/4 mile west of hwy 55.
Other birds encountered included:
Two Red-bellied Woodpeckers were just west of hwy 55 (section West) and another pair around Tamarack Pond.
A Field Sparrow was in section 7 East windbreak. Eastern Screech-Owls were found at 6 East and 7 East.
Three Lapland Longspurs were found south of Tamarack Pond and another two or three at South of I76 and west of hwy 55.
Toward the end of the day, we all went over to Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick). The two Trumpeter Swans were still on the Lake. Hundreds of geese made picking out other species rather difficult.
We managed to find a lone Greater White-fronted Goose, an Iceland Gull (Thayer's) and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
An Eastern Screech-Owl called in response to our recordings at the northern end of Jumbo Reservoir. No Short-eared Owls appeared as we ended our birding day watching the fields south of Jumbo Reservoir.
Misses: no Long-eared Owls were found in the Red Lion Wildlife Area windbreak this trip.
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