Pawnee National Grasslands and Surrounding Area

November 6, 2008

Richard Stevens:

Kevin Story, Brad Phillips, and I ventured up to Pawnee National Grasslands (Weld County). Temperatures reached the low 50s and winds were constantly 15+ mph.

Crow Valley Campgrounds was pretty quiet. We did find a flock of American Tree Sparrows, looked for Common Redpolls around campgrounds and Briggsdale; without success.

Lapland Longspurs are easy to find this year. They seem to be everywhere. Just look for a flock of Horned Larks and separate out the longspurs.

We did have a great day for owls. We found a Long-eared Owl (location not to be announced). At a friend's ranch we were able to see a Short-eared Owl. At another friend's home we also added a Northern Saw-whet Owl for our day!

While searching for Common Redpolls and Snow Buntings along Cow Creek we came upon a Great Horned Owl. Both species have been found more than once in this area which is about a mile north of the Central Plains Experimental Range Office (north of CR 114 & CR 37). Ask at the office for permission to walk to the old barn and continue west to Cow Creek.

We missed Barn Owls, but let's not get greedy :-)

At a friend's ranch we missed both Sharp-tailed Grouse and Rosy Finches. They had a visit from 4 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches less than 10 days ago. They see Sharp-tailed Grouse now and then on their property. I hope to have better luck next time as both species are rare sightings on the plains.

After dropping Brad and Kevin off, I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). Bonaparte's Gulls stood on the sand spit off the Bird Observation Platform, Cottonwood Creek Loop. I did not find any loons, scoters, or Red-necked Grebes.

Guanella Pass and Ptarmigan

November 5, 2008

Richard Stevens:

Gary Weston, Kevin Story, Brad Phillips and I drove up to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County). The area received 3-4 inches of snow overnight; it was snowing slightly while we were up there.

A light blanket of new snow is always a blessing when looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan. Searching for the well camouflaged birds is a task. Looking for fresh tracks always makes the dilemma easier.

Sure enough, we found tracks in about 10 minutes. Less than 10 minutes later, two Ptarmigan were observed walking west of the 603 Trail and about 200 yards uphill (south) of the Rosalie Trail (note sign in box at the junction).

There could have been additional ptarmigan there, but we did not want to disturb them and returned to our car. A few White-crowned Sparrows are still up there also.

A stop at Guanella Pass Campgrounds did not find any American Three-toed Woodpeckers today. No birds were around Clear Creek Campgrounds either.

After being dropped back at my car, I headed over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). The weather was much different than the last two days. Temperatures were 20 degrees lower and winds were 10+ mph faster.

The Rough-legged Hawk was perched on a Rabbit Brush bush just south of the entrance to the Cottonwood Creek Loop. Half a dozen Bonaparte's Gulls again stood on the sand spit off the Bird Observation Platform.

I scoped the lake but did not find yesterdays Black Scoters or Monday's Red-necked Grebe. Waterfowl numbers were definitely lower than the pass few days. No uncommon gulls stood with the hundred Ring-billed and dozen California Gulls on the southwest sandbar.

However, there is one California Gull that is much darker than the others. Yesterday it made me look twice but still conclude that it is a California Gull or hybrid.

The fourteen Ruddy Ducks were still out there. The pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants have not yet moved south. In two hours, I was not able to locate any loons.

Search for Common Redpolls, Return to Cherry Creek

November 4, 2008

Richard Stevens:

I spent the morning searching for the Common Redpolls reported yesterday by Warren Finch at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas Counties). My search extended from McLellan Reservoir to the north to Roxborough State Park to the south.

The several subdivisions which have known feeders were also inspected. I found no signs of Common Redpolls. There was a Northern Shrike on the fence line along Titan Road.

I should have looked over Chatfield Reservoir for waterfowl, but never got around to it. Focus was on the Common Redpolls.

Late in the afternoon, I returned to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). A Rough-legged Hawk was hovering over the entrance to the Cottonwood Creek Loop.

Ten Bonaparte's Gulls stood on the sand spit off the Bird Observation Platform at the Cottonwood Creek Loop. Approximately 200 Ring-billed Gulls, 28 California Gulls, and 1 adult Herring Gull were also here.

While I was scoping the lake for the Red-necked Grebe I found yesterday, I noticed a raft of 4 blackish ducks. They turned out to be 4 Black Scoters! The Red-necked Grebe was never relocated.

While scoping the lake at the west end of the Lake Loop, I observed one Common Loon. It only surfaced for less than 10 seconds and dived the rest of the time. I hung around for 30 minutes but did not observe any additional loons.

No Red-necked Grebe was picked out of the hundreds of Western Grebes. Plenty of Eared Grebes and a few Horned & Pied-billed Grebes were also out there. American White Pelicans and American Coots were plentiful also.

The gulls on the southwest sandbar included only Ring-billed and California Gulls. One of the California Gulls is much darker than the rest.

A Couple of Arapahoe County Reservoirs

November 3, 2008

I took advantage of another great Colorado fall day and hiked the 9 miles around Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County).

Hundreds of waterfowl have arrived in the last few days. I have not been able to find a Clark's Grebe among the dozens of Western Grebes. Pied-billed Grebes seem to prefer the southern end. Horned and Eared Grebes are also here.

I relocated the 2 Common Loons near the southeast corner (at mile marker 4.0). The Pacific Loon was farther north near the scuba dive area (below the dam).

Two flocks of American Tree Sparrows were around (one south of the swim beach, the other at mm 4.0).

Redheads, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwalls, Mallards, and a few Northern Pintail Ducks also observed.

I ended my birding day at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). The weather was nice until 30 minutes before sunset (now around 5:00pm with time change). Winds increased from 5 mph to 25+ mph pretty quick.

As I entered the Cottonwood Creek Loop, a beautiful Rough-legged Hawk was hovered over the road! It took advantage of the high winds and surveyed the landscape for food.

Ten+ Bonaparte's Gulls were standing on the sand spit off the Bird Platform at the Cottonwood Creek Loop. While scoping a strange looking Gull in the water not far from the sand spit, I found a Red-necked Grebe! Watch it for 20 minutes while going back and forth to the Gull.

I scoped the whole lake looking unsuccessfully for loons. Then after the wind starting blowing a Common Loon took off into the strong wind. It was interesting watching the loon struggle to get airborne into the 25+ mph headwind. A second Common Loon followed. Where were they when I was scoping the water surface?

I was at the western end of the Lake Loop; the loons flew toward the eastern end. When I tried to relocate them, they were not found. Perhaps they took off south for good? While scoping the eastern side of the Lake Loop, a first year Thayer's Gull was found among 400+ gulls (mostly Ring-billed and dozens of California Gulls).

The Red-necked Grebe could be seen still off the Bird Observatory Platform to the east. The dozens of American White Pelicans joined the gulls in the east bay to feed on the many minnows (I know they have another name, can not think of it?).

The "strange" Gull was slightly smaller than most of the Ring-billed Gulls. It had the dungy brown head and neck expected on a basic Mew Gull. Its back was slightly darker than the Ring-billed's and it appeared to have broad, contrasting white crescents. However the bill from my vantage point did not look like a Mew Gull. I was pretty far from the bird and even with my scope could not get a good look at the bill on the Gull bobbing up and down on the high waves. Therefore never positively identified the bird.

A Few Area Reservoirs Visited

November 2, 2008

Richard Stevens:

Mostly we had to do chores today. What a fantastic sunny and warm day for November 2nd! The last 8 years there has been a snowstorm on November 1st or 2nd. I remember because it has been "tradition" to drive in a storm down to Chatfield Reservoir to look for murrelets and murres driven down to the reservoir because of a storm. Not this year, perhaps they will show up later in November?

We passed by Fort Logan National Cemetery and made a quick stop. Four Greater Scaup were swimming around Memorial Lake (the eastern of the two lakes, Veteran Lake is the western lake).

Thousands of Canada Geese and a few Cackling Geese are walking around the cemetery. No Greater White-fronted Geese were picked out.

Since Marston Reservoir (Denver County) is close we drove the 8 blocks to look at it again. However, since we were on the east side and looking into the sun, few birds could be identified. At least 2 Common Loons were out there.

I ended this beautiful day by hiking the northwest side of Barr Lake again (from mile marker 5.3 to 4.3. The Common Loon is still in the cove/bay at mm 5.0. There were few gulls around; their resting sand spit has been taken over by hundreds of White-cheeked Geese (mostly Canada Geese and a few Cackling Geese).

No Short-eared Owls showed up along the DIA Owl Loop after sunset.

Birding Metro Lakes

November 1, 2008

Richard Stevens:

I enjoyed the fantastic fall day by visiting several local lakes.

After taking Bryan & Sue Ehlmann to the airport, I detoured over to the northwest side of Barr Lake (Adams County). A walk from mile marker 5.3 to 4.3 only found one Common Loon and the usual suspects.

My next stop was Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) where several of the Common Loons and Bonaparte's Gulls were still around.

At Fort Logan National Cemetery (Denver) I photographed 6 Greater Scaup. A short distance away I observed on Marston Reservoir: 1 Black Scoter, 1 Pacific Loon, and 7+ Common Loons. I had 6 Common Loon in my scope at one time!

My final stop was Aurora Reservoir. I only relocated the Pacific Loon and 2 Common Loons. The Black Scoter could have been in one of the coves/bays that I could not see from the south end. I was too tired to circle the 9 mile loop to look.

Beautiful Saturday for November! Continued good birding!
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Aurora Reservoir

October 31, 2008

Richard Stevens:

I received a call from Bill Cryder of a possible Black Scoter at Aurora Reservoir. So much for plans to stay home and do chores (they were kindly still there when I returned home). I parked at Bill's home on the south side of Aurora Reservoir. A walk of about 3/4 mile gets one to a hill where about 90 percent of the reservoir can be scoped (take the left fork at the bottom of the hill and continue straight 1/2 mile). From the north end/dam I have always figured that only 70 percent of the reservoir can be scoped.

The Black Scoter was swimming around in the cove/bay east of mile marker 2.5. A pair of Common Loons were swimming in the cove at mile marker 4.0. A Pacific Loon was alone at the mm 4.5 cove. I do not believe that any of these birds could have been seen from the north end. The loons probably could have been observed from the swim beach. But the southern cove (Black Scoter) could not.

I am not that familiar with the new southern walk-in entrance to Aurora Reservoir. The sign states that it is presently open from 7:00am to 7:00pm. With tonight's time change, this may also change. It also states that the gate will be closed in inclement weather.

I do know that on two of the dozens of times I have parked near the dam and circled the 9 miles around the reservoir, that twice Rangers have decided to close the park early due to bad weather. They gave me a ride back to my car to speed up the process (I was the only visitor in the park). Whether one could get locked out of the southern entrance while inside the park, that could be in question. I know that I am no longer capable of climbing over the fence.

So Beware