Another Day Around Northeast Denver Area

December 4, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Early this morning Bryan Ehlmann and I went out searching for Short-eared Owls along the DIA (Denver International Airport) Owl Loop (Denver County). Horned Lark numbers are still low this season.

A Barn Owl was in the cottonwoods at mile marker 8.0 at Barr Lake (Adams).

A check of the northeast Denver lakes and ponds relocated the Greater White-fronted Goose at Lakecrest, Gateway Park (Denver). Thousands of White-cheeked Geese still mostly Cackling Geese were at the five lakes we checked.

In the afternoon, I met up with Jerry Petrosky at Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe). Nothing uncommon was found. We headed over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and stopped to scope Quincy Reservoir. We did not find the Trumpeter Swan reported by Karl Stecher but did see a Greater White-fronted Goose along the west shore (visible from open space walkway). We also checked from the south side; nothing additional uncommon.

At Cherry Creek Reservoir we found the 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull that has shown up several times in the past couple of weeks. At least one Bonaparte's Gull (possibly two remain). Still missed the pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes. Our eyes were watering from the cold air and 10+ mph winds; we could have missed them. Many Western Grebes and Common Mergansers still there.

Chatfield Reservoir was too far away in Friday's traffic to attempt to see the two Glaucous Gulls and Tundra Swans (up to 22, wow!).

Birding Around Northeast Denver

December 3, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I went out to lunch and stopped by a few semi-frozen lakes. A Ross's Goose and white Snow Goose were at Emerald Strand Park (Denver County). At nearby Lakecrest, Gateway Park (Denver) we found another Ross's Goose (west side), Greater White-fronted Goose (grass, northern middle) and a domestic duck.

No uncommon geese were found at Parkfield Lake, Green Valley Recreation Pond or Barr Lake.

At Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) one or two Bonaparte's Gulls were still flying around the northeast corner. Many Common Mergansers, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers, American Coots, many common gulls all feasting on a school of small fish at the northeast corner.

Northeast Colorado

December 1 and 2, 2009

Bryan Ehlmann;

Gary Weston, Rich Stevens, John Barber and I went to visit Roger Danka in Sedgwick County. Along the way, we stopped at several lakes. The trip was hampered by two of the coldest days of 2009. When we did get out of the car, we walked around in single digit temperatures.

While hiking the campgrounds at Jackson Lake Wildlife Area we counted 16 Long-eared Owls. We jumped out of the car for only 10 minutes to scope the lake from the south side. It didn't give much time to find rare birds.

We managed to get out and walk Roger's ranch for about an hour on Wednesday. His Eastern Screech-Owls called in the middle of the night. An "eastern" Fox Sparrow comes to his feeders several times during the day. A grove of locust trees hosts a pair of Long-eared Owls.

We found few birds and no rare ones when we stopped a Prewitt Reservoir on the trip back to Denver. Because of the cold temps we decided not to visit Bonny Reservoir on the way home.

Return to Jackson County

November 28 and 29, 2009

Richard Stevens:

November 28

We went up to Jackson County late afternoon. Boreal Owls were found at two locations near the top of Cameron Pass. Early this morning we drove to CR 26 but missed the Greater Sage-Grouse found yesterday by Bryan and Sue Ehlmann.

November 29

Driving the roads early in the morning around John Lake Wildlife Area a light gray phase Gryfalcon was seen flying south-southeast at 2.6 miles northeast of Lake John.

On the way back to Denver, we received a text message that 5 Trumpeter Swans were at a holding pond along Squaw Pass Road (Jefferson). We detoured over and relocated the swans about 1.1 miles west of Highway 74 (near Evergreen).

Later we discovered that these geese maybe domestic. Two adult Black Swans were also on the holding pond.

Search for Boulder Winter Wren

November 27, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I drove up to Boulder today to search for the previously reported Winter Wren. It took about 3 minutes before the wren responded to my recording. It was first observed north of the bridge, but later flew under the bridge and stay about 20 yards south of it.

We then relocated the Long-tailed Duck at Lagerman Reservoir. The Bonaparte's Gull was still at McIntosh Lake, but we did not find the White-winged Scoter (or Long-tailed Duck reported later in the day).

Our birding day ended at Emerald Strand Park and area looking unsuccessfully for the Brant found yesterday by Jerry Petrosky. Areas checked: Emerald Strand Park, Lakecrest at Gateway Park, Green Valley Recreation Park and Pond, Montbello Recreation Park and Pond.

Larimer and Boulder Counties

November 26, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Sunrise found me at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins (Larimer). The two White-winged Crossbills and nine Red Crossbills were feeding on pinecones in the middle of the cemetery!

My next stop found a female Greater Scaup at Cattail Ponds in Loveland (Larimer).

Continuing south, I found the previously reported White-winged Scoter at McIntosh Lake. A lone Bonaparte's Gull swam in the middle of the lake!

The previously reported Long-tailed Duck was swimming at the west side of Lagerman Reservoir.

Next, I spent 2 hours at Boulder Creek at 63rd avenue searching unsuccessfully for the Palm Warbler reported yesterday.

At dusk I returned to Boulder Reservoir hoping a Short-eared Owl would come out; none did.

Northeastern Birding

November 24 and 25, 2009

Richard Stevens:

November 24

I headed to the northeastern plains for a couple of days of birding. On the trip northeast, a stop at Barr Lake relocated the two Common Loons that have been there for about a week. Several Great-tailed Grackles remained at the Tree Nursery at 152nd avenue and Picadilly Road.

My next stop was a good one at Andrick Wildlife Area (Morgan). The Long-tailed Duck reported a few days earlier on a pond at the south end of the Wildlife Area was now on Pond #1 (most northwestern pond). A few Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, and American Coots were also here.

On pond #3 (most northeastern pond) a pair of Greater Scaup swam around with half a dozen Lesser Scaup and Northern Shovelers.

A walk through the western Campgrounds at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) found 17 Long-eared Owls and 60+ American Robins.

I then drove around to the southern parking area and walked about a mile of the dam. Five Greater Scaup and four Common Loons were in the middle of the reservoir. Fifty-seven Great-tailed Grackles were in the trees next to the first ranch house west of CR Y.5 and CR 3.5.

No Eastern Screech-Owls responded to my recording as I walked along the dam, west of the parking area (many large cottonwoods here have hosted nesting owls in the past).

At sunset, I walked north of the western Campgrounds hoping to find a Short-eared Owl. Two Great Horned Owls called from the Campgrounds. No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

On the way out of the park, a recording was played at the Cove Campground. An Eastern Screech-Owl answered back for about 10 minutes (recording was played only 2 minutes).

After dark, I drove over to the Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan) and another Eastern Screech-Owl answered by recordings.

November 25

Shortly after midnight, Roger and I heard two Eastern Screech-Owls at his ranch.

Roger Danka and I walked the northern side of Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) before sunrise. The resident Eastern Screech-Owl responded quickly to my recording! After sunrise, we found both the Yellow-billed Loon, Common Loon, and Greater White-fronted Goose previously reported on Jumbo Reservoir.

After dropping Roger off at home, I headed for Denver (after seeing a White-throated Sparrow and eastern Fox Sparrow that have been on his ranch for a week).

A search for sparrows around the Ovid Sewage Ponds came up empty. A Brown Thrasher was near the bridge at the southern end of Ovid Woods. A male Northern Cardinal was observed at the northern end of Ovid Woods.

The resident Eastern Screech-Owl came out in response to my recording. Dark-eyed Juncos (50+) mobbed me during the playing! I had really been hoping to draw out an uncommon sparrow or Purple Finch from the taller grasses, but was happy to see the owl!

My birding day ended at Sedgwick Draw and Cemetery. A White-throated Sparrow was in the woodpile at the southeast corner of the cemetery. Ten minutes after sunset, a Short-eared Owl flew down the Draw!