Birding Yuma County

March 10, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Roger Danka and I headed south to Yuma County several hours before sunrise. I knew of three Greater Prairie-Chicken leks (past) that were close together. At the first two leks (south of Yuma), we found displaying Greater Prairie-Chickens. The third was empty; however, there was no way to know if this was because of our late arrival, or no visiting birds.

Afterwards, we continued to Bonny Reservoir and Hale Ponds (Yuma). Red-bellied Woodpeckers were found along the road that runs parallel to the southern shore of Bonny Reservoir. This road in now walk in only. Wild Turkey tracks alerted us to their presence before 3 walked out of the windbreak along the road.

Bonny Reservoir is in bad shape. Talk is that it will soon be re-designated a Wildlife Area instead of a State Park. This perhaps is not bad news for birds and birders. Fewer visitors (used to modern facilities) will result in fewer disturbances of habitat and animal populations.

Another pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers and five Eastern Bluebirds were found at the east end of Hale Ponds. The Hale windbreak where Long-eared Owls have wintered in the past has taken quite a hit from winds and drought.

We visited an old friend in nearby Kansas and then swung around a little north back into Colorado. Two ranchers were found that do have Greater Prairie-Chicken leks on their properties! It was not necessary for us to visit the sites; we just wanted them marked for history.

At dusk, we sat near another lek that had birds in 2008 & 2009. None came by this evening. We returned to Julesburg, but first drove south back through Hale Ponds Wildlife Area and Bonny Reservoir.

It was too early for Common Poorwill or Common Nighthawks, however we looked anyway; without success. Both the Eastern Screech-Owls at Hale Ponds and the western end of Bonny Reservoir responded to our recordings!

Birding Logan/Sedgwick Counties

March 9, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Roger and I spent the day visiting local ranchers (five in all). Great people, they do love to talk. Fortunately, they also like to show off their bird sense. We gathered much information on the local bird populations. In addition, we assembled a nice list of eastern bird species at some of the feeders.

Our bird list today included: Field Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow (2 Locations), Fox Sparrow (eastern), Eastern Screech-Owl (2 Locations), Long-eared Owl (2 Locations), Lapland Longspurs (every ranch), and one Northern Cardinal.

We ended our birding day back at Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick). The Lesser Black-backed Gull was still there, no sign of the Thayer's Gull. Winds were quite strong making it difficult to identify most of the birds out on the water. We also were able to get the resident Eastern Screech-Owl to respond to our recording (only played 15 seconds).

Another Greater Prairie-Chicken Search!

March 8, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County) received several inches of snow last night. Roger and I decided to hike the 8 miles of the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area from Logan County Road 81 to County Road 67. We arranged for a ride back to our car just after noon.

The rolling landscape was still snow covered when we started out at sunrise (approximately 6:10 am). We believed that any Greater Prairie-Chickens wandering around would be easier to find by following their tracks in the snow.

This began the case. We found our first Greater Prairie-Chicken within 20 minutes of starting our trek. The male Greater Prairie-Chicken was according to GPS, 0.46 miles west of CR 81 (also known at Fleming Road & Hwy 55).

We walked about 200 yards apart. Roger on the upper ridge running west while I took the low road. Our second bird was marked at 4.13 miles west of CR 81. Finally, a third bird was found only a few hundred yards from CR 67. None of the birds showed any sign of displaying; only walking along searching for food.

Birds were scarce. A couple of Red-tailed Hawks, a pair of Northern Harriers and less than 100 Horned Larks were encountered. Both of us did see at least one Lapland Longspur.

By early afternoon, most of the snow had disappeared. However, our birding day was not over. At sunset, we found 2 male Greater Prairie-Chickens displaying on a "lek". This lek was first discovered three years ago on one of my long hikes through the area. While on public land, we prefer to keep the exact location unpublished.

Our last bird of the day, a Short-eared Owl flew over the lek!

Northeastern Colorado

March 7, 2011

Richard Stevens:

About an hour before sunrise, Roger Danka and I went out searching for Greater Prairie-Chickens in Sedgwick County. There are several fields along Logan County Road 46 where Greater Prairie-Chickens follow Ring-necked Pheasants wandering around looking for food (especially after a dusting of snow). The intersection with Logan County Road 89 has been especially successful in the past. Unfortunately, none was found today. The area did receive an inch or so of snow last night.

Afterwards, we headed over to Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan). Short walks up the roads through eastern and western sections found 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

We missed the Eastern Screech-Owl at section 6 East. Normally section 7 East has many sparrows. They must have "slept in" today.

A walk around Tamarack Pond west to the maintenance building added a male Northern Cardinal to our day list. The red bird stood out well in the snow covered trees and fields.

Jumbo Reservoir was our next stop. Hundreds of ducks of course stayed mostly in the middle of the lake. The snowstorm also appeared to blow in many gulls. A Lesser Black-backed Gull being the only uncommon Gull we found.

Back at Roger's ranch, we found an adult and juvenile Harris's Sparrow still visiting his feeders.

With temperatures in the low 40s and winds around 10 mph it was cold all day. We decided to go back out and look for Short-eared Owls just before sunset.

A quick stop at Logan County Roads 46 & 89, still no Greater Prairie-Chickens wandering around. Then we parked at Sedgwick County 3 & 68 roads, which gave us a good look at the fields to the south and west. No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

Birding Along Interstate 76

March 6, 2011

Richard Stevens:

We headed up Interstate 76 to visit some friends near Julesburg. Along the way, we stopped at several reservoirs.

At Jackson Reservoir, we hoped to relocate the Snow Buntings found last week at the eastern end of the dam (we did not). Hundreds of gulls were flying around mostly in the middle of the reservoir. No black backed and no large white gulls caught our eyes. I was able to pick out a Thayer's Gull!

Long-eared Owls can still be found in the western Campgrounds. I could not entice the Eastern Screech-Owl to come out to look at my bad imitation. A couple of Great-tailed Grackles were at the first house east of the south end of the State Park.

Next, we stopped at Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington). Again, hundreds of gulls flew around in the eastern middle of the reservoir. The only uncommon gull we could pick out was a Lesser Black-backed Gull. We could not find the previously reported Mew Gull and Thayer's Gulls.

Again, I could not entice the local Eastern Screech-Owl to come out. My imitation must be quite bad?

Finally, we did see an Eastern Screech-Owl on Roger Danka's ranch (Sedgwick County).

Adams, Denver & Douglas County Birding

March 5, 2011

Richard Stevens:

I sat watching the Rocky Mountain Arsenal feeders (Adams County) from 7:05 am to 9:05 am. The adult and juvenile Harris's Sparrows did not put in an appearance. Twice flocks of 30+ Dark-eyed Juncos (Oregon, Pink-sided, Gray headed and one White winged) came below the eastern feeder. No sparrows came at all. No House Sparrows either.

A dark morph Red-tailed Hawk was near Governor's Row. A male Northern Harrier flew by as did an adult Bald Eagle.

Afterwards, Rebecca Kosten and I went over to Washington Park (Denver). The female Long-tailed Duck was swimming and diving near the eastern end. I believe I did get several good photos (should be on the Colorado Birding Society's photo library tonight: http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net

We ate lunch in Parker and then visited the Twenty Mile Pond (Douglas). The male and female Barrow's Goldeneyes were still there! Only a pair of Common Goldeneyes was on the Walker Pit west of Franktown.

A drive through Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) and past the Winkler Ranch did not find any bluebirds or sparrows.

At least 36 Great-tailed Grackles flew around the feedlot south of the Picadilly Tree Nursery at Picadilly Road and 152nd Avenue (Bromley Lane).

Aborted First Grouse Trip

March 1-4, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I started out on an exploratory seven day grouse trip. Weather forced us to change plans. Much snow for the mountains, we turned around.

March 1

We started out in the afternoon to arrive at Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld County) about 30 minutes before sunrise. After driving around CR 50 and CR 51 searching for Short-eared Owls (without success) we parked at the oil rig area along CR 48 (south side of Lower Latham Reservoir).

Just after sunset, three Short-eared Owls were seen flying around the field southeast of the oil tanks. They were about 150 yards southeast.

Then we headed to Jackson County and Cameron Pass. I have been finding Boreal Owls much in the past month. Unfortunately, they are only heard. Sightings have been quite rare. Most were quite a distance from highway 14. One hundred plus inches of snow forces snowshoes to get back to their nesting sites.

This night we headed up hearing three Boreal Owls. Two near Cameron Pass' Summit and one just west of the upper Joe Wright parking area (Larimer).

March 2

Before sunrise, Bryan and I parked our car along Jackson County Road 26. About 10 minutes after sunrise, two Greater Sage-Grouse walked across the road. They walked over their lekking area. However, they never stopped or displayed. No signs of mating behavior occurred. Both birds were males.

We backtracked to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge to see if any Greater Sage-Grouse were moving around there; none was. We did find many tracks near the Visitor's Center.

We would not have gone back to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center, but Bryan had left his prescription glasses. About 60 Rosy Finches (no Blacks) were among hundreds of birds (Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees and several Pine Grosbeaks) visiting the feeder.

On the way to Steamboat Springs, we stopped on Rabbit Ears Pass (Grand/Routt). A walk of about a mile either side of the county line found a small flock of 8 Red Crossbills, no White-winged Crossbills.

The female American Three-toed Woodpecker was again found along the road to the CDOT maintenance shed.

An exploratory side trip to the 80 route found that it was impossible to get up to the leks (too much snow). We may try to snowshoe back to the leks in a week or two. It would require about a 2.7 mile trip one way, not that far. However, it would have to be made in the dark to arrive at the leks before sunrise.

We are curious to see if the grouse, especially Sharp-tailed Grouse display when their leks are snow covered. I have seen the Greater Sage-Grouse along Jackson County Road 26 display on snow.

March 3

We found ourselves parked by the 20 Road Sharp-tailed Grouse Leks before sunrise. Just after sunrise, a Sharp-tailed Grouse landed on a fence post just 20 feet from our car (east side of 27 Road by the gate described by most "Sharp-tailed Grouse lek directions".

Later another Sharp-tailed Grouse flew from behind us to the western side of the road where the grouse usually display. We heard booming, but the birds were below the hill and could not be seen.

BTW, it is interesting that locals call it 20 Road leks. On all maps, the road is 27 Road?

It was too early in the year to go to Oxbow Wildlife Area (Moffat) where we usually find Sage Sparrows. From Craig, we continued down highway 13 to Rifle. A brief stop along the Yampa River did not find any Barrow's Goldeneyes.

At Rifle, we checked the Rest Stop for Great-tailed Grackles; without success. Then we continued into Grand Junction. Several hours were spent along the River Front Trail where a female Red-necked Phalarope was reported last week. Unfortunately, we were not able to relocate the bird. It was a fantastic find for February in Colorado. My early date for Red-necked Phalarope is 4/14.

We also burned two hours at Coal Canyon (Cameo) searching for Chukar; without success. They have been quite rare for the past two years. I hope that sightings will pick up in a month or so? I do have several additional locations to look this year. This trip as stated, we turned around due to weather. Areas to explore in the future.

About an hour before sunset, we headed up the Grand Mesa (Mesa County). No Northern Pygmy-Owls or American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found at Powderhorn Ski Area this trip.

After dark, we headed toward Spruce Grove Campgrounds. Unfortunately, it started to snow rapidly. We slid several times, decided that even if we got up to the Campgrounds, visibility would be too bad to see Boreal Owls anyway. Instead, we headed back to Grand Junction.

March 4

We woke up to a weather report for another 6-10 inches of snow to arrive. With Vail Pass to go over to get back to Denver, we decided to head for home.

Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose) is covered in snow. The road is gated at the Visitor's Center. The best Dusky Grouse viewing is at the west end of the south rim drive, past the closed gate (no reason to go there yet). The idea to drive to Gunnison and probably not see Gunnison Sage-Grouse was not encouraging either.

A quick stop in Silverthorne at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant found 10 Barrow's Goldeneyes and a few Common Goldeneyes.

Loveland Pass was closed, so no Ptarmigan search. We returned to Denver