Northeastern Colorado

August 28-30, 2011

Compiled by Rebecca Kosten:

On 8/29, Jerry Petrosky reported that migration has started in the northeastern corner of Colorado. Some of the migrating birds he found at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area on 8/29 included: Cassin's Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, five American Redstarts, a Tennessee Warbler, Townsend's Warbler and Magnolia Warbler.

Jerry also relocated some summer birds, which included: 2+ Bell's Vireos, 2 Baltimore Orioles, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 5 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 24+ Red-headed Woodpeckers, a Short-eared Owl and 2 Eastern Screech-Owls.

Just to the east, Jerry explored Red Lion Wildlife Area and Little Jumbo Reservoir. Here he relocated three Bell's Vireos and two Upland Sandpipers. Migrating birds included an Eastern Phoebe, two American Redstarts and a Black-and-white Warbler.

The day before, 8/28, Jerry wandered around Sterling, Colorado. He visited several of the parks in town. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was relocated at Overland Trail Park.

This park located in the southwest end of Sterling has been known for nesting Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos. Jerry did not find any Black-billed Cuckoos. It has been a couple of years since Black-billed Cuckoos have been spotted along this section of the South Platte River.

Mississippi Kites were found at Columbine Park and also nearby Cheairs Park. Jerry's next stop was Pioneer Park on the northwest side of Sterling. Here Jerry came across a migrating Townsend's Warbler and two American Redstarts.

Jerry ended his day at the south side sections of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area. He saw a Short-eared Owl flying along the valley north of Logan County Road 46 and County Road 89.

After dark, Jerry heard two Eastern Screech-Owls back at sections 6-7 of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area East.

On his trip back to Denver on 8/30, Jerry stopped at North Sterling Reservoir on. He was able to relocate the Barn Owls reported on Sunday by Bill Kaempfer. This was after Jerry saw a Short-eared Owl flying along the outlet canal just before civil twilight!

In the wooded picnic area, Jerry found a male Baltimore Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler and American Redstart. Two Common Terns flew below the dam.

Jerry's final uncommon bird sightings were two Dickcissels along Logan County Road 46, just west of County Road 37.

Sounds like a great trip! Thanks Jerry for the report!

Events This Week In the Mountains

August 28, 2011

Rebecca Kosten;

For those who have not heard, Jacob Washburn fell 50+ feet while owling last Friday. He will be okay, but does have a broken leg. Richard Stevens fractured his wrist while trying to help Jacob.

Thank goodness, all will be all right.

This week's owl counts (August 22-28) will have to wait. Events like this put everything into perspective.

DIA Owl Loop

August 23, 2011

Rebecca Kosten;

Sue Ehlmann, Amy Davenport and I enjoyed the cool evening after the tremendously hot day with a drive around the DIA Owl Loop. We only expected a few Burrowing Owls and were treated to a few surprises.

A Sage Thrasher was in the lone tree along 128th avenue at 0.3 miles west of Trussville Street.

Five or six Burrowing Owls stood around at the Prairie Dog Town at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue.

At 8:11 PM, we watched a Short-eared Owl flying south to north about 40 yards east of Trussville. It then turned west and flew in front of our car, about halfway between 120th and 128th avenues.

No Lark Buntings, no sparrows and no swallows were found. We have not seen a swallow since 8/14. Strange that they disappeared at one time. Searches have included Cherry Creek State Park, Barr Lake State Park, DIA Owl Loop, Aurora Reservoir and intersections around Brighton and Aurora.

Migration and Owl Monitoring

August 17 to 21, 2011

Sue Ehlmann:

This week, several CoBus members set up Owl listening stations and Migration Monitoring Stations in the foothills west of Loveland and Fort Collins and in the mountains to Walden.

We want to thank the homeowners who allowed us to set up Migration Stations on the roofs of their homes. See "Colorado Field Notes" for directions on how to construct your own (for under $100). Hundreds of hours of recordings yet to be reviewed. There is never enough time.

Owl Listening Stations are a little more mobile and "hands on". Up to eight CoBus members will be monitoring them into September. The goal is to get some understanding of the migration and territories of Northern Saw-whet Owls, Flammulated Owls (late migration date), Northern Pygmy-Owls (territories) and Boreal Owls (territories).

To date 8/15 to 8/20, detections:

Northern Pygmy: 7
Northern Saw whet: 11
Flammulated: 9 (some previous territories have yet to be revisited)
Boreal: 5 (we have been studying their territories for several years and have not returned to some of the more success sites)

Some problems faced included that owls are not as vocal in the fall and in migration. CoBus does not endorse bird banding and therefore, these numbers are relative numbers to past and future studies.

Bike Ride Around Adams County

August 16, 2011

Richard Stevens:

After spending most of the morning in the library conducting research, I went on a 34 mile bike ride in the afternoon, which included Barr Lake (Adams). No uncommon birds were detected. Fortunately, I escaped the rain and mosquitoes. A few Bullocks' Orioles are still there. Western Kingbirds, an Eastern Kingbird, House Wrens and a Wilson's Warbler were also around.

One unusual matter, not one swallow was observed. Have they departed for southern lands already? Did the rainstorm induce them to hide out somewhere?

At sunset, Rebecca and I drove through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe). The sunset was spectacular (rain clouds overhead and clear skies to the west). Again, not one swallow was observed. Just a few days ago, swallows flew everywhere around the pond, lake and grassy hills.

No Snowy Egrets either, I counted hundreds of swallows (Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows) last Saturday. Two Black-crowned Night-Herons hunted at the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands (east of the Prairie Loop).

A lone male Wilson's Warbler entertained us as he "hawked" insects over the Wetlands Pond. He would snatch an insect and return 8-10 feet back to the top of the willows along the south side of the pond. I do not know how many mosquitoes (or other insects) it takes to fill him up; he made dozens of trips while we watched the sunset.

Only Ring-billed Gulls and a dozen of so California Gulls stood on the telephone poles surrounding the southwest marina. No Double-crested Cormorants or egrets (it is too early for both to disappear for the year)? A few American White Pelicans swam around the marina (most were probably out on the lake somewhere).

White-cheeked Geese numbers are increasing daily now. All appeared to be Canada Geese, but I could not discount a Cackling Goose in the mix as daylight evaporated rapidly.

DIA Owl Loop

August 15, 2011

Richard Stevens:

We I rode our bikes along the east side of Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Buckley Road, 56th to 88th avenues). Winds were mild; temperatures in the high 80s. It was cooler than the past couple of weeks. Good to get out and stretch our legs!

Nothing earth shaking was found.
Burrowing Owl count was Adams County (2) & Denver County (2).

Sparrows:
Grasshopper Sparrow (1)
Song Sparrow (2)
Lark Sparrow (19)
Vesper Sparrow (27)

Bullock's Oriole (3, all females or young males)
Western Kingbirds (23)
Rock Wren (1)
Lark Bunting (pair)

Raptors:
Ferruginous Hawk (1)
American Kestrel (2)
Red-tailed Hawk (3)
Prairie Falcon (1)
Swainson's Hawk (5)

NO Northern Mockingbirds for a couple of weeks now.

Four Burrowing Owls were seen at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue. No Short-eared Owls could be found while driving around after sunset.

Trip to Mt Evans and Genesee Mountain Park

August 14, 2011

Richard Stevens:

I led the CoBus sponsored trip to Mt Evans (Clear Creek County) this morning. It was a fine-looking morning with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s. We had a caravan of two cars, seven birders.

Have to say, it helps to have many eyes looking for birds. I am quite often alone (which is nice also). It only took 20 minutes before Ray found a White-tailed Ptarmigan. Seconds later Jo Ann found another. It would not have taken 20 minutes, however the ptarmigan were 400 yards east of the pullover just north of the entrance to Summit Lake's parking area.

The many eyes helped also with Rosy Finches. Within 10 minutes of arriving at the northwest corner of Summit Lake, Jan called, Brown-capped Rosy Finch 10 o'clock! Within another 5 minutes, all counted at least 3 birds.

The view at the top of Mt Evans was marvelous in the clear air. No additional ptarmigan were found however, we did come across a dozen American Pipits, 4 Mountain Bluebirds and many Common Ravens. A Prairie Falcon even flew over!

Many Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and a half dozen Rufous Hummingbirds took advantage of the free "eats" at the feeders hung on the side of the Echo Lodge. An abbreviated drive through the Echo Lake Campgrounds did not find any American Three-toed Woodpeckers. I have missed them on the last three trips now.

A pair of Lincoln's Sparrows and a Green-tailed Towhee were at the northwest corner of Echo Lake. A lone sapsucker proved to be a male Red-naped Sapsucker. No Pine Grosbeaks turned up this morning.

En route to Denver, a quick stop at the top of Genesee Mountain Park (Jefferson) found a male Williamson's Sapsucker wandering around near this year's nest site below the summit. It did not appear that he had another brood in the works.

A small flock of Red Crossbills was meandering around below the southwest corner of the upper parking area. Red-breasted, White-breasted, and Pygmy Nuthatches fluttered about the group picnic area. Pine Siskins and a pair of Lesser Goldfinches added to the morning's symphony.

Half our group rushed to the airport to return home. I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Denver) and found 2 Burrowing Owls and a Ferruginous Hawk (east of Tower Road and 96th avenue).