Search For A November Sprague's Pipit

November 8, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I drove south of Julesburg today.  Zigzagging the back roads of Sedgwick County in search of Sprague's Pipits did not turn up any.  A November date for a Sprague's Pipit sighting (for us anyway) was safe for another fall.  We did run into several flocks of American Pipits, which also seemed scarce on the eastern plains this fall.

We stopped at Sand Draw Wildlife Area, one of my favorite birding locations in Sedgwick County. 
No owls were found in the western windbreak today.  The eastern border was more exciting.  Two Common Redpolls and a Field Sparrow were at the southeastern corner.  Four Red Crossbills circled overhead at the northeastern corner.

Continuing south, we wandered along the Phillips County roads in search of Sprague's Pipits; without success.  Then we stopped at several places in Holyoke.  The cemetery was quiet as was the Fishing Pond.  Two female type Purple Finches were found at the City Park!

Dozens of sparrows were found at Frenchman Creek Wildlife Area (Phillips).  Unfortunately, no "Ammodramus" sparrows popped up out of the wild grasses.

We followed Highway 6 through Haxtun back to I76.  Nothing uncommon was found at Haxtun City Park.

I had to be back in Denver tomorrow and did not have time to stop at our usual birding spots.  A quick jog around Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan) found a male Red-bellied Woodpecker and not much else.

Birding On The Eastern Plains

November 7, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Sprague's Pipit reports have been scarce this fall.  We hoped to have the first November sighting.  In addition, Common Redpolls have been somewhat common.  A sighting of them would be exciting.  Perhaps a migrating "Ammodramus" sparrow would appear?

An early stop at the Pony Express Wildlife Area found four Common Redpolls in the field between Sedgwick County Road 28 and the parking area.  A male Red-bellied Woodpecker worked the trees at along the South Platte River.

A drive around Jumbo Reservoir was superb.  We found a Dunlin along the shore in the southeast corner.  Several Greater White-fronted Geese were among hundreds of geese trying not to be shot by hunters.  At least two Greater Scaup were among the many waterfowl on the lake.

A singing meadowlark sounded quite like an Eastern Meadowlark.  We scoped it for a long time before deciding that it was a Western Meadowlark.  Unfortunately, the yellow on the face extended too far onto the malar area.  Its flanks looked more creamy colored than buffy.  The song however…….sure sounded like an Eastern.

The day was fantastic.  Almost no wind and temperatures in the high 60s.  We hiked from Jumbo Reservoir to Little Jumbo Reservoir to enjoy this fall day.  Our reward was another two Common Redpolls (hills southeast of Little Jumbo).

In the afternoon, we visited two friend's ranches.  Both have had American Woodcocks on their properties in the past.  There were no recent reports however.

Sedgwick Cemetery had few birds and no uncommon ones.  Our birding day ended with a walk along Sedgwick Draw. No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.  Many sparrows seen along the Ditch included White-crowned, American Tree, and one Field Sparrow.

Misses: Sprague's Pipits

Birding Trip Up Interstate 76

November 6, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I took Roger Danka back home to Sedgwick County.  Several birding stops were made along the way.

We did not make any hikes around Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington) to see shorebirds or waterfowl.  A quick jog below the dam found a White-throated Sparrow, Brown Creeper, and a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers.  The highlight was a pair of Rusty Blackbirds!

We stopped in Ovid (Sedgwick County) and walked the northern and southern woods.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker was in the northern section and a Brown Thrasher in the southern section (near the bridge).

I always enjoy checking out the Ovid Sewage Pond area.  One never knows what might show up; however, there always seems to be plenty of sparrows.  Today there were many White-crowned Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, a couple of Song Sparrows and 2 White-throated Sparrows.

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker worked the trees along the River.

We also stopped at the Julesburg Wildlife Area.  No uncommon sparrows were found today.  The highlight was a singing male Northern Cardinal West of the County Road 27 Bridge.  Many times, I find a Northern Cardinal while driving the western side of Ovid.

A check of feeders around town, did not find any Purple Finches.  This town is a good place to look for them.  With the many Common Redpoll sightings this week, the fields north of town and east of Lodgepole Creek at the northern woods maybe a good location to search.

Two Eastern Screech-Owls called on Roger's Ranch (after dusk)!

Successful White-tailed Ptarmigan Search!

November 5, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Jeffery Poulin and I went into the mountains today.

No Barrow's Goldeneyes were at Blue River Water Treatment Plant (only Gadwall & Mallards). However, 8 males and 4 females were at the extreme southeast end of Dillon Lake.

We spent 2 hours on Loveland Pass missing White tailed Ptarmigan.

An hour on Guanella Pass was more satisfying. A pair of Ptarmigan was southeast of the Rosalie and 603trails.

While looking for American Three toed Woodpeckers, two Brown capped Rosy Finches landed in front of us at 0.1 miles east of the closure gate by the old Duck Lake Club (Park County!).

A stop at Lair 'o Bear Park found 3 American Dippers.

There was no seed out at Red Rocks Park. The only birds were 2 Western Scrub Jays (1 hour sit).

Mountain Birding In Jackson, Grand & Routt Counties

November 2, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann, Roger Danka and I headed up to Cameron Pass and Gould for a couple of days of owling.

We hit a couple of reservoirs on the trip up to Jackson County.  A Common Loon was at North Poudre Reservoir #3 (Larimer County).

While it is not possible to prove the negative-owls have migrated on and departed Pennock Pass, we could not find any Flammulated Owls on Pennock Pass.  Winds were almost still and walking around for five hours was quite pleasant and enjoyable!

We did heard Boreal Owls both east and west of Cameron Pass (within 0.2 miles either side).

November 3, 2012

After staying up most the night, we got a late start (around noon) for some passerine searching in Jackson County.

The White-throated Sparrow was not relocated around the Gould Store (after being found for 10 days).

Only a couple of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches were found at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center feeders.  The usual suspects did appear; Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds, a few Cassin's Finches and a Gray Jay.

A drive down Jackson County Road 20 (south from Gould) found only a few birds.  Highlights were a late Red-naped Sapsucker, an American Three-toed Woodpecker and an American Dipper.

We went into Steamboat Springs (Routt) to look for Sharp-tailed Grouse (without success) and decided on a drive up Buffalo Pass Road.  This afternoon, we found 7 American Three-toed Woodpeckers.  Unfortunately, no White-winged Crossbills could be found.

After dark, we walked south from the Crags Campgrounds back in Jackson County.  Two Boreal Owls responded to our recordings.  Again tonight, winds were surprisingly quiet.  We enjoyed the hike tremendously; the only sounds being the calls of the forest birds.

A jog up Ruby Jewell Road (from Michigan Creek Road) in the Colorado State Forest at 4:00 am did not find any Boreal Owls or Flammulated Owls.

Notable misses were the lack of time to visit Lake Johns and Delaney Buttes Wildlife Areas or to stop along Rabbit Ears Pass.

November 4, 2012

Today we tried to stop and several places that time forced us to bypass yesterday. 

The majority of our late morning and early afternoon was spent at Little Red Park (Routt).  Target bird was a White-winged Crossbill.  Unfortunately, we could not duplicate last week's sightings.

Highlight was 3 or 4 Dusky Grouse in a tree about 0.3 miles after entering the forest northeast of Little Red Park.

Later we hiked around the maintenance shed area on Rabbit Ears Pass (Grand County) looking unsuccessfully for American Three-toed Woodpeckers, White-winged Crossbills or Red Crossbills for that matter.

Our plan was to be at Wellington Wildlife Area (Larimer) at dusk to scope for Short-eared Owls.  A stop at the Cobb Section found a Long-eared Owl!  Then after sunset, a Short-eared Owl was observed at the CR 64 section. 

Actually, we had two Short-eared Owls, however prefer to keep exact locations unreported (to prevent the overly disturbing of the owls).  I suggest to those wanting to see a Short-eared Owl to stand at the parking lot along CR 3 (north of CR 64) and scope the hills to the east and west (of course just before or after sunset).

Visits to Morgan and Adams Counties

November 1, 2012

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I made a quick trip to Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County) this morning.  Winds were less than 5 mph; temperatures reached into the 60s.

We arrived about an hour before sunrise and waited for Short-eared Owls to hunt north of the northwestern Campgrounds.  Unfortunately, none showed this morning.

The resident Eastern Screech-Owl also did not cooperate (no response to our recording).  At least one Long-eared Owl continues around the Campgrounds.  A Great Horned Owl did call from north of the Visitor's Center and west of the Campgrounds. 

Only a few birds were along the western Campgrounds.  The highlights were a Harris's Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow around the Pelican Campgrounds.

We spotted a Dunlin from the dam, east of the southern outlet parking area.  Several Bonaparte's Gulls flew over the shrinking lake.

Later in the afternoon, Rebecca Kosten and I looked for a place to walk and chose the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.  Winds remained less than 5 mph; temperatures went to the high 70s.

Red winged Blackbirds have found the feeders at the Contact Station. We waited 40 minutes for them to fill up and leave (for ten minutes).

The two Harris's Sparrows, a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos, and one Tree Sparrow quickly came.

Nothing uncommon was on Lake Ladora. Four Cackling Geese were the highlight.

While hundreds of ducks were on Lower Derby Lake.

The ducks on Derby included at least two Greater Scaup, dozens each of Canvasbacks, Redheads, Lesser Scaups, Ring-billed Ducks, etc. 

We enjoyed the walk to the Rod and Gun Club bird blind in spite of few bird sightings.

The sunset was dull as the sun had disappeared into clouds an hour before.

Another Stop at Cherry Creek Reservoir

October 31, 2012

Richard Stevens:

I was busy doing chores today, however did past through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).  I stopped at the bird platform at the Prairie Loop for 20 minutes.

Gulls on the mudflats were mostly Ring-billed Gulls, a dozen California Gulls and 3 or 4 Herring Gulls.

The two Long-billed Dowitchers were joined by 6 additional birds.

The highlight was a pair of Greater Scaup in a raft of American Coots and 4 Redheads.

I stood at the prairie dog town at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue (Adams), mainly to watch the fabulous sunset.  Colorado does get some superb sunsets in the winter.

No Short-eared Owls flew about at dusk.