Weld County Birding Ending at Cameron Pass, Jackson County

May 20, 2013

Rebecca Kosten: transcript of telephone call:

Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann searched for birds at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area this morning.  It rained during their two-hour stay.

The best bird found was a male Mourning Warbler.  It flittered about the windbreak on the western side of the southern ponds.  Northern ponds are closed to human activity until July 15.

A wet Spotted Towhee and a few Robins were also recorded.

They then went north toward Crow Valley north of Briggsdale, CO.  A few interesting birds were found in Weld County.

A Whimbrel was south of County Road 48 at Lower Latham Reservoir.  Two White-rumped Sandpipers walked the shore at Loloff Reservoir.  Nothing uncommon was seen at the County 59 Ponds.

They could not relocate the interesting birds, Winter Wren and Black-throated Gray Warbler reported yesterday at Crow Valley Campground.  However, a Cassin's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Baltimore Oriole and Red-eyed Vireo were found.

Two Mountain Plover walked around their nesting grounds on the Pawnee National Grasslands.

Norma's Grove located east of CR 100 and 57 added a Gray-cheeked Thrush to their trip list.

At dusk, they watched ten+ Greater Sage-Grouse display and dance around their Lek along Jackson County Road 26!

Well after sunset, they found Boreal Owls near Cameron Pass in Jackson County.  Two were heard west of Cameron Pass.  Another was heard south of the Crags Campgrounds.

Location of owls without disturbance is most important.  They did not use spotlights to see the owls.

Fallout at the Weld County Barbecue!

May 19, 2013

Bryan & Sue Ehlmann, Rebecca Kosten and I attended a friend's barbecue on a private ranch in Weld County.  Presently, his ranch has nesting Mountain Plovers and Long-eared Owls.

The windbreak surrounding his ranch house was a hoarded wealth of birds today!  It was quite fortunate that the barbecue was held on this beautiful Sunday.  In the morning, winds were mild and temperatures reached to the middle 70s.  Storm clouds blew in by late afternoon; temperatures dropped in the 50s and winds increased to 21+ mph.

The fallout of birds rivaled those at any of the major Colorado birding locations.  Several hours were spent trying to cover the area and numerous birds fluttering around the windbreak. 

The treasure of birds included:
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male, possible female)
Black-and-white Warbler (2)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (male)
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Tennessee Warbler (female)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (male)
American Redstart (1st year male)
Blue Grosbeak (3 males)
Lazuli Bunting (2 males)
Bullock's Orioles (8+)
House Wrens (11)
Western Kingbird (1)
Wilson's Phalarope (2 on water pond for cattle)

A colony of Burrowing Owls (8) is not far from his ranch.

Passing through Prospect Valley, we counted dozens of Eurasian Collared-Doves.  Are not they everywhere now.

The ranch is not all that far from Banner Lakes Wildlife Area.   Bryan and I will have to check that out tomorrow (well later today as I am writing this at 2:30 am).

Search for Pygmy Owls and Return to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt

May 18, 2013

At first light, I was standing at the parking area for Reynolds Park (Jefferson County).  Neither of my target birds (Northern Pygmy-Owl and Common Poorwill) was making a sound. 

Later, I walked the Narrow Gauge Trail at Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson) with the same results.

Having found American Three-toed Woodpeckers many times at both Reynolds Park and Pine Valley Ranch Park, I found no reason to hike the steep trails today.  I am sure that the opportunity and task will come again soon.

A text message stated that a Bobolink had been found at Prospect Park, Wheat Ridge Greenbelt.  Since I could not remember if it was a new Jefferson County bird for my list, I headed back toward Denver and the Park.

As I crossed the Prospect Park footbridge, a flock of 61 Yellow-rumped Warblers caught my attention.  One bird was dropping his tail quite often.  It turned out to be a Palm Warbler.

A lone Plumbeous Vireo worked the trees along the south side of Clear Creek, west of the footbridge.

As I turned onto the Tree Bridge Trail, a Northern Cardinal was heard singing.  Unfortunately, he was deep in the woods south of the trail (between the two wooden footbridges).

Continuing west, I finally reached the area southeast of West Lake where the Bobolink was reported earlier in the day.  Regrettably, it was not found. 

A male Blue Grosbeak between Bass Lake and Clear Creek was a small consolation for missing the Jefferson County Bobolink.

Circling back to the east, yesterday's Rose-breasted Grosbeak was not relocated.

Since my trek was 25 miles from home, I took the opportunity to visit a friend up the hill from the Tree Bridge Trail.  He put me onto an Eastern Screech-Owl!  In recent years, photographers had bothered the owls along this riparian strip.  There Locations will be unadvertised.

This stretch of Wheat Ridge Greenbelt was once a birding gem of Colorado.  The drought, which has lasted for many years now (6+), has taken its toll on the area.  While some vegetation has returned, the area is still quite dry (as well as short on birds).

Barr Lake and Wheat Ridge Greenbelt

May 17, 2013

While I enjoyed the many "grouse trips" this spring, some alone birding time was greatly appreciated today!

I circled the 8.7 mile trail around Barr Lake State Park (Adams County).  For a change, my trek started at the boat ramp area and continued clockwise around the lake.

The first highlight was a calling Gray-cheeked Thrush along the Pioneer Trail.  I was searching for the nesting Great Horned Owls when it sang for about 20 seconds.  While I might not have identified the thrush from its song, it was quite cooperative.  It stood on a fallen log for a good two minutes and allowed great looks.  I thought that they only sang when on territory?  Guess he forgot to read the field guides.

Many House Wrens, a few Western Kingbirds, an Eastern Kingbird and a Western Wood-pewee were scattered along the next four miles.

At mile 3.0, I found the male Townsend's Warbler reported yesterday by Jacob Washburn.  However, the Black-and-white Warbler and possible Blackburnian Warbler were not found.

Two Yellow-headed Blackbirds were around the cattails at mile 4.5.

Little else was found.  The canal below the dam (mile 6.0 to 7.2) was quiet.  Not even a Virginia Rail could be found.

Receiving a text message about a Northern Cardinal at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson), I headed that way.

After about two hours, the Northern Cardinal was heard singing west of where the Tree Bridge Trail goes uphill to the subdivision to the south.

Heading back to my car, I ran into Terry Michaels and decided to try and relocated the Cardinal (usually a nightmare, trying to relocate any bird all ready found).  Fortunately, today, it worked out fine.  The Northern Cardinal was still singing when we returned to the hillside.

A Short Two Day Grouse Trip

May 15-16, 2013

May 15

Paul Hudson and I went on a mini-Grouse Trip.  Rain poured in Denver all the way to Silverthorne and then continued as we headed north through Kremmling to Rabbit Ears Pass, then east toward Walden.  As we approached the Jackson County Road Leks, the rain stopped.  A large clearing/hole in the rain clouds floated over the lek.

Our timing was off and we arrived a good hour before sunset.  On most of my 200+ visits over the years (only three exceptions), the Greater Sage-Grouse do not come out of the sage until after sunset.

Paul and walked the county roads and did a little exploring.  The air was filled with singing Vesper Sparrows and a few Brewer's Sparrows.  Northern Flickers called as did a male Downy Woodpecker.  Horned Larks added their tinkling high pitched songs.

The lek area is surrounded by distant mountains on all four sides.  Gray clouds hung over the mountains, however the sun piercing through the few clouds overhead, lit up the nearby green grasses, fields of sage and mountainsides.  Quite an enjoyable sight that I often wonder how few people are fortunate to experience.

As predicted, the Greater Sage-Grouse did not exit the sage (where they are well hidden) until shortly after sunset.  Eventually, fourteen males crossed the road and walked to the lek.  They put on quite a display with their communal dancing. 

No females appeared to show.  From the many "kuk kuk kuk" and "popping sounds" we believed there to be more than fourteen birds.  It had gotten too dark to see them all.

May 16, 2013

An hour before sunrise, Paul and I drove up the 80 Route Road.

Again as we waited for sunrise, the many songs of Vesper Sparrows, Brewer's Sparrows, Western Meadowlarks, and Horned Larks were filling the air.  While the distance, the Sandhill Crane call traveled far across the valley.  We did finally see one or two.

In my experience, Sharp-tailed Grouse come late to their "leks".  Most times, I do not see them until well after sunrise.  The reverse is true in the evening when they seldom come to the "leks" until it is too dark to see them (similar to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse).

Sharp-tailed Grouse "leks" are not as well defined as the Greater Sage-Grouse.  Instead of preforming a communal dance in an open clearing, they run like mice through the sage.  Every now and then, they will stop and lift up their heads or stick their tails in the air and shake them like a rattlesnake!

This morning skies were partly cloudy; winds were calm.  We could hear "forever".  At sunrise, the sun lit up the greening fields of wild grasses and sage.  The hills lit up, quite a contrast with the blue sky and white clouds.  A beautiful sight in itself, even if no grouse show up.

About 30 minutes after sunrise, fourteen male Sharp-tailed Grouse were observed in sage taller than themselves.  Every now and then, they would stick their heads up, some stretching as long as possible to see over the sage.

They appeared to have every direction covered as they stood and sat in a loose circle (about 15 feet in diameter).  Each looking in a different direction.

Unfortunately no females appeared.  I postulated that this may have been why the Sharp-tailed Grouse never displayed.  Off in the far distance, we could hear additional birds that might have been displaying (at least they were cackling and cooing).  Unfortunately, they were too far away to see.

Paul had to return to Denver and we had only a little time for brief stops.  The feeders at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center had only Cassin's Finches and a couple of Mountain Chickadees.

We drove to Whale Rock up Rist Canyon (Larimer) to look for Northern Pygmy-Owls.  None were found (or really expected).  A walk about half a mile down the rock from Whale Rock found six+ Plumbeous Vireos and five+ Warbling Vireos.

A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks and many Steller's Jays rounded out our day list.

Two Day Point Counts on the Eastern Plains

May 13 and 14, 2013

May 13

Jerry Petrosky and I went on a two day trip to conduct point counts on the eastern plains.  Weather was quite mixed, quite hot at times and others cool temperatures.  We saw sunny skies, rain, and wind at times.

Our first stop was Last Chance Rest Stop (Washington County).  The small riparian area was quiet.  A Gray-cheeked Thrush first found yesterday by Steve Mlodinow was the highlight of the stop.

We watched for the previously reported Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (along highway 36), however, never encountered it.

A detour down to Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) was quite interesting.  One male Baltimore Oriole flew around below the dam.  A Tennessee Warbler and Cassin's Vireo were observed along the eastern riparian area.

As our trek continued east, we drove through the town of Siebert.  Highlights here included a Broad-winged Hawk along the western side of town and a male Northern Pygmy-Owl near 4th street and Nebraska Avenue.

A few Great-tailed Grackles flew around the park in Burlington (I70 and Highway 385, Kit Carson).

The rest of our day was spent around Bonny Reservoir (Yuma).

When we stopped at the corner of Yuma County Road 3 and Highway 385, Jerry heard an interesting meadowlark.  We recognized the song of an Eastern Meadowlark.  It took another 30 minutes for us to get good looks and identify it as an Eastern (yellow limited to throat area and definitely not the malar area).

A Northern Cardinal was found at the Foster's Grove Campgrounds as well as eight Wild Turkeys!

We searched for uncommon sparrows at Hopper Ponds (a good place to look in the past).  None was found, but a Gray-cheeked Thrush was a good consolation!

A Black-and-white Warbler was found along the south side road (gated road between CR 2 and old wagon wheel picnic area).  We searched for Long-eared Owls along the tree-lined road.

The highlight was a singing Prairie Warbler.  We stopped at the bend in CR 2 (where it goes from east to south).  Not expecting any success, Prairie Warblers have been found several times (5/6/2003; 9/3/2003; 5/23/2008; 5/20/2000; 6/1/1997; & 5/18/1994) before in this area (as well as other uncommon warblers).  A male Prairie Warbler was about 30 yards of the bend (at a 45-degree angle off road).

In spite of the thin leaf cover, the old Wagon Wheel Campgrounds area was quite birdy.  A male Blue Grosbeak flew around the old boat ramp area.

A first year Summer Tanager was in the evergreen trees (first thought was another Northern Cardinal; however, it came out and allowed good looks).

The Hale Ponds area was also birdy.  We found a Hooded Warbler along the Republican River, just west of Kansas.  A Veery was a surprise (quite far from the mountains) at the north end of the ponds.  Red-bellied Woodpeckers numbered four, House Wrens seven, and Eastern Bluebirds eleven.

While listening for Common Poorwills at dusk (none appeared), we heard an Eastern Screech-Owl call from somewhere north of the Ponds.

May 14

After a few hours sleep, Jerry and I hiked the Republican River from CR LL.5 to Hale Ponds and Kansas.  Then we walked from Highway 385 to Foster's Grove and Wagon Wheel Picnic Area.  Note: the technique was one we have used several times.  One of us is dropped off while the other drives farther down the road.  The first birder walks to the car and then drives to pick up the second birder.  It is a great system to cover more ground!

The exercise added seven Eastern Screech-Owls to our trip list!  Locations included Northeast of Hale Ponds, East of CR LLLL.5, East of Highway 385, West of Foster's Grove and Wagon Wheel!

The morning was a fantastic one.  Winds did not pick up until almost noon.  Skies were mostly clear.

We relocated the Prairie Warbler first found yesterday, could not find the Eastern Meadowlark.

I needed to get back to Denver today.  We skipped many birding places around Burlington and headed toward the Lincoln County Wildlife Areas.  A reported Rufous-crowned Sparrow would be a first county sighting for both of us.

Cheyenne Wells (Cheyenne County) was a bust.  A drive around Kit Carson (Cheyenne) found a Yellow-throated Vireo southwest of Main and West of 2nd Street (another traditional birdy location).

We had to skip Karvel Wildlife Area (Lincoln), no time but stopped at Hugo Wildlife Area and Kinney Lake Wildlife Area.

Hugo Wildlife Area was "hopping" with birds. Highlights included a Worm-eating Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  We missed the Hooded Warbler reported just two days earlier.

Kinney Lake was good to us also.  We found a Nashville Warbler and unidentified "empidonax" flycatcher (probably a Least Flycatcher but we had no size comparison).  A Mountain Plover was found along the entrance road!  Regrettably, we did not relocate the Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

Our last stop was at the Kiowa Museum (Elbert County).  A flock of birds had caught our attention when we stopped to purchase something to drink.

A flock of a dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers, two Orange-crowned Warblers and a Black-capped Chickadee was accompanied by an American Redstart.

After dropping Jerry at his car, I picked up Rebecca Kosten.  We passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on our way to dinner.  Of course, I had to stop and see if the Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis were still at the Cottonwood Creek wetlands (they were not found there or at the Prairie Loop mudflats, which were greatly reduced to rising water levels.

A possible loon (turned out to be a Double-crested Cormorant) required a drive to the swim beach area.  No loon, however I did find a Townsend's Warbler between the Smoky Hill Group Picnic pavilion and the lake.

A Day Around Weld County

May 12, 2013

Richard Stevens:

Jerry Petrosky and I birded in Weld County today.  The major flock of migrating birds has not reached this far north yet.

We walked around Crow Valley Campgrounds for about 2.5 hours.  One of the three Gray-cheeked Thrushes reported yesterday was relocated.  We also relocated the Tennessee Warbler reported yesterday by Joe Roller.  New birds for the area included a Black-and-white Warbler and Cassin's Vireo.

A drive along the CR 96 auto tour found half a dozen McCown's Longspurs and one Chestnut-collared Longspur (about 1.2 miles west of CR 77).  No Lark Buntings were found and longspurs appear to be migrating later than average dates.

We did relocate a Mountain Plover at a traditional nesting site!  Unless we find a Mountain Plover off a public road where access to the field is limited, we are not going to reveal nesting sites.

Lower Latham Reservoir was slow.  The same was found at Beebe Draw Ponds.  Yellow-headed Blackbirds were new county birds for 2013 for both of us.

The County Road 59 Ponds did not add uncommon birds to our day list.

Several Red-necked Phalaropes swam around the CR 46/CR 37 Pond.  We walked down the road and found quite a few sparrows (Brewer's, one Clay-colored, White-crowned and Song).

Our birding day ended at the southern ponds of Banner Lakes Wildlife Area.  No uncommon birds were found.