Chasing "Large" Hummingbirds and Birding in Douglas & Elbert Counties

June 6, 2013

Bryan Ehlmann and I chased after a couple of "large" hummingbirds today.  Winds were 6+ mph; temperatures reached the high 80 °C.

Our first stop was Roxborough State Park (Douglas County).  The Blue-throated Hummingbird did not show up during our stay.  Rumors have it that there never was one?

We continued southwest to Bailey where my friend Wilson Snow has a female Magnificent Hummingbird visiting his feeders.  It was first found on Monday (6/3) and reappeared for us (only had to wait about 20 minutes)!

After lunch, we drove east to Castlewood Canyon Road (Douglas).  At least five male and two female Bobolink were flying around the field just south of the Winkler Ranch entrance!  Spotted Towhees and a Cordilleran Flycatcher called west across the road.

We walked the western trails in Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) and found a couple of interesting birds.

While hiking near the Prairie Warbler spot of a few years ago (below, just north of the old Cherry Creek dam) we heard and saw a Least Flycatcher!  No Prairie Warblers!

Walking south from the old homestead, we found an Ovenbird (first reported by Kingery on 6/2).  Additional Spotted Towhees, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins and a Lazuli Bunting were encountered.  Last weekend's American Redstarts were not found.

From Castlewood Canyon, we drove east to Elbert Road.  No Dickcissel was found at their traditional spot 5.1 miles south of Kiowa.

Nothing uncommon was found when we walked around Kiowa.

Our birding day ended while driving around Elbert County Roads in search of Short-eared Owls (at their traditional locations).  None was found tonight.

A Visit to Weld County

June 5, 2013

Richard Stevens:

This morning, Bryan Ehlmann and I drove to a friend's ranch east of Prospect Valley (Weld).  We stopped at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld) and circled the southern ponds (northern ponds closed to public until July 15).

A few Yellow Warblers and House Wrens were just about all that we found until we ran across a Red-eyed Vireo (in the western windbreak of cottonwoods).

Later, we spent several hours at our friend's ranch.  His Long-eared Owls are nesting.  With a scope, we can just barely see small parts of the female sitting on a nest.  We are hoping that they will nest successfully again this year!

He also has a pair of Mountain Plovers in one of his fields.  We caught a glimpse of presumably the male walking around.  Without tramping around, we were not able to locate the female or nest.  I say nest loosely as I have found several nests with eggs on the Pawnee National Grasslands.  They simply lay 2-4 eggs in a depression in the bare ground.

Burrowing Owls have returned to a Prairie Dog Town nearby (up to 7).  Location is not important to reveal as they can be seen along the DIA Owl Loop in Adams County.

It was overcast and cool (middle 50s) most of the day, good conditions to search for migrant birds so we walked circled the 8.7 miles around Barr Lake (Adams).  Regrettably, nothing uncommon was found.

Birding Around Arapahoe County, Chestnut-sided Warbler

June 4, 2013

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I drove over to the Big Dry Creek Greenway in Arapahoe County.  Weather was cool, in the low 50s, winds mild at 4 mph.

Many Yellow Warblers were heard as we walked along the greenbelt.  My first visit here, it appeared to be a pleasant location for a birding walk.  The place was quite birdy!

We also found House Wrens, a male Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Plumbeous Vireo.

Finally arriving at the spot where O'Connor reported the Chestnut-sided Warbler yesterday, we almost immediately heard the distinctive "chip" of a Chestnut-sided Warbler.  It took another 15+ minutes to see the bird in the leaves blown by the wind.  I do not believe I worked so hard to see a bird after knowing which tree it was in (although it did not appear to be moving around).

Afterwards, we passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) on the way to Barr Lake.  The Bonaparte's Gull was again on the Prairie Loop mudflats.  We briefly scoped the mudflats for the Black-bellied Plover (was not found).

At least one, up to three, Black-chinned Hummingbirds flew around east of the ranger's office.  Nothing uncommon was found on the lake and we left for Barr Lake.

An hour walk around the east side of Barr Lake (Adams) did not find any uncommon birds.  Many of the usual suspects were seen: House Wrens, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Western Kingbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, Western Wood-pewees, Bullock's Orioles.

Jackson County Owl Prowl

June 3, 2013

Amy Davenport: transcript of telephone call:

The road from Gould to Teller City Ghost Town is still closed due to mud.  Richard Stevens and Rebecca Kosten circled around and tried to get there by way of Rand.  Under dry conditions, Jackson County Road 21 still requires a 4-wheel drive between Highways 125 and 14.  They did not make it to Teller City.

The spot where Burrowing Owls nested along CR 27 was accessible.  They found one Burrowing Owl near last years location!  Let's hope another Burrowing Owl shows up!

In the afternoon, Richard relocated an American Three-toed Woodpecker for Marion and Jack Warren across from the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.

After sunset, Richard led the CoBus sponsored Owl Prowl at Cameron Pass and the Colorado State Forest.  While the trip stated that, the trip was from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am, birders were not required to stay for the whole trip. 

Five birders showed up.  Marion and Jack Warren did stay all night and were treated to both Boreal Owl and Flammulated Owl sightings along Ruby Jewell Road in the Colorado State Forest.

The other three birders were able to see a Boreal Owl around 10:00 pm near Cameron Pass.

Another Day in the Mountains, Routt and Jackson Counties

June 2, 2013

Amy Davenport: transcript of telephone call:

Richard Stevens and Rebecca Kosten returned to the 80 Route Leks.  This morning six Sharp-tailed Grouse stood around the sage at their lek.  No females showed up; the males did not dance around.

Again, no Dusky Grouse or Greater Sage-Grouse were found at their leks.

Richard and Rebecca drove north up 80 Route to the closed gate for California Park.  The "Park" is closed to allow nesting Sandhill Cranes to be undisturbed. 

While walking around to stretch their legs, they saw a pair of White-winged Crossbill circling overhead.

At a stop along Walden Reservoir, they saw a Caspian Tern flying around.  The previously reported Greater Scaup could not be found.

They were not able to relocate the Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the KOA Campgrounds.

Late in the afternoon, Richard relocated an American Three-toed Woodpecker across from the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.  A Boreal Owl was heard south of the Crags Campgrounds.

Looking For "Late Dates" for Grouse

June 1, 2013

Amy Davenport: transcript of telephone call:

Richard Stevens and Rebecca Kosten parked at the 80 Route Leks at sunrise.  Seven Sharp-tailed Grouse came to the lek.  They stood in a circle watching in every direction.  They did not dance or run around.

The Dusky Grouse did not show up at his “lek” this morning.  Greater Sage Grouse have not been seen on their 80 Route Leks for several weeks now.

Next, they drove the auto loop at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.  Several Willets walked around the ponds.  Sage Thrashers, Brewer’s Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Horned Larks were also seen.

Richard and Rebecca ran into an Ohio birder, Rick Andersen.  He mentioned a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the KOA Campgrounds at the entrance to the Colorado State Forest.  They relocated the Grosbeak and several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

The Colorado State Forest feeders had a few Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, nothing uncommon.

At dusk, Richard and Rebecca parked at the County Road 26 leks.  After it was almost too dark to see, six Greater Sage-Grouse walked onto the lek.  These birds did briefly display.  Richard postulated that they were young males practicing displays for future springs?

Aurora Sports Park and Heading to the Mountains

May 31, 2013

Amy Davenport: transcript of telephone call:

Rebecca Kosten:

"Arapahoe County
Before we head to the mountain this afternoon, Richard Stevens and Bryan Ehlmann birded Sand Creek in the Aurora Sports Park. Anemometer readings are 21 mph with gusts to 34 mph.

As expected, few birds were moving around. They thought there was a MacGillivray's Warbler in the tickets. Closer inspection showed it to be a Hooded Warbler!

Location was 40 yards southwest of the corner of Sand Creek where it goes from south to north and turns east to west."

Davenport:

Richard and Rebecca headed up to Jackson County late in the afternoon. 

An American Three-toed Woodpecker was found along the eastern side of Chambers Lake.  Three-toed Woodpeckers have nested here in past years.

After dark, they heard two Boreal Owls near Cameron Pass.