Birding Around Adams County

March 8, 2014

Richard Stevens:

There was a break in the snowy weather today.  No snow, temperatures in the 40s, winds 10 mph.

Rebecca Kosten and I passed by the South Platte Birding Area and Rocky Mountain Arsenal (both Adams County) while returning from the S. Platte River at the downtown aquarium (Denver County).  It was a rather chilly day, temperatures in the low 40s; winds were less than 10 mph.

We did not relocate today the Long tailed Duck and American Dippers along the South Platte River near the Ocean Journey Aquarium, Water Street, Denver County.

Then we hiked upstream along the S. Platte River from Colorado Blvd and 88th avenue.  No Barrow's Goldeneyes were on the river.  However, on our return trip a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was found on the northern West Gravel Lake (note they could move to the southern or western lakes or the river or East Gravel Lake, all are ice free now).

We drove through the arsenal in search of the recently reported Thayer's Gull.  No Thayer's Gull, we found a male Greater Scaup among dozens of ducks on Lower Derby Lake.  Ducks included high number of Canvasbacks, Redheads, Mallards, Gadwall, American Coots, one Western Grebe and one Horned Grebe.

A Double-crested Cormorant was perched above Lake Ladora.  Eight three gulls were all Ring-billed.

A Snowy Trip Around Denver

March 7, 2014

Richard Stevens:

A relatively mild winter continued.  Temperatures almost reached 40 degrees; winds were 12 mph, gusts to 19 mph.  It started to snow around 1:00 pm.

Rebecca and I drove down to the southwest corner of Denver today.  The Brant was seen covered in snow at the southeast corner of Redstone Park (Douglas County).

The male Barrow's Goldeneye continued to swim around below the dam at the northwest corner of Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas Counties).

Two Greater Scaup swam around the southeast corner of the South Platte Park Reservoir (Arapahoe County).

Snow was heavier when we reached Littleton Historic Park (Jefferson County).  The male Greater Scaup was swimming around with half a dozen Ring-necked Ducks at the southeast corner of Ketring Lake.

Snowfall was heavy enough by 4:30 pm to cover the car windows in 15 minutes.  Visibility was reduced and we drove the 30+ miles home.

Scouting for Grouse Trips

March 4-6, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Jan Usher and I decided to try for the grouse in the northwestern quadrant of Colorado.  We hoped to sneak in and out of the mountains between snowstorms.  For the most part, we missed the heavy stuff, however were forced to drive on some snowy roads.

March 4

We had no luck finding any White-tailed Ptarmigan on Loveland Pass (Clear Creek County).  Winds were 30+ mph and visibility was poor.  Jan could not walk far in the high altitude, which limited the areas searched to those along Highway 6.

All three Rosy Finches, Pine Grosbeaks, Clark's Nutcrackers, three species of nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, and Black-capped Chickadees were found in Silverthorne (Summit County).

Seven Barrow's Goldeneyes were swimming on the Blue River Water Treatment Plant Pond.

We arrived at the Jackson County Road 26 Greater Sage-Grouse leks in a snowstorm.  No Greater Sage-Grouse came out in the bad weather (must be smarter than us).


March 5

We spent the night in Craig and headed north to the Greater Sage-Grouse leks about two hours before sunrise.  Two Greater Sage-Grouse were found along Moffat County Road 4 (just east of the cattle guard).

We heard Greater Sage-Grouse booming at the Timberlake Lek.  Visibility was poor and they were too far away to see.

Back in Craig after a terrible breakfast at Village Inn (why do I eat there?), we drove down Ranney Street to Loudy Simpson Park (Moffat).  Nothing was moving around the park; however, two Bohemian Waxwings were in the cottonwoods along Ranney Street (Highway 394) just south of Loudy Simpson Park and the Yampa River.

A drive down highway 13 to the Yampa River found six Barrow's Goldeneyes swimming upstream of the highway.

We checked the 80 Route for road conditions.  There is no way to get to the Greater Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Dusky Grouse locations down the road.  It appears that access maybe late May this year.

No Sharp-tailed Grouse came to the 20 Road leks (Routt County) at sunset.

March 6, 2014

Back at the 20 Road Leks (Routt County), Jan and I enjoyed success this cold morning (21 degrees at 9:00 am).  Two Sharp-tailed Grouse flew from the east and landed at the leks west of 27 Road (do not know why locals call it the 20 Road leks)?

Most of the rest of our day was spent around Steamboat Springs.  The highlight was 40+ Bohemian Waxwings at the Yampa River Crossing at Routt County Road 22.

Pine Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks were found in the Fish Creek area.  We missed Sharp-tailed Grouse which sometimes roost and feed in the area.

The American Three-toed Woodpecker pair that live along the maintenance shed road on Rabbit Ears Pass (Grand County) did not appear today.  No Red or White-winged Crossbills were found either.

At sunset, we watched two Greater Sage-Grouse on the CR 26 Leks.

Later we heard a Boreal Owl at Cameron Pass.

Afternoon Trip to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area

March 3, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Snowy and cold weather limited our choice of birding locations today.  Jan Uster and I went to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County).  We managed to relocate 10 Long-eared Owls mostly in the windbreak along Ponds 6 to 8.

Several were in the windbreak at Pond 13 and a Great Horned Owl was in the cottonwoods at Pond 12.

No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

Snowy Day at Reynolds Park

March 2, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Jan Uster and I drove up to Reynolds Park (Jefferson County) and arrive 30 minutes before sunrise.  No Northern Pygmy-Owls could be found this morning.

Later we hiked up to the top of Eagle's View.  A female American Three-toed Woodpecker was just northeast of the intersection of the three trails: Oxen Draw, Eagle's View & Raven's Roost.

We missed Dusky Grouse and Northern Pygmy-Owls.  All three species of nuthatches and two Red Crossbills were encountered.

We stopped and relocated the Brant at Redstone Park (Douglas County) on the trip back to Denver.

A Snowy Day Around Denver

March 1, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I birded a little around Adams County today.  Snow and temperatures in the 20s limited our drive.

Little moved around Barr Lake.  Thousands of geese were in the field at the corner of Tower Road and 128th avenue.  These included five Snow Geese and one Ross's Goose.

Few birds moved around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.  Both Lake Ladora and Lower Derby Lake are still ice covered.  Nothing responded to recordings played at the Ladora cattails (Virginia Rail tape) or Marys Lake (Swamp Sparrow tape).

Bison were the highlight of our drive.

A Few Snowy Days In the Northern Mountains

February 23 to 28, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I spent a few days up in the mountains.  We stayed inside during several snowstorms.  Between the storms, I was able to snowshoe around several areas.  When winds died down, the quiet forest had only birds singing and the sound of the snowshoes moving through the powder.

On the trip up on 2/23, we stopped and heard two Boreal Owls calling at dusk south of the Crags Campgrounds, just west of Cameron Pass (Jackson County).

On 2/24, we drove into Steamboat Springs.  The female American Three-toed Woodpecker cooperated and flew over the maintenance shed road off highway 40 (Grand County).  The several crossbills that flew around were all Red Crossbills. White-winged Crossbills have been reported in the area again this winter.

Thanks to Teresa Moulton, we relocated the 22+ Bohemian Waxwings at the Yampa River Crossing at Routt County Road 22!

A friend and I took his snowmobiles north of Steamboat Springs.  Unfortunately, we did not run into any Dusky Grouse.

On 2/25, we drove up Jackson County Road 26 toward the Greater Sage-Grouse leks.  A Greater Sage-Grouse crossed CR 26 at approximately 200 yards west of highway 14.  It was a good thing, as the road was too snow covered to make it to the leks.

Later we saw 14+ Rosy Finches (no Black Rosy Finches) coming to the feeders behind the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center.

It was snowing quite heavy in the afternoon and we retreated to the warm cabin.

On 2/26, it snowed most of the day.  During a short lull, I drove back to Larimer County and snow shoed up the Zimmerman Lake Trail.  Regrettably, no White-winged Crossbills were run across.  I did savor much the solitude of the snow covered trail and forest.

On 2/27, snow continued most of the day.  We made it over to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center and again observed 14+ Rosy Finches (no Black).

We did not find the resident American Three-toed Woodpecker that wanders the north side of highway 14 (across from the Visitor's Center).

I cross-country skied into the Colorado State Forest to North Michigan Reservoir.  Nothing uncommon was encountered.

After dark, I heard two Boreal Owls calling just west of Cameron Pass (Jackson County).

On 2/28, there was a brief break in the weather and we headed back to Denver by way of Fort Collins.

We had heard about the Long-tailed Duck near downtown Denver and stopped there before turning for home.

February 28, 2014

Email sent to cobirders by Jacob Washburn:

Hello birding people,

Ray Simmons and I went to Water Street and the aquarium. Who do we meet but Rich and Rebecca Stevens. At 5:00 pm it was too dark for good photos, only witness shots. The Long tailed Duck was on the S Platte River just south of the aquarium.

For those not familiar with the convoluted streets down there: take 15th street (not Colfax) west to Platte Street (REI on southeast corner). Follow Platte Street south, turns into Water Street. Just north of the aquarium there is a parking lot on left, east. Walk south down path. This is Denver County.