South Platte Birding Area

February 14, 2015

Richard Stevens:

We wandered around Adams County.  Temperatures reached the low 70s; winds steady at 12+ mph.

Four of us walked the South Platte River Birding Area from 88th avenue to 74th avenue and back.  A male Barrow's Goldeneye was on the southern West Gravel Lake.  A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was at the south end of East Gravel Lake.

The previously reported Greater Scaup on Cooley Gravel Pond, north of 88th avenue, were not there today.

After dropping my friends off, I drove over to Barr Lake.  To avoid the setting sun, I scoped the Lake from mile 5.5.  Quite a few gulls were close to shore from this side.  I picked out a Lesser Black-backed Gull and at least one Thayer's Gull (rounded head, short bill, pink legs when it flew). 

Thousands of additional gulls were in the middle of the lake, too far away to pick out a Mew Gull.  No large whitish gulls were observed.

A drive around the DIA Owl Loop at sunset did not find any Short-eared Owls.  The usual mix of raptors was encountered, but too far away for photos.

Raptors: Ferruginous Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, one Rough-legged Hawk and two American Kestrels.

Exploring Eastern Arapahoe County

February 13, 2015

Richard Stevens:

After visiting a friend and relative in nearby hospitals, I drove to Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County).  Temperatures reached the middle 60s; winds were mild.  Only a couple of Ring-billed Gulls stood on the remaining ice at Aurora Reservoir.

Instead of driving the DIA Owl Loop, I decided to explore eastern Arapahoe County (including visiting another friend).  Eventually I found four Great Horned Owls on nests.  At my friend's ranch, we relocated two Long-eared Owls.  At a nearby ranch, we found an Eastern Screech-Owl (perhaps nesting in an old cottonwood). 

At dusk, I watched a Short-eared Owl fly over a cattail marsh along Kiowa Creek. 

Will have to return to watch results of the nesting and possible nesting owls!

A Good Day of Mountain Birding

February 12, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann, Lenny Tyler, Linn Henderson and I headed into the mountains today.  It was another great Colorado winter day.

Winds at Loveland Pass were "normal"; anemometer readings 26 mph, gusts to 32 mph.  We eventually found two White-tailed Ptarmigan below the western side of the Summit.  The Ptarmigan could not be seen from the top of the trail.  We had to walk to the south and scope back below the hill when the trail turned west (not the first time I have found them at this spot).

After finding Rosy Finches in Summit County and six Barrow's Goldeneyes at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant, we detoured to Pine Valley Ranch Park and Reynolds Park (Jefferson County).

An American Three-toed Woodpecker was found near the intersection of the Buck Gulch and Strawberry Jack Trails.  Next, we headed to Reynolds Park.  One Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard; however, we were not able to see it.

A Brief Trip in Denver and Adams Counties

February 11, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures were cooler today after last nights snow storm.  Highs only reached the high 40s; winds were mild.

In the afternoon while doing chores, I stopped by Garland Park (Denver County).  The two Greater White-fronted Geese reported yesterday by Joe Roller were at the northeast corner of the pond in the park.  See photos on the Colorado Birding Society's website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net

Later I stopped by Barr Lake (Adams).  Most of the thousands of gulls were too far out in the lake to identify; no uncommon gulls were counted.  I walked from the boat ramp to the Pioneer Trail and found two Great Horned Owls and a Barn Owl.

A splendid sunset was over the DIA Owl Loop; unfortunately, no Short-eared Owls were seen.  Raptors included: two Red-tailed Hawks, two Ferruginous Hawks, one American Kestrel and a Rough-legged Hawk.

Aurora Reservoir to DIA Owl Loop

February 10, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Returning from visiting friends in Aurora, I stopped by Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County).  Winds were 8+ mph; temperatures reached the high 50s today.

About 300 gulls stood on the ice off the western fisherman's parking area.  Aurora Reservoir is unusual.  It is the last reservoir/lake to freeze (Cherry Creek Reservoir & Chatfield Reservoir froze a month earlier); however, it is the only one mostly ice covered (Cherry Creek & Chatfield are mostly open).

I watched the gulls for an hour before most took off north toward DADS (Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site).  Quickly I was able to pick out two Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  A large dark Gull stood out as being larger than the Herring Gulls standing next to it.  The dark breast and flanks and checkered back indicated a 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull. 

At least one Thayer's Gull stood among them (pink legs, rounded head).

No Short-eared Owls appeared at sunset around the DIA Owl Loop.  Raptors included: 5 Northern Harriers, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Ferruginous Hawks and a Prairie Falcon.

A Drive Home, No Birds To Report

February 9, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Returning from visiting relatives and friends in Aurora Regional Medical Center, I stopped at Barr Lake (Adams County).  Few gulls flew around the northwestern end of the dam.  Nothing uncommon was found.  Thousands of gulls flew around the lake; again, I could not pick out any uncommon gulls.

No Short-eared Owls appeared around the DIA Owl Loop.

Fantastic Winter Day in Colorado, Birding Along the Foothills

February 8, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I enjoyed this fantastic Colorado winter day while birding along the foothills.  Winds were 12+ mph; temperatures reached 70 degrees!

We parked at South Platte Park at C470 and the South Platte River (Arapahoe County).  Ten Greater Scaup swam on Eaglewatch Lake (just north of the parking area).

Winds were almost calm along the Platte River as we walked the lower basin area below Chatfield Reservoir dam.  We hiked up the creek that flows into the Platte River (just south of C470).

This was my third attempt at looking for the red form of Fox Sparrow that has been reported since at least 1/13.  Thanks much to Alec Hopping for sending a map of previous sightings.  Fortunately (but not successfully) I had been searching in the correct area on past attempts.

This time when I reached the broken fence near the eastern border of the State Park, the Fox Sparrow jumped up from the tall grasses and "posed" on a rabbit brush.  We were able to get a five or six minute look before it dropped back down.

To experiment, I played an eastern Fox Sparrow recording.  The Fox Sparrow jumped up and sang for about 10 seconds before disappearing into the thicker bushes underneath the two tall cottonwoods along the fence line (and south of the creek).

South Platte Park Reservoir appeared to be ice-free as we drove out of the Park.  We did not stop to scope for gulls.

Our next stop was Denver West Office Complex (Jefferson).  Winds were back to 14+ mph.  We circled building three and four and heard several White-breasted Nuthatches calling.  A Red-breasted Nuthatch and two Black-capped Chickadees were in a loose flock, which also included the Pine Warbler.  Unfortunately, the Pine Warbler stayed high in the pines.  The flock fluttered about the trees above the statue of three kids next to a picnic table.

A drive around the DIA Owl Loop (Adams) at dusk did not find any Short-eared Owls this evening.