Second Half of First Grouse Trip 2015

March 9-13, 2015

Richard Stevens:

March 9

Bryan Ehlmann and I continued our first "grouse trip" of 2015 today.  Weather improved greatly with temperatures in the 50s and winds less than 8 mph.

We departed Denver about 4:00 am and arrive at the Yuma County Road 45 Lek thirty minutes before sunrise.  Eventually three Greater Prairie-Chickens were observed dancing, jumping and booming on the lek.

Later another Greater Prairie-Chicken was observed on a fence post near the entrance to the Kitzmueller Lek.

Birding east of Wray (Yuma) was quite good today.  At Stalker Lake, a male Northern Cardinal flew around the trees at the west end of the property.  A White-throated Sparrow was in the brush between there and the southwest end of the picnic area.

A Barn Owl and Red-bellied Woodpecker were found in the windbreak along the road into the Wray Fishing Unit.  Two White-throated Sparrows were in the brush along the road going east of the entrance road (across Yuma County Road FF).

Rainbow Park was quiet.  We stopped at two friend's homes and found a pair of Northern Cardinals at one and two male Northern Cardinals at the other.

Then we turned south.  A detour to Beecher Island (Yuma) added another Northern Cardinal and a Red-bellied Woodpecker to our day list.  It was still quite early in the season; no flycatchers, warblers, vireos, etc were around.

At dusk, we heard an Eastern Screech-Owl north of Hale Ponds.

March 10

Bryan and I returned to Bonny Reservoir (Yuma) about 2 hours before sunrise.  A walk along the Republican River found four Eastern Screech-Owls between Highway 385 and Foster's Grove Campgrounds.

A "flock" ten Wild Turkeys walked one of the clearings just west of the Campgrounds.  A male Northern Cardinal added color to the drab winter landscape.

Two Long-eared Owls were well hidden in the windbreak east of the Campgrounds (I guess not that well hidden since we found them).

Two Red-bellied Woodpeckers were along the gated road running along the southern side of the old Bonny Reservoir.  We hiked to the fenced area with many trees; however found no additional Long-eared Owls.

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found in the evergreens east of the Dam.  Six Eastern Bluebirds fluttered about below the dam and just west of Yuma County Road LL.5.

Hale Ponds kept our interest with sightings of four Red-bellied Woodpeckers, another seven Eastern Bluebirds, a Marsh Wren (unfortunately not a Winter Wren) and a Spotted Towhee.

A Harris's Sparrow was encountered in the brush along Yuma County Road 4, just east of the entrance road to the last house before the road enters Kansas.

At dusk, we relocated two Eastern Screech-Owls.

Neither of us was tired and we drove to Lamar (Prowers County).

March 11

We had a nice sighting this morning at Lamar Community College (Prowers).  A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was observed in the southern section of the woods behind/east of the School.  A pair of Northern Cardinals was also in the area.

While a Red-bellied Woodpecker was found flying from cottonwood to cottonwood in the northern woods.

Below the Two Buttes Reservoir dam, we missed the Rusty Blackbird that has been reported several times.  A Barn Owl and Ladder-backed Woodpecker were consolation sightings.  Several Wild Turkeys were at the eastern edge of the property.

We stopped at the entrance to the old Campo Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek and walked the road heading north.  A Cassin's Sparrow sighting about 75 yards up the road beat the earliest sighting by five days (3/16/2002, two locations & 3/17/2012 south of CR G, the old Lek Road).  It was only the ninth March Cassin's Sparrow sighting in the past twenty years.

On the way back to Highway 287/385, a Burrowing Owl was observed along Baca County Road G, east of CR 36.  A real surprise was a Short-eared Owl out in the middle of the day along CR M, west of CR 23.  A Greater Roadrunner ran across CR M, just west of CR 7.

Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) is always an interesting place to visit.  We found Chihuahuan Ravens flying overhead, Canyon Towhees fluttering about the brush, Wild Turkeys walking along the road.  It proved too early for Eastern Phoebes, Lark Sparrows, Kingbirds, etc.

We found two of my once nemesis bird.  Two Rufous-crowned Sparrows flew around the rocky hillside at 1.7 miles east of the Campgrounds (primitive site at CR M & Carrizo Creek).

After dusk, two Western Screech-Owls were found around the primitive Campgrounds!

Then we headed to Elkhart, Kansas.

March 12

A trip to Elkhart, Kansas was considered a waste of time since Lesser Prairie-Chickens appeared to abandon the two leks last year.  Bryan and I had to check it out.

We arrived at the eastern lek about an hour before sunrise.  No Lesser Prairie-Chickens were observed on the lek.  Several Lesser Prairie-Chickens were heard booming to the north of the lek. 

Eventually while we checked on a prairie dog town/Burrowing Owl site, we found a Lesser Prairie-Chicken about 200 yards west and then south of the lek.  A lone Burrowing Owl was also here. 

We headed back to Colorado and would not recommend a visit/detour to the lek unless sightings are reported in the spring.  Since someone (government?) trapped Lesser Prairie-Chickens on the eastern lek two springs ago, I believe the birds have abandoned the primary lek.  A primary lek may exist in the area (as stated we could hear Lesser Prairie-Chicken calling).  The eastern publicized lek may now be a secondary lek and infrequently visited?

Bryan and returned to Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) by way of Picture Canyon.  A Rufous-crowned Sparrow was found about 30 yards south of the parking area.  We walked down to the hieroglyphics without seeing another bird other than American Kestrels and Western Meadowlarks.

Then we continued to the Oklahoma border, turned west to the springs where Vermilion Flycatchers have nested in the past; none today.  A Northern Mockingbird was seen around the springs (they may also nest in the area).

Back at Cottonwood Canyon, we walked the draw south of the "Campgrounds" without finding a Ladder-backed Woodpecker.  A hike down the draw south of the old stone building (1/2 mile or so west of the Campgrounds) was more productive.

Here we found a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker about 50 yards south of CR 7.  A better sighting was an adult Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  What was he (it was a male) doing here?  He seemed quite out of place.

Several detours were taken off Highway 285/387 on the trip back to Lamar.  A White-throated Sparrow was found at Burchfield Wildlife Area (Baca).  Only White-crowned Sparrows were found a Turk's Pond (Baca).

Ferruginous Hawks appeared often along our drive today.  Our count was seven before the day was over.  Common Ravens were encountered several times.  We saw our first Swainson's Hawk of 2015 just east of Walsh.  Later we would find another east of Holly.

The brush around the Holly Rest area had many White-crowned Sparrows; no uncommon sparrows were found.

Our birding day ended with a walk around at Mike Higbee Wildlife Area (Prowers).  Again, no uncommon sparrows were encountered.

March 13

Bryan and I began the final day of our "grouse trip".  Lake Hasty (Bent) was quiet.  No rails were found along Bent County Road JJ (far north side of John Martin Reservoir).

A quick detour to Blue Lake (Bent/Kiowa) found little to add to our bird trip list.  We did not find the Rusty Blackbirds reported along the outlet canal.

The Swamp Sparrow reported by Steve Mlodinow at the Las Animas Fishing Unit On 3/5 was still there.

Lake Cheraw (Otero) has no shorebirds.  The Greater Scaup (Nick Moore, 3/5) were still on Lake Henry.  No Burrowing Owls were around yet.

We cut over to highway 71 and headed north to Interstate 70.  A couple of Great-tailed Grackles were found at the south end of Limon (Lincoln County).

The I70 Rest Stop at Byers (Arapahoe) is now closed.  No birds appeared to be around.  Possibly one could still walk around the area.

Another Dunlin Search and Adams County

March 8, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I returned to the South Platte River at McKay Street today.  The South Platte was higher than yesterday; several of the "sandbars" were now under water.  I walked the south side of the River from McKay to 104th Street and back.  Sparrows between the River and the Pond to the south (300 yards east of McKay) included 165 White-crowned Sparrows, 14 Song Sparrows and my first Lincoln's Sparrow of 2015.

I scoped the northern shore of the Platte River carefully.  On the return trip, the Dunlin was found!  An outlet for the lake to the north is a hundred yards east of McKay.  Twenty feet east of this overflow outlet is a small white branch about four feet long lying horizontal.  The Dunlin was on a flat rock five feet east of this branch. 

Unfortunately, my cell phone battery died and I was not able to call anyone.  The time was 5:17 pm.  My arrival had been planned for 4:00 pm as it appeared the most previous sightings were at 4:30 pm (yesterday's time, 5:30 pm today, as we started daylight savings time.

Several photos were put on the Colorado Birding Society's website "favorite photos" link.

Afterwards I drove over to the DIA Owl Loop.  The Burrowing Owl was not out/around when I arrived.  Several birders were going to continue to search.  I was hosting a party on my ranch tonight and could not stay to see if any Short-eared Owls would appear.  Last party I hosted I never showed up.  Rebecca strongly suggested that I make this one for sure :-)

What a fantastic winter day it is.  Temperatures in the high 50s and little wind!

I forgot to mention yesterday, the Iceland Gull at McKay Lakes was not the same one I photographed at Aurora Reservoir on 2/28/2015.  The McKay bird was darker.

Search for Adams County Dunlin & Trip to Arapahoe County

March 7, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I arrived back in Denver this morning about 6:00 am from a week long grouse trip, details later. 

Bryan headed to bed and I headed over to McKay and 100th avenue (Adams County) to search for the previously reported Dunlin.  Several birders had looked before me today; however, I spent an hour scoping the lakes and river shore.  It was not found as far as I know.  After lunch, I returned a searched another 45 minutes; without success.  Earlier the Iceland Gull was on the northern East McKay Lake; after lunch, it had moved to the southern Lake.

My plan was to stop briefly at Aurora Reservoir and then look for Short-eared Owls in the southeastern corner of Arapahoe County.  When I arrived at Aurora Reservoir, 4:30 PM (Arapahoe County), two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the ice at the scuba beach area.  Thayer's Gulls stood out next to the taller Herring Gulls.  I counted two for sure, but thought there were additional Thayer's Gulls wandering among the many Ring-billed, California and Herring Gulls. 

Gulls continued to fly in from DADS Landfill (from the Northwest).  While trying to get an accurate count of the Thayer's Gulls (at least three now) a Glaucous Gull dropped in.  It stood above the nearby Herring Gulls! 

Two Greater Scaup swam just off shore of the east side of the large parking area northeast of the swim beach.

I ran out of daylight and had to skip my southeastern Arapahoe County Short-eared Owl search until another evening.

First Grouse Trip 2015

March 2-6, 2015

Richard Stevens:

March 2

Bryan Ehlmann and I started a "grouse trip" today.  Forecasts were for snowstorms along the Front Range.  We hoped the storms would miss the mountains.  As it turned out, we escaped the inclement weather (heard on the radio that the Front Range did not).

About three hours before sunrise, a Boreal Owl was heard as we stood at the northwest corner of the pullover at the Cameron Pass Summit (Jackson County).  Another Boreal Owl was calling approximately 0.5 miles to the west!

We sat in our cold jeep along Jackson County Road 26b about 30 minutes before sunrise.  Perhaps 15 minutes after sunrise two Greater Sage-Grouse crossed CR 26b (from south to north).  They walked around the Grouse Lek; however, they did not perform their mating dance/displays.

We stopped at several locations along Rabbit Ears Pass (Grand/Routt Counties) in search of crossbills.  A small flock of Red Crossbills (no White-winged) flew around the evergreen trees just north of the road to the CDOT maintenance sheds.

A female American Three-toed Woodpecker flew across the maintenance shed road and worked the evergreen trees north of the road.  She was first observed on one of the telephone poles on the south side of the road.

Next, we examined the 80 Route Road where there are many grouse leks.  The road was not drivable because of several snow drifts.  The weather was so nice (temperatures in the 40s; winds were less than 6 mph).  We decided to walk the 2.7 miles to the Jimmy Dunn State Trust Lands.

BTW, the J.D. State Trust Lands are no longer?  If anyone knows why/how they were sold and to whom, please let me know (leave comment on Blog).

We started north from the second cattle guard (where a Dusky Grouse has displayed for the last half dozen years, but not this afternoon).  About 45 minutes before sunset, we observed two Greater Sage-Grouse perched in the trees to the west.  They were approximately in the area of one of the Greater Sage-Grouse Leks found along Route 80.

Our trek continued and we arrived at the Sharp-tailed Grouse on the "old" Jimmy Dunn STL about 20 minutes before sunset.  Our wait was not long before several Sharp-tailed Grouse started to run around/display on their lek.  It was a great "coup" for our strenuous hike through snow drifts and muddy road.

We turned around shortly before sunset and made the long trek back to our car.

March 3

Bryan and I planned our arrival at the 20 Road Leks (Routt) for around sunrise.  Experience has shown to me that Sharp-tailed Grouse usually do not come to their leks in the morning until sunrise.  This was the case this morning.

Minutes after sunrise, we heard and then observed three Sharp-tailed Grouse running around the top of one of two hills west of Routt County Road 27, near the green pipe gate given in directions to the 20 Road Sharp-tailed Grouse Leks.  I have never determined/learned why the Leks are called 20 Road Leks when they are along County Road 27?

After watching these Sharp-tailed Grouse, we returned to Steamboat Springs and visited a friend's home.  Six Sharp-tailed Grouse wandered around her yard!

We leisurely walked the Yampa River trail in search of Waxwings (preferably Bohemian Waxwings) without finding any.  None was found in town or around Catamount Reservoir

Road closures did not allow us to get anywhere up Buffalo Pass Road and we headed for Craig (Moffat County).

Half a dozen Barrow's Goldeneyes were observed swimming in the Yampa River when we stopped along Highway 13.

We had plenty of time and decided to detour to the Oxbow State Trust Land.  It was too early in the season for Sagebrush Sparrows; however, we thought to search anyway.  Several Sagebrush Sparrows have already been reported far to the south.

No Sagebrush Sparrows, Black-throated Sparrows or Pinyon Jays were encountered (not expected).  We turned around and drove north to Moffat County Road 3.

The weather started to go downhill (sleet and then graupel).  I just learned the term "graupel" last spring.  Graupel is distinct from hail, small hail and ice pellets.  It is defined by the World Meteorological Organization as snow pellets encapsulated by ice!

We were greeted at the Timberlake Leks by a downpour of graupel.  Through our scopes, five Greater Sage-Grouse were observed unshaken by the falling pellets.  They were dancing around performing their ritual mating dance!

March 4

After resting in Craig and getting a late start, Bryan and I continued south down Highway 13.  The late morning air and wind had dried the highway.  Perch Pond was mostly ice/snow/graupel covered; no birds were on it.

A pair of Great-tailed Grackles was around the Rifle Rest Stop (Garfield County).

About two hours were spent at Cameo (Coal Canyon) before a Chukar was heard calling.  He was somewhere on the tall hillside southwest of the parking area at the second pipe gate.  Bryan eventually pointed it out!

We then headed to the Grand Mesa (Mesa County) and arrived about three hours before sunset.  On the drive up, we stopped near the first forest sign on the north side of Highway 65 (well past the town of Mesa). 

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found here on one of my grouse trips last year.  We were not disappointed.  A Saw-whet responded shortly after I played a recording.  He was on the south side of Hwy 65.

A walk around the Powderhorn Ski Area found an American Three-toed Woodpecker in the grove of trees at the southeast end of the upper parking area.  No Northern Pygmy-Owls responded to our recording and we headed to the Grand Mesa Visitor's Center.

Few birds flew around the Visitor's Center parking area.  Well after dark, we stopped at seven of the pullovers (back north toward Powderhorn).  We found Boreal Owls at two of the stops.

Back at Powderhorn, a Northern Pygmy-Owl called when we played a recording as we walked the semi-circle road just inside/west of the entrance.

March 5

We took advantage of another late morning start by getting a few hours of sleep.  Both of us have driven the Colorado National Monument Road on many occasions.  It was too early in the year for sparrows and the southern/eastern entrance was skipped.

We drove to the Campgrounds from the northern/western entrance of the Colorado National Monument.  Sometimes Rosy Finches are found on the rocks near the tunnel, unfortunately not today.

A small flock of Pinyon Jays was at the southwest corner of the Campgrounds.  We found our obligatory one Juniper Titmouse and departed.  A detour to the subdivision at the southern entrance found many Gambel's Quail running around.

A Western Screech-Owl was found in the Connected Lakes State Park and our trek turned south.

The Confluence Park (Delta County) Western Screech-Owl was not found (we had not heard about the Delta County Fairgrounds Western Screech-Owl).  No Barrow's Goldeneyes were along the river or in the park.

Fruitgrower's Reservoir was checked for shorebirds; none was found.  A Lewis's Woodpecker was found below the dam and west of Evelyn Horn's home (their usual location in her tall cottonwoods).

Another Lewis's Woodpecker was in the trees at the south end of the Eckert Post Office (same bird as last year?).

We arrived at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose) about two hours before sunset.  The south rim road is closed at the Visitor's Center.  No Rosy Finches were found around the Visitor's Center this trip; however, a pair of Pine Grosbeaks and several Clark's Nutcrackers entertained us.

Thirty minutes before sunset and after driving the Campgrounds, we parked at the junction of roads just inside the entrance to the park.  Eventually a Dusky Grouse appeared and walked down the road.

No Northern Pygmy-Owls responded to recording played at the Visitor's Center or along the drive back to the eastern entrance to the Park.

March 6

An hour before sunrise, Bryan and I sat in a very cold jeep at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek.  Once it was light enough to see, two Gunnison Sage-Grouse were observed on the lek.  We had parked far to the south of the lek, first to not disturb the birds and second so that we could leave before the birds departed. 

The general rules state to park at the Lek Parking area an hour before sunrise and birders must stay until the last bird leaves the lek.  On several trips last year, we planned our arrival for just before sunrise and stopped a good half mile from the lek.  We scoped and counted birds and then left.  Both Bryan and I have seen the Gunnison Sage-Grouse many times and do not need closer views.

As we continued east, we stopped at the Highway 50 Rest Area near the Monarch Ski Area.  Two male American Three-toed Woodpeckers were observed drumming on the pines (one each on the north and south sides of Hwy 50).

A flock of four Gray-crowned Rosy Finches flying around the building on the south side of Hwy 50 was a nice bonus sighting.

Once at the west side of Canon City (Fremont), we stopped at Tunnel Drive.  Two Rufous-crowned Sparrows popped up from the rocky hillside (after only a ten minute search).  A quick stop at the Arkansas Riverwalk added the resident Western Screech-Owl to our trip list!

We circled south and east to Florence and stopped at a spot where Rich Miller had found Rusty Blackbirds the day before (thanks to GPS).  Two Rusty Blackbirds were quickly found.  No Tundra Swans were found a Holcim Marsh.

A drive down the Swallows Road (west side of Pueblo West, Pueblo County) added a pair of Curve-billed Thrashers and a Scaled Quail to our list!

We were not able to find the Greater Roadrunners at the end of the road.  Both a Northern Shrike and Loggerhead Shrike were nice consolation prizes!

Daylight ran out before we could check out Pueblo Reservoir.

I have been skipping over the weather reports.  For the most part, we were quite fortunate and missed the snowstorms that hit the Front Range and eastern Colorado.

Forecasts for snowstorms across the state in the next couple of days, forced us to go back to Denver instead of continuing our grouse trip.

We stopped several times on the trip back to Denver and searched for owls.  Colorado Springs (El Paso) and Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas) were quite tonight.  Winds were quite strong and not positive for owl sightings.

First Day of March, Birding In Douglas County

March 1, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Early this morning, I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County) in search of owls.  The early Burrowing Owl was sticking his head out of a prairie dog mound at Trussville Street and 114th avenue (see photo in March's "Colorado Field Notes").  No Short-eared Owls flew about this cold morning.

I continued to Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) where hundreds of gulls stood on the ice at the southwest corner of the lake.  Some"good" gulls were among the many Ring-billed Gulls.

These included an adult Mew Gull, a very white Iceland Gull, two adult and one juvenile Thayer's Gulls and at least three Lesser Black-backed Gulls (two adult, one 1st cycle).

Later, Bryan Ehlmann and I headed to the Douglas County foothills in the afternoon.  Temperatures were in the low 30s; winds mild.

Our first stop was the McCabe Meadows Park Pond (best access from the Salisbury Equestrian Center).  The pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes first reported yesterday by Tim Ryan was still there.

We then drove through Sedalia to Rampart Range Road and Highway 67.  A flock of five Cedar Waxwings and a Townsend's Solitaire were at the Sedalia Cemetery (Douglas County).

We relocated the American Three-toed Woodpecker along Hwy 67, just east of Rampart Range Road.  Later a Northern Pygmy-Owl was relocated along Rampart Range Road, south of Hwy 67.

The Northern Pygmy-Owls farther down Highway 67 and along Sugar Creek Road were not found this night.

Cornucopia of gulls, Aurora Reservoir, Arapahoe County 2/28

February 28, 2015

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Hello cobirders;

This afternoon (2/28), I scoped gulls at Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) for three hours.  First, I took 523 photos of the tens of hundreds of gulls at the southwest corner.  It will take a day or two to examine all those photos.  Not all photos will be great; however, they are quite adequate to identify the birds.

Gulls identified in the three hours included:

Lesser Black-backed Gull (at least three, could have been six)
Thayer's Gulls (at least three)
Iceland Gull (1)
California Gulls (dozens)
Herring Gulls (dozens)
Ring-billed Gulls (hundreds)
Mew Gull (1)

I stayed from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm when the sun disappeared behind clouds.

It was a great afternoon to study various ages.  Four or five gulls were quite interesting and not yet Identified.

3/1; 2:00 am; Bryan and I just returned from owling in White Ranch and Golden Gate Canyon State Park (Jefferson County).  We found two Northern Pygmy-Owls on this rather cold night (9 degrees). 

While the night was cold, winds were calm.  One could hear a pin drop (not common this time of winter in this area where winds are usually 15+ mph).  One each Northern Pygmy-Owl at White Ranch and Golden Gate Canyon State Park (both Jefferson County).

Continued Good Birding!

Directions to birding spots on CoBus website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety. net16.net

Richard Stevens; Director, Colorado Birding Society
Denver, Colorado
Contact CoBus/Report Interesting Birds: 303-324-7994
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DIA Owl Loop and Adams County

February 27, 2015

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Hello birders,

Rich Stevens, Bryan Ehlmann and I looked again for the Burrowing Owl at Trussville and 114th.  It wasn't found.  Richard photographed a Snow Bunting with hundreds of Horned Larks and at least two Lapland Longspurs along Quency Street, sometimes called Cargo Street.  The flock flew back and forth across the road at the top of the hill south of the prairie dog town, 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue.  The birds landed on the fence and the cut sunflower field to the west of the road.

We found a Short eared Owl along 112th, east of Queensburg Street.  I believe 112th, may have been lower number.  It is the road to the Aviation Offices along the east side of the airport, south of the Frontier maintenance building.  SEOWs have been seen here before.  We also tried Gun Club Road which is west of the northern runways.

Good Birding!

Jerry Petrosky; Colorado Birding Society
Denver, CO
Contact CoBus/Report Interesting Birds: 303-324-7994
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