A Sunny Day in Elbert County

May 13, 2015

I tried to duplicate David Suddjian's superb drive around Elbert County yesterday.  I did not come close.  However, a few interesting birds were flying around.

David's birds that I was able to relocate included a Dusky Flycatcher at Bijou Creek and CR 117 and a Field Sparrow near Bijou Creek and CR 170.  Target misses included the Chestnut-sided Warbler near Bijou Creek and CR 125 and the Mourning Warbler at Bijou Creek and CR 170.

The highlight of my drive around Elbert County was a Mourning Warbler at Box Elder Creek along County Line Road (spot where Northern Parula & Tennessee Warbler were found last week).

My luck improved at Barr Lake (Adams County) in spite of the late afternoon hike.  In my experience, birds follow the direct sunlight and I assume insects.  Barr Lake's main road is usually more active in the morning with its eastern sun.  The afternoon direct sunlight is on the side of trees inaccessible due to water levels. 

In order of sightings, walking from Visitor's Center footbridge to boat ramp (mile 7.5):

A Blackpoll Warbler was at mile 8.9 loosely associated with two Black-capped Chickadees and three Yellow-rumped Warblers.

A Hermit Thrush at mile 8.8.  Then a Nashville Warbler deep in the chokecherry bushes at mile 8.7.

The Barn Owl was at the banding station (mile 8.5).  One Osprey (female?) on nesting platform with the other (male) perched overhead along the shore.

At the willows, mile 7.8, I was trying to choose whether the thrush I was looking at was Swainson's or Hermit (turned out to be Swainson's Thrush).  Another thrush popped out of the underbrush and was a Gray-cheeked Thrush!

I forgot to scope the lake to see if the Common Loon was still present.

The birding day ended with a drive around the DIA Owl Loop.  At least five Burrowing Owls were spread over three locations.  About 10 minutes after sunset, a Short-eared Owl flew around the field west of Gun Club Road (south of 96th avenue).

Back to Weld County

March 12, 2015

Richard Stevens

Terry Michaels and I returned to Weld County.  Then I searched unsuccessfully for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).

A Wet Weld County

March 11, 2015


Terry Michaels and I spent the day driving the wet roads in Weld County.

Barr Lake and Cherry Creek Reservoir

May 10, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I returned to Barr Lake (Adams County) today after some of last night's snowstorm melted.  It was disappointing after yesterday's great birding day.  No new sightings were found.

The highlights were relocating the Northern Waterthrush hidden in the bushes south of the Niedrach Trail and the Cassin's Vireo, which was now at mile 8.4, north of yesterday's location at the banding station.

Spotted Towhees numbered eight, Green-tailed Towhees four, Common Yellowthroat two, Bullock's Orioles five, Warbling Vireo one, Western Kingbirds many.

Misses: I could not relocate the Hooded Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler from yesterday.  I forgot to mention yesterday, that while walking the main trail I Mississippi Kite flew over.  One was reported yesterday morning at Cherry Creek State Park; no way to know if this was the same bird late in the afternoon (the two sightings were 20 miles apart).

On the way to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe), I observed three Burrowing Owls along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams).

The main road at Cherry Creek Reservoir was flooded at Lakeview Drive and Cherry Creek.  I first entered from the western entrance and drove the road to the shooting range; without seeing the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.  Many of yesterday's sparrows, kingbirds and shrikes were now along the shooting range road.  A male Ring-necked Pheasant walked along the western fenceline.

I stopped at the trailhead to the Bellevue wetlands and walked over to see if any shorebirds were there.  Water level was too high for any shore; however, I did see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher southeast of the pond.

Next, I left the park and reentered from the eastern/northern entrance, then drove to the Smoky Hill Group Picnic Area.  Finding few birds, mostly Chipping and White-crowned Sparrows there, I decided to walk over to the pond northwest of the swim beach.  Green Herons once nested here.

No Green Herons were around the pond filled high to the brim from snowmelt.  Hundreds of birds flew around the cottonwoods, willows and gooseberry bushes.

Among these birds were:

Sixteen Black-capped Chickadees, thirty seven Yellow-rumped Warblers, two Orange-crowned Warblers, twenty Western Kingbirds, two Green-tailed Towhees and White-crowned & Song Sparrows.

Highlights were a Palm Warbler (perhaps the same one that Loch Kilpatrick had found early in the day at the Group Picnic Area).  A Red-eyed Vireo fluttered about on the edge of the Yellow-rumped Warbler flock.  I would have missed a Blackpoll Warbler if not for trying to count the Black-capped Chickadees.

Empidonax Flycatchers were represented by a Cordilleran Flycatcher (with its tear drop eye ring) and a Dusky Flycatcher (pumping its tail downward).  Both called twice and allowed comparisons and positive identification!

On the way back to my car at the group picnic area, I ran into nine Say's Phoebes, another half dozen Western Kingbirds, one Cassin's Kingbird and three Loggerhead Shrikes!

No shorebirds could be found on the limited exposed shore (too much water).  Two Bonaparte's Gulls, an adult Bald Eagle and an Osprey flew by during my visit.

Jackson Reservoir and Barr Lake

May 9, 2015

Richard Stevens:

There was a downfall of birds at Barr Lake this afternoon.  I walked around in the rain for three hours and found the following.  BTW, some of my most successful/enjoyable birding days have been during rain.
Birds counted from the Visitor's Center footbridge to the Pioneer Trail, 1.0 miles away. 
Seven male, three female Spotted Towhees
Four Green-tailed Towhees
1st year Bullock's Oriole
two Western Kingbirds

A Mississippi Kite flying overhead was quite a surprise.  Mississippi Kites have only been reported twice other times in Adams County.  Both those sightings were at Eastlake Reservoir # 3.

(I found out later that a Mississippi Kite was seen flying over Cherry Creek State Park in Arapahoe County about seven hours earlier (2nd county record).  The Barr Lake bird may have been the same bird (it is only 20 miles between the two reservoirs).

Continuing Northeast along the main road, several birds were found in one of the taller willow trees near the banding station (mile 8.5)
Cassin's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Warbling Vireo

Several birds moved about low to ground around gooseberry bushes at mile 8.3
Hooded Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee

Just before reaching the Pioneer Trail (mile 8.1) another "group" of birds were encountered. 
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warblers (9)
Black-throated Gray Warbler

I then walked down the pioneer trail to the bird blind.  Assuming it was the female Osprey on the platform nest to the west, the male was in the tree just off the bird blind.

While returning to footbridge, I spotted a Brown Thrasher at mile 8.9.  Its face was quite gray; the thought that it could be a Long-billed Thrasher came to mind.  The bill appeared longish; however, with no comparison in regard to size, no conclusions could be drawn.  With additional looks, the color of the thrasher leaned toward calling it a Brown Thrasher.

After reaching the footbridge, I continued southwest on the Niedrach boardwalk trail.  Just south of the footbridge a male Wilson's Warbler, Hermit Thrush and two Orange-crowned Warblers fluttered about the cottonwoods.

At the southwest end of the boardwalk at the footbridge, a male Common Yellowthroat popped out of the brush.  A Dusky Flycatcher was another 100 yards to the southwest.

Once at the boardwalk, I observed a Western Wood-pewee and another Common Yellowthroat.  My hike continued to the southwest end of the boardwalk and another 200 yards to the willow field.  A third Common Yellowthroat was encountered there.

I looked closely at the water's edge while peering through the willows.  Movement along the shore proved to be that of a Northern Waterthrush at southwest end of footbridge.

Rain continued to get heavier and I ended my birding day.  It was assumed that no Burrowing or Short-eared Owls would be out during the downpour.

Earlier in the day, Bob Varnon and I drove out to Jackson Reservoir in Morgan County.  We enjoyed several uncommon bird sightings. Weather was better than I found later at Barr Lake.

Birds found
Red-necked Phalaropes
Wilson's Phalaropes
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Spotted Towhees
Green-tailed Towhee
Plumbeous Vireo
Common Yellowthroat
American Robins, dozens
Plumbeous Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
White-throated Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak
Eastern Screech-Owl
Long-eared Owl
Great Horned Owl
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Franklin's Gulls

At Andrick Wildlife Area
American Bittern

Grouse and Owl Trips

May 3 through 8, 2015

CoBus Grouse and Owl Trips

Pine Valley Ranch Park, Barr Lake and DIA Owl Loop.

May 2, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I birded Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson County) in the late morning.  We did not walk up Buck Gulch Trail in search of American Three-toed Woodpeckers.  No Three-toed Woodpeckers were along the hillside above Pine Lake today.

A small flock of sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Wilson's Warbler had another surprise for us.  An adult Nashville Warbler fluttered about the willows also!

A hike west down the Narrow Gauge Trail found an American Dipper under the footbridge.  At the western end gate, I played a Northern Pygmy-Owl recording.  To our surprise, a Northern Pygmy-Owl called back!

After dropping Bryan off, I drove over to Barr Lake (Adams County).  After reaching the Osprey platform about 0.5 miles northeast of the Visitor's Center footbridge, I returned.  Two Ospreys were still on the nesting platform.

A Barn Owl was in the owl box by the banding station.  I played a White-eyed Vireo recording and the previously reported White-eyed Vireo answered!  I only was able to get a couple of quick looks before it disappeared in brushes in the water.

Several Swainson's Hawks, many House Wrens, a Song Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow were encountered during the hike.

A Common Loon was again observed from the Niedrach Boardwalk.  It was quite a bit farther out than when I photographed it on 4/10 (photos on Colorado Birding Society's website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net (recent witness photos) link.

Nine Burrowing Owls were spread across four locations along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams County). I would speculate that most of the females are in burrows lying or on eggs.

No Short-eared Owls appeared this afternoon.