Birding Around Denver & Adams Counties

Richard Stevens:

Temperature reached 68 degrees.  Winds were measured at 9-10 mph with gusts to 22 mph.

I went searching for the Northern Mockingbird at Westerly Creek Park this morning.  It was not found; however, the Harris's Sparrow was again around the retention area east of 23rd and Beeler.

A drive through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams) found the Eastern Phoebe and two Burrowing Owls (Wildlife Drive).

I again missed the Barn Owl(s) reported along the First Creek Trail (Denver).

Walk at Cherry Creek Reservoir

April 10, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 63 degrees in Aurora today.  Winds were 12 mph with gusts to 29 mph.

After riding in a car last week for 2160 miles, I needed a long walk today.  I chose Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and walked from the Cottonwood Creek wetlands restroom parking area to the Mountain Loop and back.

Target bird, the Eastern Bluebirds reported a few days ago were not found.  No Western Kingbirds or American Tree Sparrows were found either.

Highlights came during the walk from the Prairie Loop parking area along Cottonwood Creek back to the wetlands pond.

First a Swamp Sparrow was found twenty feet south of the cottonwood tree with the nest in it (south of the paved path with now closed sign, footbridge has been washed out for months).

Continuing south, a Stub-tailed Wren popped out of the brush.  The location was halfway between the end of the strip of willows south of above paved path and the footbridge along the cement bike path.  It was just south of the skinny 10 foot tree.

I first played a Pacific Wren recording and received no response.  Then I waited five minutes and played a Winter Wren recording.  The Winter Wren popped out of the willows from the third time.

The many swallows flying over the Cottonwood Creek Pond and toward the Bellvue Wetlands Pond include two Northern Rough-winged, two Cliff, twenty four Barn, twelve Tree and at least one Violet-green.

No American Tree Sparrows were found today; two Chipping Sparrows were observed around the Lake Loop.

After the long walk, I drove to the eastern boat ramp upper parking area to rest.  There was motion under the bushes southeast of the restroom as I stopped the car. 

When I observed the Fox Sparrow days ago, the same thing occurred.  Motion was spotted and after an hour, the Fox Sparrow emerged from under the bushes.  After about 10 minutes, a male Ring-necked Pheasant came out.  No Fox Sparrow was appeared during my hour stay.

Another Grouse Trip

April 5-9, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Tom Jenkins, Marcus Meyerotto and I made the grouse tour in a clockwise direction.  Heading west would have forced us to deal with snowstorms.

April 5

Temperatures eventually reached 64 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts later in the day at 14 mph.

At first light, we sat at the Yuma County Road 45 Greater Prairie-Chicken lek.  Only five males and no females were observed this morning.

The highlight of the day was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the Wray Community Hospital.  At least one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been recorded here in 3/31/2015 and 4/3/2014 (10/2/2012 & 10/15/2015 also).

An Eastern Phoebe was fluttering about at nearby Wray City Park.  Another Eastern Phoebe was relocated at Wray Fishing Unit.  While a male Northern Cardinal was to the south at Stalker Pond.

A stop at Beecher Island as we drove south added a Field Sparrow and yet another Eastern Phoebe to our day list.

Our birding day ended at dusk while we listened to an Eastern Screech-Owl call at Hale Ponds.

April 6

Temperatures reached 65 degrees today.  Winds were 9-11 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

Lamar Community College (Prowers) added another Northern Cardinal and a Red-bellied Woodpecker to our trip list.

A detour to Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca) found an uncommon Bonaparte's Gull flying below the dam. However, it is the third year in a row for a Bonaparte's Gull sighting. 

Yet another Eastern Phoebe was found.  We missed the resident Barn Owl today; however, a Brown Thrasher was found singing below the dam.  No warblers or vireos have shown up yet.

We stretched our legs with a walk around the field north of the old Campo Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek.  Tom relocated a Cassin's Sparrow that I first found on 3/24.

Just before sunset, we parking at a friend's ranch and watched two Lesser Prairie-Chickens do their mating thing!

While driving west on Baca County Road M near CR 32, a Short-eared Owl was caught in our headlights.

Our birding day ended at Cottonwood Canyon (Baca).  Two Western Screech-Owls were heard and seen!

April 7

Temperatures only reached 51 degrees in the Gunnison Valley today.  Winds were mild at 3 mph with a few gusts to 12 mph.

We drove Gunnison Road 887 just before sunrise and found two Gunnison Sage-Grouse just north of the Waunita Hot Springs Lek.

A day was "saved" when we relocated a male Dusky Grouse displaying well after sunrise (mid morning) at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose County).  A slate colored Fox Sparrow, several White-throated Swifts and two Spotted Towhees were an added bonus.

One Lewis's Woodpecker was relocated along Meyers Road near Fruitgrower's Reservoir (Delta).

A drive up Escalante Canyon (Delta) relocated a Black Phoebe and found several Pinyon Jays.  No Chukars could be relocated during a two hour drive up and down the canyon.

We retired early, a welcomed rest from the long recent drives.

April 8

Temperatures reached 66 degrees.  Winds were stronger today at 8 mph with gusts to 18 mph.

Our birding day started at the Colorado National Monument (Mesa County).  Two Black-throated Sparrows were found just outside the eastern entrance.  A drive around the subdivision near the entrance found a dozen Gambel's Quail.

We decided to skip driving through the Monument, however did hike the Devil's Kitchen trail just inside the eastern entrance.  We hoped a Black-chinned Sparrow had returned; none was found.  Eight Pinyon Jays flew over the rocky cliffs.

From Fruita we drove up Mesa County Road 4.  Several Sagebrush Sparrows were relocated (about seven miles up the road after its southern terminal at S Road. 

If the "resident" Long-eared Owls have returned to nest again, we were not able to find them.

We stopped at the second pipe gate up Coal Canyon.  Fortune shined, a Chukar was heard as soon as we stepped out of our vehicle.  However, it took another 30 minutes actually to see the bird.

Half a dozen Pinyon Jays flew over the hill to our north, Black-throated Sparrows and Rock Wrens called nearby.

Then we drove up the Grand Mesa (Mesa County).  A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found close to where I had found it last year.  We continued to the Visitor's Center.

A Dusky Grouse crossed highway 65 to the west in Delta County.

Few birds moved around the Visitor's Center parking area.  However, a great bonus, a Northern Goshawk made a brief appearance!

At dark, we backtracked to I70 and stopped at the many pullovers along highway 65.  Eventually two Boreal Owls were heard south of the Spruce Grove Campgrounds.  One of which allows us nice views of this elusive bird!

Misses: Northern Pygmy-Owl could be found around the Powderhorn Ski Area this night.

April 9

Temperature today in Steamboat Springs was 56 degrees.  Winds were calm, 1 mph with a few gusts at 9 mph.

Sharp-tailed Grouse seldom visit their leks before sunrise so I decided to checkout the 80 Route Leks (Routt County) first.   We parked at the second cattle guard up 80 Route about an hour before sunrise.

The "resident" male Dusky Grouse emerged from the leaf-less willows, looked around and walked back.  Greater Sage-Grouse could be heard booming in the distance.  We managed to get a scope on two!

We hurried to the Twenty Road Leks south of Hayden.  Five Sharp-tailed Grouse were still performing their mating rituals at 9:00 am!

The Trumpeter Swan was no longer on Stagecoach Recreational Area Lake; one Common Loon was however.

We drove around Steamboat Springs in search of Bohemian Waxwings; none was found.

A stop at the Rabbit Ears Pass maintenance shed road did not find any Crossbills.  The female American Three-toed Woodpecker did fly to a telephone pole on the south side of the road.  Later she ended up in the pines just north of the road.

No Rosy Finches or Common Redpolls could be found in Kremmling (Grand).  We detoured over to Windy Gap Reservoir (Grand) and observed twenty Barrow's Goldeneyes swimming around.  A few Common Goldeneyes were also on the lake.

We returned to Denver by way of Granby and Highway 40 to avoid the traffic along I70 (between Silverthorne and Georgetown).

Return to Cherry Creek Reservoir

April 4, 2017

Richard Stevens:

In the afternoon, we drove over to Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and parked near the east boat ramp upper parking area restroom.  The car was used as a bird blind. 

The Fox Sparrow came out of the thick bushes near the parking area within ten minutes of our arrival. He worked his away out of the green grass east of the bushes and walked the wet dirt trail.

Unfortunately, ten minutes later a person parked next to us and let his dog out.  The dog sniffed the same area that the Fox Sparrow was searching for food.  The Fox Sparrow then went back deep into the bushes.

Nothing else uncommon was found.  American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants were the majority birds on the lake.  Two Say's Phoebes were hawking bugs at the Lake Loop.

One Day Trip to the Mountains

April 3, 2017

Richard Stevens:

We ran into inclement weather most of the day.  Our trip started at Loveland Pass (Clear Creek).  It took over two hours to find a White-tailed Ptarmigan.  The bird was up the hill west of Hwy 9.  We had parked at the first pullover on the east side of hwy 9 and south of the Loveland Pass Summit.

A visit to a friend's home in Summit County added the usual mountain species including three species of Rosy Finches.

We missed the American Three-toed Woodpecker up Rabbit Ears Pass (Grand) and turned eastward.  A Rough-legged Hawk was observed along highway 14.

At sunset, we watched several dozen Greater Sage-Grouse at the Jackson County Road 26 lek.  They were displaying during a snowstorm.

After dark, we searched for Boreal Owls either side of Cameron Pass.  Snow was falling rapidly.  Winds were 26 mph with gusts to 42 mph.  It was impossible to hear any of the sound-calling owls.

Our search continued through the early hours.  The wind and snow did not stop.  Weather reports indicated that the snow was not going to let up and we made the decision to return to Denver.

An Hour At Cherry Creek Reservoir

April 2, 2017

Richard Stevens:

Stayed home most of Sunday preparing for another grouse trip.  Rebecca and I drove to dinner near Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  We were not going to stay as long as I did yesterday.

The sun shone brightly when we arrived at Cherry Creek Reservoir at 6:15 pm.  Clouds were rolling in from the west; we only had 15-20 minutes of direct sunlight left.

When we exited our SUV at the east boat ramp upper parking area, I though I heard a Fox Sparrow calling from the willows downhill.  Brushed it off as bad hearing, we circled the bushes southeast of the restroom (yesterday's location).

Sunday, many people walked up and down the path where I photographed the Fox Sparrow yesterday.  There never was a five minute lull in the foot traffic.

Finding no sparrow from 6:15 pm to 6:35 pm, we were about to leave.  A familiar bird song was coming from the hillside to the north. 

Just to make sure it was a Sage Thrasher we heard I climbed up the hill.  Not only one but two Sage Thrashers were singing from the tops of Rabbit Brush.

While trying to get a photo of either Sage Thrasher, a sparrow runs below and between two Rabbit Brushes.  I managed to get a witness photograph the Sagebrush Sparrow and Sage Thrasher!  The three birds stayed in the small area of Rabbit Brush as we left.

Perhaps it was a Sagebrush Sparrow that I observing flying around the model airplane field last Friday? 

Back at the bushes near the restroom, I circled it one last time before leaving.  The Fox Sparrow was perched on the east side of the small "grove".  Eventually he did fly down to the willows at a forty five degree angle southeast of said "grove" Perhaps I did hear him earlier?  Got a couple of witness shots, nothing was as good as yesterdays (posted on Colorado Birding Society's Photo Library).

Westerly Park & Cherry Creek State Park Sparrows

April 1, 2017

Richard Stevens:

It was a great first day of April.  Plans to search for White-tailed Ptarmigan on Loveland Pass had to be canceled when the pass was closed due to last night's snowstorm.

Instead, I drove around Denver and Aurora.  Temperature only reached 39 degrees today.  Winds were 4 mph with gusts to 8 mph.  Rain of various speeds fell most of the afternoon.

I detoured to Westerly Creek Park (Denver County) in spite of the Harris's Sparrow not having been reported since 3/19.  First, I checked the open space and park near 25th street & Beeler.

The Harris's Sparrow was not found; however, a Swamp Sparrow popped up from the cattails just south of the retention area east of Beeler. 

Two American Tree Sparrows were 50 yards to the south.  It is getting late for them.  Every spring it appears that once they start to migrate it is difficult finding them anywhere in the state.

I continued south to the retention area east of 2365 Beeler Street.  A flock of twenty-two White-crowned Sparrows flew from the bushy grove just south of the wet area and wandered along the ground. 

Another bird that stayed under the bushes was difficult to see.  Eventually it did emerge; it was the Harris's Sparrow.

My next stop was Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe), the target the Fox Sparrow reported yesterday.  I circled the bushes southeast of the restroom at the boat ramp upper parking area.  Finding no sparrows, I continued down to Pelican Point.

Unfortunately, no shorebirds were along the shore.  Three Say's Phoebes and half a dozen robins wandered along the shore.  While walking to the swim beach, many robins and another nine Say's Phoebes were observed grabbing bugs.

When I returned to the bushes next to the restroom, I noticed movement from a sparrow like bird.  In the next 2 hours and 10 minutes, I would get a sense of movement.  However, the bird never allowed much of a view; I could not even determine its colors.

The drizzle was quite fast in the next 2 hours that I stood watching the bushes.  Finally, the Fox Sparrow popped out and looked around from one of the branches!

I exited the park by way of the Lake Loop and Prairie Loop.  A lone Rusty Blackbird walked the shore at the west side of the Lake Loop.

Besides American White Pelicans, many Horned Grebe swam around the lake this afternoon.  No uncommon gulls were found.  Two Barn Swallows hawked bugs over the lake.

One Burrowing Owl was out at West Cargo Road & Third Creek when the rain stopped along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams).  No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.

I visit the DIA Owl Loop almost everyday that I am in town; do not seem to have the same problems with police and rent-a-cops as others are having.  About every other trip, I have been seeing three or four kids with AK 7s shooting along the north side of Third Creek.  Someone should do something about them.

Photos of the Fox Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow have been put on the Colorado Birding Society's photo library:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net