Littleton and Southwestern Metro Area

March 9, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 63 degrees. Winds were 7 mph with gusts to 23 mph in the afternoon.  One gust was measured at 31 mph.

Rebecca and I had business in Littleton and made a couple of nearby stops.  The Brant was on the lake in Ketring Park.  The Eastern Screech-Owl was sticking his head out of his favorite tree.

I had to circle Lower Ridgewood Park twice before finding the Eastern Phoebe.  It was along the canal and gravel road southwest of the ball field.  The Hermit Thrush reported a few days earlier was not found.

We could not get home in any good time with Denver's Friday traffic, instead headed south.  Nothing uncommon was on South Platte Park Reservoir (Arapahoe/Jefferson).  The Yellow-billed Loon was relocated from the heronry overlook.  The previously reported Red-necked Grebe was not found.

Eastern Half of Our Grouse Trip

March 6-8, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Terry Michaels and I conducted the eastern side of our grouse trip.  

March 6

Temperatures only reached 44 degrees today.  Winds were ridiculous at 21-22 mph with gusts to 38 mph.  One gust was measured at 52 mph, wow!

Terry Michaels and I arrived at the Yuma County Road 45 Leks about an hour before sunrise.  Three male Greater Prairie-Chickens started their mating dances about 20 minutes later.  If you go, be sure to stay until after sunrise.  Some days they do not start until sunrise.

Later we stopped at Sandsage Wildlife Area (Yuma).  One White-throated Sparrow was among dozens of White-crowned Sparrows, four Song Sparrows and one Lincoln's Sparrow.

Stalker Pond was slow.  We did see a male Northern Cardinal in its red glory far off at the west end of the pond.  Nearby Wray Fishing Unit hosted the resident Barn Owl, however not much else.

Friend's yards in Wray added two male Northern Cardinals, one female, an Eastern Screech-Owl and one red race Fox Sparrow.

Beecher Island (Yuma) had a male Red-bellied Woodpecker and not much else.

No Eastern Phoebes found yet in Yuma County.

Our birding day ended at Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area.  Birding was slow.  One Long-eared Owl was found in the Foster Grove windbreak.  Two Eastern Screech-Owls called along the Republican River east of Highway 385.  Another called at Hale Ponds.

March 7

Temperatures reached 58 degrees in Lamar.  Winds were only 5 mph with gusts to 10 mph.  It was quite pleasant after yesterday.

We chase reports of Lesser Prairie-Chickens at the Leks along the River Road between Coolidge and Syracuse, Kansas.  We hoped this new location for us would pan out; unfortunately, we found none. 

A Field Sparrow was along the old Hwy 50 just west of the Holly Rest Stop.  No Burrowing Owls had arrived at the huge prairie dog village north of the road.

One male Northern Cardinal was the only interesting bird behind Lamar Community College (Prowers).  The red race Fox Sparrow had not been reported for a couple of weeks.

We did not find the resident Barn Owl at Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca).  The Winter Wrens, which spent the winter, appeared to have moved on.

Two Western Screech-Owls were found at Cottonwood Canyon (Baca).  It was a little after midnight so 3/8.

March 8

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures in southeastern Colorado were up to 66 degrees.  Anemometer readings were 6 mph with gusts to 19 mph in the afternoon.

We were quite happy to find two Lesser Prairie-Chickens on a private lek in Baca County.  Lesser Prairie-Chickens are becoming quite scarce anywhere in Colorado and southwestern Kansas.  We decided not to visit the Elkhart, Kansas leks this trip.

A survey of the old Campo lek did not find any birds.  None has been reported for the past three years.  The only sparrows fluttering about were White-crowned Sparrows.

A Cassin's Sparrow surprised us in the field north of the old Campo Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek along Baca County Road G.  It beat the early arrival date by two days. 

We hiked several hours at Picture Canyon (Baca) and relocated a Rufous-crowned Sparrow on the short rocky hillside just south of the parking area.  A Curve-billed Thrasher walked along the short rocky hill south of the old cave/mine.

On the drive out Terry spotted a Greater Roadrunner atop the hill at the entrance.

A return to Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) added three additional Rufous-crowned Sparrows (1.4 miles east of the rustic Campgrounds at Carrizo Creek and Baca County Road 7.  A male Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Eastern Phoebe were south up the draw at the Campgrounds.  Other birds included Bewick's Wren, Canyon Towhees, Chihuahuan Ravens, and another Greater Roadrunner.  Nothing uncommon moved about the draws to the west.

Our return to Denver was by way of hwy 109.  We hoped to run across the Snowy Owl reported last month, did not.  A Chihuahuan Raven was found at Pritchett.  Perhaps the one Jim Dennis reports now and then.

A Rufous-crowned Sparrow was relocated at Vogel Canyon.  Our third Greater Roadrunner of the day ran across the entrance road.

Higbee Cemetery and CR 884 lacked any interesting bird.  Although we did see a Northern Mockingbird west of the Cemetery.  No Black-throated Sparrows have returned yet.

At La Junta, we drove west to Hwy 71 then north to I70.  That section of the trip was uneventful.

A Windy Afternoon At Cherry Creek Reservoir

March 5, 2018

Richard Stevens:

We spent most of this windy day doing chores.  In the afternoon, we passed through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe) and searched unsuccessfully for the Sagebrush Sparrow.  

Looked for a sparrow that does not like to leave the ground and winds were 17-18 mph with gusts to 29 mph.

The two Long-eared Owls were at their usual location.  They stayed about a foot off the ground.  Were they trying to escape the wind?

An Osprey and adult Bald Eagle hunted along the north shore of the lake.  We observed the Bald Eagle diving claws first into the water and catching a fish, Osprey style.

Birding Around Denver

March 4, 2018

Richard Stevens:

A predicted snowstorm was approaching from the west.  Rebecca Kosten and I got out early to check on some recent bird sightings.

The Yellow-billed Loon and Red-necked Grebe were still on Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas Counties).  Both stayed in Douglas County during our visit.

After three trips, we finally found the Brant at Ketring Park (Arapahoe).

In the afternoon, temperature reached 70 degrees with winds at 17-18 mph, gusts to 26 mph at Aurora Reservoir.  The resulting high waves made finding waterfowl difficult.  A couple of Herring Gulls were among 60-70 Ring-billed Gulls.  No uncommon gulls were observed.

The lake was mostly open water today.  We scoped the reservoir four times and did not find the White-winged Scoters or Long-tailed Ducks.  Most likely, they moved on during the recent 95+ percent ice cover.

No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams/Denver).  No Burrowing Owls have arrived yet.

Cherry Creek Reservoir

March 3, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Another spring like day in Colorado's winter.  Temperatures reached 70 degrees, not quite the record of 76.  Winds were 11-12 mph with gusts to 17 mph.

My plans to search for the Brant at Ketring Park and area were sidetracked by Glenn Walbek's Sagebrush Sparrow sighting around the Lake Loop at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).

I circled the Lake Loop and on the third attempt, a sparrow was observed in the middle of a Rabbitbrush.  In the four-second look, I saw a light gray body.  Unfortunately, neither the head nor tail was observed.  

The sparrow appeared to light for a Song Sparrow and too big for an American Tree Sparrow.  Still, it was not enough to call it a Sagebrush Sparrow.

The bird was not seen again while several of us tried to relocate it.  By 4:00 pm, three other birders had unsuccessfully searched and gave up.  I hoped that by 5:00 pm (dinnertime?), the bird would appear to eat before dark.

Almost on time, at 4:53 pm, the Sagebrush Sparrow popped out of the Rabbitbrush and landed on the road.  It was great to see the sparrow; unfortunately, it landed about 10 yards from six dog walkers.  

As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared into the bushes farther north.  Later I got glimpses of the sparrow as it moved from bush to bush.  Three additional birders were attempting to relocate the sparrow when I had to leave.

Broomfield, Weld and Adams Counties

March 2, 2018

Richard Stevens:

I drove up to Highway 7 and Huron Street, Broomfield County.

It was a pleasure to meet Ivan Mota who has been watching a Burrowing Owl in the southwest field since last year.  Today they were capturing Prairie Dogs for relocation to another part of Broomfield County.

After an hour, I found the Burrowing Owl on a fence post along the fence running east to west at the ditch north of the oil rig road (suggested by Ivan, thanks much)!

My next stop was Luna Reservoir located only 2-3 miles east of the Burrowing Owl.  The reservoir was 3/4 ice covered.  Hundreds of gulls stood on the ice. 

I scoped the reservoir for two hours and picked out a Glaucous Gull, adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and Iceland Gull.  The afternoon sun lit up the legs, which helped picking on the Iceland Gulls, etc.

At least four Greater Scaups utilized the open water.  The many female Buffleheads and Ruddy Ducks made it quite difficult to find a Long-tailed Duck in the heat waves.  If one was still there, I missed it.

Several Great-tailed Grackles flew around the Town of Barr.  No Yellow-headed Blackbirds have returned yet at the cattail fields north of the Reservoir.

A stop at Barr Lake (Adams) found it mostly ice covered.  No uncommon birds were encountered.  I cannot walk so could not check on the Barn Owls, Long-eared Owls and Great Horned Owl(s) nest(s).

A drive around the DIA Owl Loop did not find any Burrowing Owls.  It is several weeks early.  It is believed the Broomfield owl was a hold over from last summer.  It has been there for at least 3-4 months.

No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening when I was parked 0.2 miles north of West Cargo Road and Third Creek.

Two Red-tailed Hawks, one Ferruginous Hawk and one Rough-legged Hawk watched the prairie dog village here.

Western Half of Grouse Trip

February 26-March 1, 2018

Richard Stevens:

February 26

Terry Michaels and I started the western half of the CoBus Grouse Tour.  High temperature today was 21 degrees.  Winds were 33 mph with gusts to 44 mph.  We considered ourselves fortunate to find any birds.

We found one White-tailed Ptarmigan hunkered under a pine tree east of Hwy 9, across from the first pullover west of the road and south of the Pass's Summit.

Next, we visited a friend's yard and observed many mountain species including three species of Rosy Finches, Mountain Chickadees, Pine Siskins, Clark's Nutcrackers, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers and White-breasted & Pygmy Nuthatches.

Our birding day ended at the Jackson CR 26b leks.  Two male Greater Sage-Grouse were observed crossing the road.  They did not display; no females appeared.

February 27

Temperatures reached 36 degrees in Hayden.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 16 mph.

We sat at the Hayden Twenty Road Leks for a couple of cold hours at sunrise.  Eventually two Sharp-tailed Grouse flew from the east side of the road over to the grassy hillside.  They looked around, however never did they mating dance.

We drove to Oxbow Wildlife Area (Moffat).  No Sagebrush Sparrows have arrived yet.  Not much was moving around.

A Great-tailed Grackle was encountered at the Rifle Rest Stop (Garfield).

No Chukars were found at Cameo (Coal Canyon) and we headed up the Grand Mesa (Mesa County). 

We found a Northern Saw-whet Owl close to where one was the last two years.  A Northern Pygmy-Owl called at the Powderhorn Ski Area.  No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found this evening.

A drive to the Visitor's Center and back, unfortunately did not find any Boreal Owls this night.  Anemometer reading was 32 mph.

February 28

We enjoyed the warmer day with high temperatures of 55 degrees in Grand Junction.  Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 16 mph.

A return to Coal Canyon (Mesa) found a male Chukar calling from the steep hillside across from the parking area at the second pipe gate.  It called a good twenty minutes before Terry spotted it under the rocks.

We returned to Grand Junction and continued west to Mack, then north on Mesa County Road 4.  A Sagebrush Sparrow was found at one of my favorite spots about seven miles north of S Road.  They have been found here the past six years.  On the return trip, a stop at Bar X Wash added a Long-eared Owl to our trip list.

A detour over to Mesa CR 2 relocated two of the Sagebrush Sparrows reported by Denise & Mark Vollmar on 2/18.  Our target bird a Northern Mockingbird was not found.  The area is good for Scott's Orioles in May.

The Western Screech-Owl was out of its favorite tree at Connected Lakes State Park.  A drive through Colorado National Monument added two Juniper Titmice and five Pinyon Jays to our day list.  Both were flying around the Campgrounds.  It was too early to expect any Black-throated Gray Warblers, Gray Flycatchers and Gray Vireos.

A detour to Fruitgrower's Reservoir (Delta) found a lone Lewis's Woodpecker.  We were told that one of the homeowners along M50 Road enjoys shooting the woodpeckers.

Our birding day ended at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose).  The south rim drive is closed at the Visitor's Center.  While enjoying the view at the Visitor's Center overlook, we saw a lone Brown-capped Rosy Finch fly by below us.

Thirty minutes before sunset, we parked at the turnoff between the Entrance Kiosk and the Campgrounds.  The technique worked as a male Dusky Grouse was observed crossing the road!

March 1, 2018

Temperatures reached a comfortable 63 degrees in Pueblo today.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

Thirty minutes before sunrise, we drove Gunnison 887 Road.  A Gunnison Sage-Grouse was observed crossing the road a good 1/2 mile north of the Waunita Hot Springs Lek.  Local residents travel up and down the road most mornings; we saw no reason to think our drive would affect the birds.  The Lek itself is closed until April 1.  Parking on the side of the road is now prohibited.  

We do wonder if the sheriff can stop birders from walking up the road.  Several years ago when parking was still allowed, we parked a good 1/4 mile south of the lek and walked up the road.  We scoped the road quite a distance north and observed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse without having to park at the lek.  The distance from the grouse was too far to disturb the birds.

With little chance of finding a Lesser Prairie-Chicken in southeastern Colorado and a recent visit to Cottonwood Canyon (Baca), we decided to skip the eastern half of the grouse trip.  Instead, we took a roundabout route through Pueblo County.

A detour up Tunnel Drive in Canon City (Fremont) found two Rufous-crowned Sparrows near the parking area trailhead.

A drive down the Swallows Road (Pueblo) added two Scaled Quail and a Curve-billed Thrasher to our trip list.

The Great Black-backed Gull and a Common Loon were observed at the Pueblo Reservoir south marina (Pueblo).

Then we headed to Colorado City, Rye and Beulah (Pueblo).  The White-winged Scoter was not on Lake Beckwith as we passed.  One Acorn Woodpecker was at its favorite tree at Pueblo Mountain Park.

Our birding day and trip ended with some owling around Beulah.  Unfortunately, owls were quiet this night.  Which was the story during the whole trip.