Return to Cherry Creek Reservoir

April 12, 2018

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures reached 75 degrees today.  Winds were 11-12 mph.  Gusts in the afternoon measured 31 mph.

Once again, while out doing chores I stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  A walk to the north end of the 12 mile beaver pond and back did not find the Sagebrush Sparrow.

No Long-eared Owls, kingbirds or any sparrows were encountered.

Looks like weather is changing for the worse on Friday.

A Couple of Birding Stops in Arapahoe County

April 11, 2018

Richard Stevens:

While out doing chores, Rebecca and I stopped at several places.  Temperatures reached 79 degrees today.  Winds were 10-11 mph with gusts to 17 mph.

The Greater White-fronted Goose was near the ponds at the south end of Expo Park in Aurora.

Photos on Colorado Birding Society's photo library: recent favorite photos

Winds had stopped at 6:00 pm when Rebecca and I walked the 12 mile Beaver Pond trail at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).

We walked to the north end of the ponds and returned to our car.  The Sagebrush Sparrow was not observed on the way south.  I had given up that the sparrow was still there.  However, it was on the path when we returned.  

The location was halfway between where the trail goes through a willow patch and the next willow patch to the south.

I only took a couple of witness shots before my favorite dog walker (see yesterday's post) came down the path and scared the sparrow away for the second day in a row.  I did inform her, that we would not return tomorrow.

photo: recent witness photo link

Westerly Park and Cherry Creek Reservoir

April 10, 2018

I enjoyed a spectacular spring day and successful bird searches today.

It was another spectacular spring day in Colorado.  Temperatures reached 70 degrees under partly sunny skies.  Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 13 mph.

I could not remember seeing a Sage Thrasher in Denver County and headed to Westerly Creek Park (Denver).  Sue Clasen & Mary Keithler found on at the Park this morning.  There was also a chance to relocate the Harris's Sparrow reported by Jason Begood on 4/1.

A walk from 23rd and Beeler Street to 26th Street did not find either target birds.

On the way back, I crossed Beeler and checked the bushes in the park northwest of Beeler & 25th street.  While trying to identify a White-crowned Sparrow under the bushes, the Sage Thrasher popped up to the top of the bushes (4:05 pm).

Photos in the Colorado Birding Society's photo library; recent favorite photos link

http://coloradobirdingsociety.net 

My next stop was Expo Park in Aurora (Arapahoe).  G. Stacks had found a Greater White-fronted Goose in the park this morning.  The only geese among the hordes of people were twenty three White-cheeked Geese.

After receiving a text message about a Sagebrush Sparrow (Bob Righter, 4/10) along the 12 mile beaver trail at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) I headed that way.

As I walked along the trail, a sparrow scurried along the gravel path in front of me.  It was 15 feet south of the Number 3 signpost.  Later it wandered north to 10 feet north of the post.

While trying to photograph the sparrow a dog walker who was talking on a cell phone walked by and scared the sparrow back into the willows.

After pointing out that, she had to pass a "no dogs allowed" sign to get to this point,  she offered some nasty words and continued south.  

I waited about 20 minutes.  The sparrow reappeared just about the time the dog walker decided to return and make the point that she had a "right of way" down the trail.

I waited another 20 minutes and the Sagebrush Sparrow reappeared.  This time it was at the willows/tall trees on the west side of the trail and first reached when walking south from the parking area.

Photos in the Colorado Birding Society's Photo Library.

NOTE:  I watched where the first Sagebrush Sparrow sighting flew into the willows.  The second sighting was quite farther north.  I do wonder if there are two Sagebrush Sparrows here.  Two Sagebrush Sparrows were not however, seen at the same time.

My birding day ended by watching a Long-eared Owl deep in the Russian Olive trees along the road to the Shooting Range.

Not a bad afternoon of birding.

Eastern Phoebe Back at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

April 9, 2018

Temperatures reached 55 degrees this afternoon.  Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 17 mph.

I started out at Barr Lake (Adams) searching for the Broad-winged Hawk reported yesterday.  Because of the long distance hiked on my broken ankle and toes yesterday, I could only scope the trees from the paved road.  The Broad-winged Hawk was not found.

Went to see the Red-necked Grebe at Coors Pond (Jefferson) early in the afternoon and then I stopped at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams).

At 3:30 pm, winds were dead calm and the temperature was 55 degrees.  What a beautiful spring day it was.  My target birds were the Eastern Phoebes that have nested the past four years at the arsenal.

I did not see any Eastern Phoebes along the canal at 64th Avenue and Potomac Street.  A Gray Catbird came out of the willows near the cement ledge (below 64th) for a drink of water.

Continuing to the beginning of the one-way section of the Wildlife drive no Red-headed Woodpeckers, Kingbirds or uncommon birds were encountered.  So, I returned to the canal.

An unknown woodpecker was drumming; I walked along 64th trying to see the bird.  Not sure, I could tell the difference between a Northern Flicker and Red-headed Woodpecker drumming, therefore needed to see the bird.  It turned out to be a Flicker.

It was such a superb day; I sat for an hour at the canal listening to the drumming of the woodpecker and chatter of tens of dozens of American Robins.

After 35 minutes, an Eastern Phoebe was spotted in the two small cottonwoods along the road going south along the canal.  It only moved twice in the next 30 minutes.  Once to the logs lying on the ground and then it moved behind the willows south of the logs.

While I was waiting, a House Wren popped out of the woodpile north of 64th and east of the canal.

The Eastern Phoebe was not moving closer and I departed.  A drive up to the Rattlesnake Hill parking area found a Great-tailed Grackle on the telephone poles near the buildings to the south.

The western side of the Wildlife Area was closed today.  It required backtracking to leave the Park.

One Burrowing Owl was relocated at West Cargo Road and Third Creek.  No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.

Harris's Sparrow of First Creek Trail

April 8, 2018

Temperatures reached 62 degrees today.  With winds 12-13 mph, gusts to 25 mph, it felt cold.

Rebecca Kosten and I hiked the First Creek Trail (Adams/Denver) this afternoon.  It was my first walk longer than 20 yards since breaking my ankle and toes several months ago.  It was a long walk.

When we arrived at the First Creek trailhead, fourteen White-crowned Sparrows flew from the woodpile, Adams County side of Buckley, to the tumbleweeds below the gate inside the chain link fence to the south.

I noticed movement in the woodpile and eventually the Harris's Sparrow popped up to the limbs.  Photos on the Colorado Birding Society's photo library, recent favorite photos link.

While wandering south to the large cottonwoods along Buckley Road to inspect a flock of small birds, we found two dozen House Finches.

Then we then noticed the White-crowned Sparrows flew to the chain link fenced area on the Denver County side of the trailhead.  The Harris's Sparrow eventually followed the White-crowned Sparrows.

The Harris's Sparrow was recorded in both counties today!

On the way to dinner, we again passed through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe).  The Lesser Black-backed Gull was again on the poles outlining the southwest marina.

Misses: no Long-eared Owls, uncommon birds, kingbirds or sparrows.

Northern Goshawk Search in Arapahoe County

April 7, 2018

Temperatures reached 59 degrees on this party sunny day.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 17 mph.  

Rebecca Kosten and I searched for the Northern Goshawk reported around Quincy Reservoir this morning.  It was the third report of a Northern Goshawk this year between the 7.5 mile stretch between Pronghorn Natural Area (near Aurora Reservoir) and Quincy Reservoir. No suspense, we did not find it. 

We tried to follow the tall metal electric poles that run from Quincy to Aurora Reservoir.  They seemed to be the best spot for a Goshawk to perch.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull was with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls, several California Gulls and a Herring Gull at Quincy Reservoir.

Nothing uncommon was found at Aurora Reservoir.  Both Eared Grebes and Horned Grebes swam around, some in breeding plumage.

A drive around the Jewell-Yale Loop found a Sage Thrasher east of the fracking tanks along Yale.  Not one sparrow was found throughout the trip.  Only one Horned Lark was along the loop.

After an early dinner, we drove through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe). Still no Western Kingbirds encountered.  An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the poles surrounding the southwest marina.  Few waterfowl were on the water.

The Long-eared Owls were nowhere to be seen.

Trip to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area

April 6, 2018

Terry Michaels and I drove to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld) this morning.  The section north of highway 52 is closed until July 15.  I watched Terry walk along the eastern side of Ponds 4 & 5 and return by way of the windbreak along the entrance road.  He found a Long-eared Owl about 1/3 way (south) up the windbreak.  

Later we drove to the ranger's office/home to clarify some access rules.  Regrettably no one was home.  A quick stop on the way out, allowed me to get a glimpse of the Long-eared Owl.

We checked on two Burrowing Owl locations and two Mountain Plover locations; none was found.

Two Long-eared Owls were relocated on a friend's nearby ranch (Weld).