Some Additional 2019 Birds

January 8, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature was in the middle 40s today.  Winds ranged from 8-9 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

Terry Michaels and I headed up to Loveland around 3:00am.  Unfortunately, it requires an early start if one wants to avoid Denver's awful traffic.

A dawn we stopped at Trilby and Taft Roads to see if the Gyrfalcon and was around.  It was not and we continued south.

We heard and later saw the Carolina Wren in the alley between Pierce and Adams streets (almost at Adams).

Later a brief stop at Lake Loveland (Larimer) did not find any uncommon gulls.

We then headed to Frederick Recreation Area.  The Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose were on Milavec Reservoir and the golf course to the north (photos taken of all).  

Then we continued east to Ireland Reservoirs #5 & #1.  The Northern Mockingbird reported earlier at #5 was not relocated.  Nothing uncommon was found at either reservoir.

The rest of our birding day was spent at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld).  First, we walked the northern sections from Pond 5 to Pond 9.  Highlight was a Long-eared Owl hidden in the Russian Olive trees along the western windbreak.  

The Eastern Bluebird reported yesterday was not relocated.  The Swamp Sparrow we found on 12/14 was not found either.  A Great Horned Owl called from Pond 13.

A hike down the southern sections from Pond 4 to 1 was uneventful.  Two Spotted Towhees, many Robins and Dark-eyed Juncos were just about everything seen.

We held around until dusk, no Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.

East of the Metro Area

January 7, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperatures in Aurora were 47 degrees.  It was a bit of a change after the middle 60s in Baca and Las Animas Counties last weekend.  Winds were 15-16 mph with gusts to 22 mph.  Last night winds reached 45 mph!  An airplane was blown sideways at DIA airport.

Terry Michaels and I wandered around east of Aurora after a late start.  

A Barn Owl and two Long-eared Owls were relocated at Barr Lake (Adams).

We relocated one of the Rusty Blackbirds and the Brown Thrasher around the swim beach pond at Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe).

A return to the DIA Owl Loop (Adams/Denver) did not find any Short-eared Owls at sunset.  The high winds perhaps discouraged even Short-eared Owls from flying around.

Southeastern Christmas Counts

January 4-6, 2018

January 4

It was a beautiful day in Cottonwood Canyon (Baca).  High temperature was 61 degrees, fantastic for winter!  Winds were 3-4 mph in Cottonwood Canyon and 5-6 at Picture Canyon.

The sixteenth Cottonwood Canyon Christmas Count includes Picture Canyon.

Four CoBus birders arrived in Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) around 4:00 am.  A pair of Western Screech-Owls responded to our recordings played near the camping area.  A Great Horned Owl called quite a distance to the west.

Eventually the bird count at Cottonwood Canyon included a Barn Owl (CR 7), Northern Saw-whet Owl (CR M), Greater Roadrunner (CR M), Long-eared Owl and Northern Cardinal (western draw), a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Winter Wren (southern draw), and Canyon Towhees, a Swamp Sparrow and two Rufous-crowned Sparrows (eastern end), Bewick's Wrens at Campgrounds.

Picture Canyon added a Curve-billed Thrasher, another Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and 4-5 Lapland Longspurs.  Four Mountain Bluebirds were observed as we drove out of Cottonwood Canyon and the way to Picture Canyon.  A Short-eared Owl was along CR M seen along CR M near CR 30.

January 5

Even a better winter day in Colorado, high temperature was 66 degrees!  We were not in the lower canyons today.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

The CoBus group conducted the first annual Las Animas County Christmas Count today.

Highlights included a Western Screech-Owl, three Northern Saw-whet Owls, two Great Horned Owls, a Greater Roadrunner and male Northern Cardinal.

The count included the northern end of Lake Dorothey Wildlife Area and private lands to the north and east.  Two of the Northern Saw-whet Owls were found here.

Other birds recorded included a flock of fourteen Lapland Longspurs, one McCown's Longspur, Canyon Towhees, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Chihuahuan Ravens, Bewick's Wrens, and a Rock Wren.

January 6

Another gorgeous day with a high of 65 degrees.  Winds were higher at 16-17 mph with gusts measured at 29 mph.

The CoBus group found a Lesser Prairie-Chicken near the old Campo Lek (Baca) this morning.

We returned to Baca because of a report of a Painted Bunting in Furnish Canyon.  High winds did not aid in our birding today.  The female/young Painted Bunting sighting was never confirmed.

A male Northern Cardinal the third of the trip was observed at the private ranch in Furnish Canyon.  

Other birds recorded included Chihuahuan Ravens, Canyon Towhees, Bewick's Wren, female Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and another Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

Denver Foothills

January 3, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature was 55 degrees today.  Winds were mild at 4-5 mph with gusts only 6 mph.

First stop today was Morrison.  After a short wail, the Golden-crowned Sparrow showed up under the feeders at the east end of Summer Street.  Rumors were that the homeowners were upset with birders looking at their feeders.  Some birders said that the homeowners did not mind birders visiting?

Next, we searched for an hour for the Winter Wren at Morrison Park (Jefferson).  It was not found.  Rumor has it that earlier birders had played recordings for a long time to find the wren.

The Tundra Swan reported yesterday on the South Platte River, south of Mineral Avenue was not relocated.

Six Trumpeter Swans were on South Platte Park Reservoir (Arapahoe section).  I do not know who first found them.  We received a text message about the Cynthia Madsen sighting.  Note: several may be Tundra Swans?

The Black Scoter is still on South Platte Park Reservoir.

The Harris's Sparrow made a brief appearance at South Platte Park (Arapahoe).  Again, it was behind the Carson Nature Center.

After dropping off my passenger, I drove the DIA Owl Loop.  No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.  Raptor count was good with two Ferruginous Hawks, two Red-tailed Hawks, a Rough-legged Hawk, three Northern Harriers and an American Kestrel.

Adding Uncommon Birds To My 2019 Bird List

January 2, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperatures reached the high 30s today.  Winds were only 4-5 mph.

Rebecca Kosten and I started our birding day an hour before sunrise.  We made several stops adding uncommon birds to our trip list.

The Gyrfalcon was briefly on the pole along Trilby Road just west of Taft Road (Larimer).

The Black-legged Kittiwake flew around the southern end of Horsetooth Reservoir (Larimer).

The Pink-footed Goose and Long-tailed Duck were both still on Milavec Reservoir at Frederick Recreation Area (Weld).

I dropped Rebecca off at a friend's home in Denver and continued west.  Dylan Cooper had found the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at 10:00 am & 12:00 am in the three Pines on the north side of the tennis courts.  It allowed a brief look at 1:00 pm and disappeared.  

At 1:30 am, Diane Roberts relocated the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in a Pine east of the tennis courts.  

My next stop was Dahlia Hollow Park (Arapahoe).  While I did not find the Northern Goshawk and Hermit Thrush reported yesterday, my 2019 list was increased with Bushtits, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Crows, one Common Raven, Blue Jays and a Spotted Towhee.

My final stop was the Highline Canal south of Colorado Blvd.  My friend who has had a Northern Cardinal visiting her feeders for several months was not home.  I did not see the bird and have no recent update.  A flock of four Pygmy Nuthatches was in the area.

Other birds encountered today in Arapahoe County included Eastern Screech-Owls at three locations.  I now know of seven locations in Arapahoe County.

I drove through Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe) on the way home.  The Lake is completely ice covered.  The few waterfowl around were standing on the ice.  No owls could be found this evening.

Searching For 2019 Uncommon Birds

January 1, 2019

Richard Stevens:

After having a good 2018, I wanted to start 2019 off well.  

Barn Owl at Barr Lake (Adams).

Barrow's Goldeneye is still on the South Platte River (Adams), south of green/white tower (Adams).  South Platte Birding Area is good location to find many varieties of common ducks.

Fox Sparrow (red) was at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson).  Missed Golden-crowned Sparrow in Morrison for third time.

Black Scoter is still on South Platte Park Reservoir (Arapahoe).  Greater Scaup also around.

Rusty Blackbird pair was along western stream just south of Cherry Creek Reservoir main road.  Lake mostly frozen, missed Long-tailed Ducks, perhaps they were the pair reported in Littleton today.  Did find a Long-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Brewer's Blackbirds, Northern Shrike, Song Sparrows.

Brief Stop at Aurora Reservoir

December 31, 2018

Richard Stevens:

It snowed most of the day.  High temperature was 18 degrees.  Winds were 15-16 mph in the afternoon at Aurora Reservoir.

While going out to get dinner I made a long detour to Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe).  A Lesser Black-backed Gull was the only uncommon Gull picked out of hundreds of gulls off the swim beach.