Logan County to Sedgwick County

February 6, 2019

Rebecca Kosten: Transcript of phone call from Richard Stevens:

Eastern Screech-Owls found along Platte River, east of Hwy 55, Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area using night vision goggles.

Then searched unsuccessfully for Greater Prairie-Chickens mostly Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan County) south of I76.

Gulls at Jumbo Reservoir included an Iceland Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  Do not believe it was the North Sterling Reservoir bird from yesterday.

Continued on to Ovid.  Highlight birds were a juvenile Purple Finch at Lee's house.  The American Woodcock is still at JB's, now since 12/18.

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker drummed on telephone pole behind High School.  A White-throated Sparrow was among White-crowned Sparrows at the Sewer Ponds.  No Harris's Sparrows this trip.

Eastern Screech-Owl called during our barbecue at RD's ranch.

Birding Around Sterling

February 5, 2019

Rebecca Kosten: Transcript of phone call from Richard Stevens:

Spent morning at North Sterling Reservoir (Logan).  Lesser Black-backed Gull was at northeast cove.  Barn Owl at Campgrounds.  Target bird (Snow Bunting) not found.

No uncommon encountered at Overland Park or Pioneer Park in Sterling.  Few birds found at either location.

Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan) in afternoon.  Highlights were three Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hermit Thrush, Field Sparrow and Northern Cardinal all east of Highway 55.

Two Eastern Screech-Owls heard after sunset.

Banner Lakes Wildlife Area and Jackson Reservoir

February 4, 2019

Rebecca Kosten

Transcript of phone call from Richard Stevens:

I stayed about six hours at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County).  Target bird was the Snow Bunting reported Saturday (2/2).  Short of it, the bird was not relocated.

I walked the length of both sides of Banner Lakes Wildlife Area, mostly taking photos for an article on the Wildlife Area.

Eventually three Long-eared Owls were found.  They were in windbreaks at Pond 7, Pond 8 & Pond 10.  They are quite difficult to spot.  I looked every tree up and down and probably still missed one or two.

Snow Bunting was reported at Pond 9.  Snow Buntings would be expected more often along the muddy or sandy shore of lakes and ponds.  Pond 8 and Pond 10 have exposed frozen shores.

A Swamp Sparrow was found in the cattails at Pond 10.  It popped out 10 yards west of the Pond 10 sign.

Long-eared Owl at Pond 10 was interesting.  I was counting American Tree Sparrows (14) through binoculars when staring right at me was the Owl deep in a Russian Olive Tree!

Robins were majority bird as north end of Pond 8, Ponds 9 & Pond 10 have Russian Olive Trees with many seeds.

Other birds were a flock of 22 Dark-eyed Juncos along west side of Pond 11.  Two Great Horned Owls, one Pond 13 and one Pond 3.  Barn Owls along western windbreak between Ponds 4 & 3.  Another at extreme western end of Pond 12.

Ended birding day at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County).  Found two Long-eared Owls and many Robins.  Eastern Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl also detected.

Going back out with night vision glasses to see whatever!"

Super Bowl Day

February 3, 2019

Rebecca Kosten

Richard and I passed through Cherry Creek State Park, Arapahoe County on our way back from lunch.

We did not relocate the Rusty Blackbird at the swim beach pond or its drainages.

Wandering Around East of Denver

February 2, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature was 57 degrees.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 16 mph.  Our superb warm winter continues as the northeast is swamped.

Rebecca and I observed three Rusty Blackbirds on First Creek.  They mostly searched for food on the eastern fork just north of the 56th avenue Bridge.

We could not find the Rusty Blackbird around the Cherry Creek Reservoir swim beach pond.  It was my third unsuccessful search to relocate the bird.  I probably will not try again.

After dropping Rebecca off, I walked around Barr Lake (Adams) to enjoy the warm afternoon.  One Barn Owl was relocated.  No uncommon birds were spotted today.  

It was just too nice a day to go home.  I parked along the DIA Owl Loop (Denver/Adams).  Raptors observed included two Ferruginous Hawks, three Red-tailed Hawks and a Bald Eagle.  No Short-eared Owls appeared again this evening.

Aurora Reservoir and a Few Additional Stops

February 1, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature today was 54 degrees on this beautiful winter day.  Winds were 6-7 miles with gusts to 12 mph.

After concluding business in Aurora, I visited some Arapahoe County reservoirs.

I did not find the Rusty Blackbird around the Cherry Creek Reservoir swim beach pond and eastern & western streams flowing into the pond.

My next stop was Aurora Reservoir.  I hiked two miles into Aurora Reservoir from the southern entrance.  It was an interesting choice as many gulls stood on the ice shelf at the mouth of Senac Cove.

Most interesting were a Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an Iceland Gull (Thayer's).  I do not believe most could be observed from the western lower parking area at the swim beach.

The Long-tailed Duck swam about 20 yards off the ice shelf.  I did see her two days ago from the lower swim beach parking area.

I did get witness photos.  The gulls were still 30 yards from shore; I was not stepping on the snow covered ice on such a warm day (or any day for that matter).

I passed the First Creek Trail (Denver) on my way north.  Three Rusty Blackbirds were again feeding along the eastern fork just north of the 56th avenue Bridge.

My birding day ended at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld).  The majority bird was American Robins.  One Long-eared Owl was relocated along the western windbreak between ponds 6-7.  A Great Horned Owl called from pond 13.  

No Short-eared Owls appeared this evening.  Watching the spectacular winter sunset from a human less area was a great end to an enjoyable day!

Sixty Minutes at Bluff Lake Nature Area and Star K Ranch

January 31, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature was 50 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 11 mph.

Around noon, I stopped at Bluff Lake Nature Area (Denver County).  The flock of White-crowned Sparrows wintering here with a Harris's Sparrow was not found today.

I found one sparrow along the east side trail among the rabbit brush behind the maintenance building.  Unfortunately, the look was so brief that a proper ID was not possible.  

Its back was toward me and its head was never observed.  Overall, I thought the streaks on the back were duller brown (White-crowned) than blackish (Harris's).  The tail appeared to short and size a bit small for a Harris's.  However, I wanted to make sure.

The sparrow stayed deep in one bush while I continued to watch for 15 minutes.  I dislike missing an ID and decided to give it 30 minutes.  

Just before the self-imposed time limit, a second sparrow flew into a nearby bush.  This was less shy and stayed on the outer edges.  It was clearly a Song Sparrow.  Watching the Song Sparrow kept my interest and I decided to stay for another 30 minutes.

At 55 minutes, the mystery sparrow emerged long enough to ID it was a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.  

My next stop was Star K Ranch (Adams County).  The majority bird here was Northern Flicker.

A snipe flew up from the pond in the Wildlife Area.  After 15 minutes or so, it was relocated and turned out to be a Wilson's Snipe.

I wanted to confirm the ID since two American Woodcocks have been found within 3 miles.  Star K Ranch (1/1/2005) and Coal Creek Regional Greenway (10/16/2016).

No Short-eared Owls appeared when I parked at 88th avenue & 470 toll road 30 minutes either side of sunset.