Denver West Office Complex & Aurora Reservoir

October 21, 2019

Richard Stevens:

Temperatures only reached 52 degrees on this cold Monday.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

After waiting for rush hour to end, I drove to the Denver West Office Complex (Jefferson County).  The action was along the southern side of building # 6.

First, the Magnolia Warbler flew into the pines at the southeast corner.  It was followed by two Townsend's Warblers one of which flew down to the creek for a bath (photos on Colorado Birding Society's website eventually).

Three or four Yellow-rumped Warblers fluttered about the deciduous trees next to the building.  A pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and two Red-breasted Nuthatches also visited the pine trees.

Finally, the Nashville Warbler made an appearance.  The warbler stayed mostly deep in the pines; however, it did emerge several times allowing for identification looks.

My next stop was Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe).  Hundreds of gulls stood on the swim beach.  Highlights were three Iceland Gulls and two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Around 4:00 pm, most of the gulls on the swim beach flew up.  I looked around for a reason (no people around) and observed a Jaeger chasing a couple of gulls.

I looked for the white flashes on the under wing and upper wing.  It had short pointed central tail feathers, dark brown cap and dark bill.  It looked similar to the Parasitic Jaeger photos from Warren Lake (Larimer).  Perhaps it was the same bird?

After 15-20 minutes, it followed gulls and disappeared below the dam.  I circled around but did not see the bird again.

On the way home, I stopped by Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) to see if the Semipalmated Plover was still there (to update a friend).  It was not there.  Neither were the two Western Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs (with broken foot).  They appeared to stay together since October 18.

Windy Afternoon at Cherry Creek Reservoir

October 20, 2019

Richard Stevens:

I have a friend and relative staying at a rehab Hospital near Cherry Creek Reservoir and swing by the Lake when in that area.

Winds were 30 to 32 mph most of the afternoon.  High temperature was 51 degrees; it felt much cooler than that.

The Semipalmated Plover was still at Pelican Point.  Also around were a Solitary Sandpiper, two Western Sandpipers, a Lesser Yellowlegs and a few Killdeer.

I briefly looked over the Lake with my binoculars however did not take the time to break out my scope.  Keeping the scope steady in the wind would have been difficult.

Birding Around Eastern Metro Denver

October 19, 2019

Richard Stevens:

High temperature today was 63 degrees on this pleasant fall day.  Winds were 3-4 mph most of the afternoon.

I briefly stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) to see if the Semipalmated Plover had stayed over night.  Fourteen people and two unleashed dogs walked around the Pelican Point.  

The Semipalmated Plover was still around; however, it was much farther south than previous visits.  A lone American Avocet was also observed.

We then drove through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams).  Nothing uncommon was encountered.

I walked to Havana Ponds and found two American Avocets, two Baird's Sandpipers, one Greater Yellowlegs and two Lesser Yellowlegs.

Continuing to the Rod and Gun Club Pond did not add anything to my day list.

The First Creek Trail (outside the eastern side of the Arsenal) added only a Lincoln's Sparrow and a dozen Chipping Sparrows to my day list.

Return to Arapahoe County

October 18, 2019, Afternoon

Richard Stevens:

High temperature in this afternoon in Denver  was 61 degrees, another enjoyable fall day!  It was a tad windy at 13-14 mph with gusts to 22 mph.

I returned from a trip to Eastern Colorado in the afternoon.  Today was uneventful until I reached Arapahoe County.

Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls stood on the Aurora Reservoir swim beach.  I scoped the Lake from the Upper Swim Beach parking area, however found few waterfowl.

A pair of Rusty Blackbirds walked the shore southeast of the handicapped parking area below the office buildings.

Cherry Creek Reservoir also had few non-gulls and Western Grebes on it.  I scoped from the western side of the Lake Loop and found a juvenile Sabine's Gull.  If it had not flown, I may not have picked it out of the dozens of Franklin's Gulls swimming around.

While scoping the Lake from the eastern end of the Lake loop I saw a Pacific Loon.  Later from Pelican Point, I tried to relocate the Loon.  All that was there was a lone Double-crested Cormorant.  I was about to convince myself that it was a Double-crested Cormorant seen from the far distance, when the Pacific Loon surfaced.  The loon stayed above water less than three seconds at a time before diving again.

A walk out onto Pelican Point found the Semipalmated Plover reported by Amanda Spears on Wednesday.  Other shorebirds included two Baird's Sandpipers, two Western Sandpipers, one Least Sandpiper, half a dozen Killdeer and a Lesser Yellowlegs with a damaged foot.

I will put photos of the Semipalmated Plover and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the CoBus photo library before going to bed.

coloradobirdingsociety.net 

Search for Sprague's Pipits on the Eastern Plains of Colorado

October 14-18, 2019

Richard Stevens:

October 14, 2019

What a superb day with a high of 75 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph.

I returned to Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas) in the morning to attempt for better photos of the shorebirds.

The Plum Creek Delta shorebirds continued and included the American Golden-Plover, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers.  One of the Burrowing Owls remained at the southeast entrance to the State Park.

My plan was to drive to the Eastern Colorado border and check Sprague's Pipit spots.  I timed the drive to arrive at a Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek in Yuma County just before sunset.  Regrettably no Prairie-Chickens were found this evening.

When I arrived at Hale Ponds (South Republican Wildlife Area, Yuma) an Eastern Screech-Owl was enticed to respond to my recordings.

October 15, 2019

Temperatures reached 66 degrees.  It was a windy day at 15-16 mph and gusts to 26 mph.

First thing in the morning, I scoped Pipit Hill below the Bonny Reservoir dam.  Two of the previously reported five Sprague's Pipits were found.

Later a walk around Hale Ponds found a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers near the Kansas border (but in Colorado).  Four Eastern Bluebirds were observed along the road from Kansas to the western Hale Pond.

A wren popped out of the cattails at the western pond.  Regrettably, it only allowed two brief looks and remained unidentified during an hour wait.

Hopper Ponds has been dried up for several years.  It is one of the better spots to find uncommon sparrows at the Wildlife Area.  While no uncommon sparrows were found, a Nashville Warbler was spotted under the bushes.

Fosters Grove was a good stop.  Best bird was a Black-throated Green Warbler just west of the building.  A male Northern Cardinal added a quick glance of red color to my day.

Other birds encountered included six Wild Turkeys, a Lincoln's Sparrow, two Lark Sparrows, many White-crowned Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows.

I arrived in Wray in late afternoon and walked around the City Park and the hospital.  One of the Red-bellied Woodpeckers continued at the Park.  No Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were encountered around the Hospital.

Just before dark, I visited a friend's ranch and caught a glimpse of a Harris's Sparrow.  One of his Eastern Screech-Owls called shortly after sunset.

October 16, 2019

Temperatures dropped to a high of 61 degrees.  It was another windy day, 18-19 mph with gusts to 28 mph.

I drove Yuma County Road 45 (turns into CR P) a half hour before sunrise.  No Greater Prairie-Chickens or Short-eared Owls appeared this morning.

The plan was to search for Sprague's Pipits in Phillips & Sedgwick Counties today.  Five stops were made on the trip north.

A friend in Holyoke (Phillips) had a White-throated Sparrow visiting her yard.

Bird of the day would be a Black-throated Green Warbler at Holyoke City Park.  While a Townsend's Warbler was the only uncommon bird found at the Cemetery.

A brief walk at Frenchman Creek Wildlife Area did not find any uncommon birds.  A Field Sparrow and Loggerhead Shrike were observed at Sand Draw Wildlife Area.

The afternoon was spent searching previous locations of Sprague's Pipit sightings.  Unfortunately, none was found today.

The searches included around Phillips CR 49-51, Sedgwick CR 59 (btw 26 & 30), CR 20 btw CR 45 & CR 63.

A Harris's Sparrow and Eastern Screech-Owl were seen at Roger Danka's Ranch near sunset.

October 17, 2019

What a different day makes with a high of 83 degrees today.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 14 mph.

Roger Danka and my Sprague's Pipit search today was around CR 30 to CR 36, CR 29 to CR 35.  Again, no Sprague's Pipits were encountered.

A stop at DePoorter Lake found two Harris's Sparrows along the South Platte River.  The Red-bellied Woodpecker at Ovid Woods is a reliable sighting.

While the Northern Cardinal was missed at Julesburg Wildlife Area, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and White-throated Sparrow were found.

Nothing uncommon was found at Jackson Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick).  Shortly after sunset, we observed a Short-eared Owl flying across the field below the reservoir at CR 24.8, west of Sedgwick CR 3.

October 18, 2019

Temperatures would reach 81 degrees at Prewitt Reservoir today.  Winds were calm at 1-2 mph with a gust or two reaching 6 mph.  

Friday, it was time to return home.  The only stop made was Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington).  Shorebirds were few however did include two Pectoral Sandpipers.

Gulls were more interesting.  I found an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Bonaparte's Gull and one whitish Gull.  After viewing photos later in the weekend, the light Gull turned out to be an Iceland Gull!

Few passerines fluttered about below the dam.  A Swamp Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were just about all that were found.

Slow Day In Eastern Denver and Aurora

October 13, 2019

Richard Stevens:

Today was uneventful birding wise.  High temperature was 72 degrees.  It was windy 13-14 mph most of the afternoon.

Rebecca and I stopped at several locations in eastern Denver and Aurora.  

We could not find the Eastern Bluebirds (Denver County) and Brown Thrasher (Adams) reported yesterday along the First Creek Trail.

Two Pectoral Sandpipers were relocated at the Lowry Westerly Creek Wetlands.  They turned out to be the highlight of our day.

We scoped Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) at least five times.  The Surf Scoters found on 10/11 did not were not found; they may have moved on.

Similarly, the Surf Scoter at Aurora Reservoir was not relocated either.  We only scoped the Lake from the upper swim beach parking area and the east end of the dam.

Our next stop was Barr Lake (Adams).  The American Golden-Plover and Sabine's Gull reported yesterday also were not found today.

We drove through the DIA Airport; however did not find the Burrowing Owl reported yesterday.  

No Short-eared Owls appeared along the DIA Owl Loop.  

Beautiful Fall Day at Barr Lake & Chatfield Reservoir

October 12, 2019

Richard Stevens:

What a fantastic fall day.  High temperature was 66 degrees.  Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts 11 mph.

My birding day started at Barr Lake (Adams County).  The American Golden-Plover reported yesterday was relocated on the shore northwest of the Niedrach Boardwalk.

A text message indicated that the Chatfield Reservoir Dunlin and plovers were still there; I headed southwest to the Lake.  Before driving to the sand spit, I went to the southeastern entrance.  The Burrowing Owls reported earlier in the day were standing on one of the prairie dog mounds.

Then I walked from the marina sand spit to the Plum Creek Delta (Douglas).  The sand spit had only gulls, mostly Ring-billed and a couple of California Gulls.  Two American Pipits fluttered about the new rocky hillside.

Dozens of shorebirds walked the mudflats at Plum Creek Delta.  Highlights at the mudflats included the American Golden-Plover, three Black-bellied Plovers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, several Baird's Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitchers.  A Semipalmated Plover walked the shore at the extreme eastern side of Plum Creek Delta.

I decided to return to my car by walking Plum Creek back to the old parking area.  High grasses/cattails and wet muddy areas changed my route several times.  It was difficult to recognize a path with the new changes to the area.

Eventually I followed what I thought was a sandy dried up Plum Creek.  After 1/4 mile or so, it turned out I was on the wrong (eastern) side of Plum Creek.  It required a longer walk to find a place to jump across the Creek.

Along the way, a Tennessee Warbler was observed loosely associated with six Yellow-rumped Warblers and two Black-capped Chickadees.

At the old Plum Creek parking area, now just an overgrown clearing with restroom and parking spots removed, I found a Cassin's Vireo in one of the old tall Cottonwoods.  Another highlight with location not made public, a Long-eared Owl was "hiding" in one of the thick bushes along Plum Creek.

I continued the hike and found that the old footbridge across Plum Creek has also been removed.  Other birds ran across on the detour included a Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, a dozen Chipping Sparrows, and one remaining House Wren.

On the drive out of the State Park, I detoured to the model airplane field.  Two Chestnut-collared Longspurs wandered around the southeast corner.

On the way home, several additional stops were made without seeing any uncommon birds.

Only American Wigeons and Mallards swam on McLellan Reservoir (Arapahoe/Jefferson).  Nothing uncommon was at Marston Reservoir (Denver).  In addition, Belmar Historic Park (Jefferson) offered no highlights.