A Quick Trip to the Eastern Plains

October 30-31, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Four Denver birders enjoyed a quick trip to Eastern Colorado. Saturday night we were served some great fried chicken and other fattening foods at Judy Danka's birthday party!

Oct 30th

Our first stop was Jackson Reservoir (Morgan County). While walking along the southern dam, we found a Red Phalarope and 2 Red-necked Phalaropes swimming about 20 yards offshore.

A Merlin stood in the trees near the ponds east of the parking area. There were plenty of ducks and gulls; however, no uncommon birds were picked out of the hundreds out there.

A search for Long-eared Owls in the western Campgrounds turned out to be zero. A White-throated Sparrow was found when we searched the grove of trees northwest of the boat dock parking area.

We stopped only briefly at Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan). Nothing uncommon could be found. Nothing was on the pond. The resident Red-bellied Woodpeckers also eluded us.

Our final stop was Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington Counties).

A few interesting birds moved about, but the numbers were not near as high as last week.

The highlight of the day was an immature Blackburnian Warbler at the inlet grove. Two Bonaparte's Gulls flew by several times.

Shorebirds included expected species: Long-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers and a Stilt Sandpiper.

We hung around until dusk; did not get an Eastern Screech-Owl to make an appearance.

Oct 31st

Before sunrise, we drove down the road running along the eastern side of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan). An Eastern Screech-Owl called near section 6E.

Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) has a nice collection of birds. The best was an American Golden-Plover by himself below the dam. Two Black-bellied Plovers were seen farther east near the private property.

The Campgrounds were slow. While 3 Greater White-fronted Geese swam in the northeast corner of the reservoir. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull were seen flying while we stopped at the northwest corner of the reservoir (we were looking for birds below the road running north-south. Nothing popped out today.

From the northeast corner of Colorado, we headed to Yuma County and Bonny Reservoir.

While looking for the Northern Cardinal and Long-eared Owl reported earlier, we found a Black-bellied Plover walking along the shore south of Foster's Grove Campgrounds.

From the dam, we scoped the many gulls; the only uncommon Gull was a Bonaparte's Gull. We searched quite a while for the Laughing Gull reported yesterday; without success.

We circled to the Hopper Ponds area in hopes of relocating the Swamp Sparrow or Eastern Towhee found on 10/17; without success. Bryan did find a White-throated Sparrow. In the past, a rare "Ammodramus" sparrow has been found in the high grasses; however not today.

An hour was spent searching for Long-eared Owls at Hale; without success. The windbreak has taken some drought, wind damage, and is not as thick as past years. Here is hoping Long-eared Owls will still choose to winter!

When we came out of the windbreak, a Harris's Sparrow was observed on the fence along County Road 4 at 0.1 miles east of County Road LLL.5. He eventually dove down into the high brush (in the same area).

At Hale Ponds, we found a flock of 11 Yellow-rumped Warblers. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker wandered between the Hale Ponds.

At an undisclosed location at Bonny Reservoir, we finally found at least one Long-eared Owl. They have nested in this area almost every summer (so we chose not to direct birders to the spot). I did get a photo of the occupied nest last summer and the unoccupied nest today.

Instead of waiting for dark for a screech owl search, we decided to try to relocate the Common Redpoll found earlier in the day at Flagler Reservoir.

Our arrival at Flagler Reservoir (Kit Carson) was quite late due to traffic in Burlington. We had only 30 minutes before sunrise to search for the Common Redpoll; without success. The White-throated Sparrow was loosely associated with a mixed flock of American Tree Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and Song Sparrows at the northeast corner of the property.

No uncommon birds were found below the dam. A Great Horned Owl did call to a mate. We stood at the western end of the dam and waited for Short-eared Owls to come out; again without success.

Search for White-tailed Ptarmigan

October 29, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I along with any additional interested birders were going to "Walk the Ridge" at Loveland Pass. In reality, this is walking the Continental Divide from Loveland Pass to Interstate 70.

The trek requires good stamina and better timing. We like to do the hike when the trail is snow covered which makes seeing White-tailed Ptarmigan tracks and birds of course easier. Too much snow however, the trek can be too dangerous to attempt.

In the last nine years, conditions have only been good one time. Today we decided by way of a Summit County birder, that there was not enough snow up there yet.

Jerry Petrosky and Jay Bowman wanted to go for Guanella and would have passed on Loveland and the Continental Divide. Therefore, by majority vote, the four of us went up Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County). Access is only from Highway 285 and Grant, CO. The northern approach has been blocked by a rockslide for a couple of years now. According to the Highway Department, access could be closed for 2 or more years.

We were able to drive to the top of the Summit. Winds were strangely calm most of our trip (less than 10 mph). Normally winds are 30+ mph and up to 60+ mph.

Our pleasant hike found two small groups of Ptarmigan. Five birds were 400 yards south of the Rosalie Trail and 603 Trail (and 30 yards west of 603). Another four birds were found around the willows at the lake below the parking area.

On the way back to Denver, we stopped at Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson). We only hiked Buck Gulch trail to the Park Boundary Sign; no American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found. All of us had made this hike many times and were not over eager to see a Three-toed Woodpecker. Therefore, there was no immediate need or desire to hike farther.

The highlight, a Northern Pygmy-Owl was along the creek at 10 yards south (uphill) of the intersection of Buck Gulch Trail and the Strawberry Jack Trail!

Three Uncommon Birds At Red Rocks Park

October 28, 2010

Richard Stevens:

When I returned to Denver about 2:00 pm, I read about the three uncommon birds at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson County). I turned around and headed over that way.

Several birders had been at the Trading Post for about an hour and a half without any sightings. Within 5 minutes of my visit, the Curve-billed Thrasher made an appearance! Minutes later the Golden-crowned Sparrow showed. Another ten minutes later, the shy adult White-throated Sparrow also appeared! The Curve-billed Thrasher was a new personal county species and a nice end to my day!

Search for Owls & a Snowstorm

October 21 to 28, 2010

Richard Stevens:

My goals for the rest of the week were three.

1. I wanted to camp out a night under the Harvest Moon. Probably the last full moon of the year where temperatures would be bearable enough to enjoy the outdoors.
2. Next I wanted to experience a snowstorm in the mountains both for the quiet calm of falling snow and potential rage of a windy night.
3. Kind of have a new theory to find owls, especially Northern Saw-whet Owls after watching Scott Rashid band them in Estes Park; I wanted to try it out.

October 21st

I headed south down Highway 285, resisted the urge to go up Guanella Pass Road at Grant (I had just been there a week ago).

At Kenosha Pass, I walked around the campgrounds and the road east of Hwy 285. Not many birds were around and no Dusky Grouse were found. Winds were quite strong at 21 mph with gusts to 32 mph. The start of my trip did not look good.

Once over Kenosha Pass however, winds were mild (less than 8 mph). I made the short detour up Lost Park (Park County) again finding few birds. It definitive is not the best time of year to find birds in the mountains.

At Jefferson, I turned up Michigan Creek Road and drove to the parking area where American Three-toed Woodpeckers have been seen for years. During an hour walk up the gravel road, I finally ran into a male American Three-toed Woodpecker. Location: 60 yards south of Michigan Creek Road and 40 yards west of the gravel road (see CoBus website for directions to birding locations). http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net

About an hour before sunset, I walked about 2 miles up Michigan Creek Road. Two Dusky Grouse were observed running across the road. One at 60 yards west of the parking area and the other 140 yards west.

I wandered down the road until dusk and played owl recordings on the return trip to my car. A Northern Pygmy-Owl responded on the north side of Michigan Creek Road at 40 yards east of the parking area.

No success in finding owls at Buffalo Springs Campgrounds (Park).

October 22nd

I camped out at Antero Reservoir (Park County). Skies were clear and winds mild most of the night. Temperatures dropped into the low 20s.

The Black Scoter reported by Zeeto on 10/15 was still at the northwest corner of Antero Reservoir. A Common Loon (Zeeto, 10/15) was at nearby Spinney Mountain Reservoir. That was just about it for the three Park County Reservoirs.

An hour walk around Trout Creek Pass was uneventful.

I could not find any Pinyon Jays at the Buena Vista Overlook or KOA Campgrounds below.

In Buena Vista (Chaffee County), I found a Lewis's Woodpecker along North Pleasant Avenue, north of Chaffee County Road 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road).

A search for the Western Screech-Owls that nested last year in Buena Vista turned up empty. I would try searching for them two additional times during the week; without success.

A drive up Cottonwood Pass to the road to Taylor Park Reservoir (Gunnison County) found a few Gray Jays and a Clark's Nutcracker. Two Barrow's Goldeneyes were on the reservoir. I may have gotten a brief look at a Brown-capped Rosy Finch at the Lakeside Campgrounds, too brief to be sure.

On the return trip to Buena Vista, I stopped and searched unsuccessfully for owls at Collegiate Campgrounds; without success.

However, my night was about to get more interesting. Scott Rashid when banding Northern Saw-whet Owls near Estes Park sets up mist nets and plays a Saw-whet call next to them. He checks the nets every 15 minutes for owls (basically every 15 minutes because foxes are in the area and he does not want to expose any owls trapped helplessly in the nets to their predation).

On the night I watched the banding, one Northern Saw-whet Owl was observed in a tree only feet from the nets and recording. I thought, why are nets needed, perhaps one could "point count" the owls without exposing them to mist nets or predators?

Just east of Buena Vista, there are quite a few acres of BLM (public access). I took three recording devices and set up "stations" at three locations. Just north of the Buena Vista overlook (Big Sandy Draw), just south of the overlook (CR 301), south of highway 285, and at County Road 302.

Final count; I eventually found 2 Saw-whet Owls up Big Sandy Draw (Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands), 2 Saw-whet Owls along CR 301 (also Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands), and none along CR 302 (Ponderosa Pine Forest). At Big Sandy Draw, I found 3 Saw-whet Owls; however, because of the closeness of the sightings, I was not sure that it was not the same bird.

That would be the advantage of banding, distinguishing the owls. In my opinion, not worth exposing the owls to the trauma of capture and the predation of other animals.

October 23rd

I stayed the night in Buena Vista (temperatures dipped into the middle teens). Before Civil Twilight, I was at Crystal Lakes (Lake County) hoping to catch a glimpse of the Long-eared Owl reported there are few months ago; did not happen.

I also found the Barrow's Goldeneye reported by Tim Kalbach on the Mt Elbert Forebay. His Brown Thrasher sighting is probably a first county record, which I missed of course.

A stop in Granite did not find any Rosy Finches; it really is a bit early for them to come down from the mountains. A Common Loon was on Clear Creek Reservoir.

After lunch, I missed finding Pinyon Jays again at the Buena Vista Overlook and Ruby Mountain parking area.

At dusk, I set up three "listening stations" on BLM northeast of Salida (Chaffee County). I only found one Northern Saw-whet Owl this night. It was up Mountain Gulch Road.

October 24th

I spent the night back at Antero Reservoir in Park County. Finally got to see a little snow, mostly just a dusting. Temperatures again dipped into the middle teens but winds were mild or I would have driven over to Buffalo Springs Campgrounds which, surrounded by trees and hills are more protected from the winds.

There were no scoters or loons on Antero Reservoir this morning. The previous Black Scoter at Antero Reservoir was not at Spinney Mountain Reservoir or Eleven Mile Reservoir either. A female White-winged Scoter was at Eleven Mile Reservoir. Two female Surf Scoters were found a Spinney Mountain Reservoir.

In the afternoon, I drove south on Highway 9 looking for proper habitat to set up my "listening stations". I finally found suitable habitat up Smith Gulch Road, not far from Deer Haven State Trust Lands. One Northern Saw-whet Owl was found up Smith Gulch Road. Throughout the night, I moved the "stations" three times, so nine locations (at least two miles apart) were surveyed.

October 25th

I slept most of the morning (getting to bed around 8:00 am). Drove through Temple Canyon State Park (Fremont County) just to prove to myself that there would be few birds. Flycatchers and Vireos should and were long gone by now.

In the afternoon, I drove up the Shelf Road to set up my "listening stations". There is much BLM Land north of Canon City. During the night, I again moved the stations three times (therefore surveying nine locations). It was my most successful night with 3 Northern Saw-whet Owl sightings at two of the locations.

October 26th

Around 2:00 am in the morning, I passed the Crags Campgrounds (Teller County) and decided to check it out. The habitat is not the best for Saw whet Owls and none was found. A Northern Pygmy-Owl however, was quite noisy.

After visiting a friend in Woodland Park (Teller County) and was ready to head for home. Instead of driving up the busy and boring Interstate 25 (through Colorado Springs and south Denver), I turned west back toward the Park County Reservoirs.

Today I found no scoters at the three reservoirs. Strange, in previous years, the scoters would "hang around" for days or even weeks before moving south. The weather has been quite nice except of one day, perhaps they preferred to take advantage and fly in good weather?

The highlight today was a pair of Tundra Swans at Spinney Mountain Reservoir. Winds were outrageous. Many ducks could have hidden in the high waves?

I was enjoying the owling every night and decided for one last night of it. This time picking the San Isabel Forest southwest of Antero Reservoir. Before dark, I drove back into Buena Vista for a late lunch and to get cell phone service (to check back in with home).

As a side note, my new ATT service was to provide emails on my Cell Phone. Over the last few days, I had sent 3 emails, which later I discovered never, were received. New service is no better than the old one.

I again missed Pinyon Jays in the Buena Vista area; where have they gone? Chaffee County and Buena Vista is usually quite good for them. A few Juniper Titmice and a flock of Bushtits were at the B.V. Overlook.

I tried another 9 locations for my "listening stations"; however, this night no owls were curious enough to make an appearance.

I was headed home, but Bryan Ehlmann said he would like to drive down and search for Northern Saw-whet Owls and make an attempt to find a Spotted Owl. What the heck, I stayed the night in Buena Vista.

October 27th

I met Bryan Ehlmann and Gary Weston at Antero. No scoters, 2 Tundra Swans (Spinney Mountain Reservoir), left my car at Antero Reservoir and headed for Cripple Creek.

We looked around Cripple Creek and Teller City for Rosy Finches; finding none. At dusk headed down the shelf Road. One Northern Saw-whet Owl was relocated (do not know for sure if it was a different bird as it was near the same location as a few days ago).

North of Canon City, we turned east and drove up Phantom Canyon Road. Winds were whipping down the Canon (could not measure as I had left my Anemometer in my car. A three hour search did not turn up any Spotted Owls (or any owls).

Too tired to drive back to Antero Reservoir, we returned to Canon City.

October 28th

After only a couple of hours of sleep, we again drove up Phantom Canyon Road. This time we did hear a Spotted Owl! As a protected species, we cannot write down the location.

After sunrise, we continued North and then west to Antero Reservoir. No Swamp Sparrows were found a Lake George (too late in the year?).

No scoters were found in brief visits to the three Park County Reservoirs. The pair of Tundra Swans had moved from Spinney Mountain Reservoir to Antero Reservoir.

Aurora Reservoir and Search for a Jaeger

October 20, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Arapahoe County: I am over at Bill Cryder's home south of Aurora Reservoir. He saw a dark juvenile jaeger early this morning. He watched it fly from the southwest corner to southeast corner, then north. Bill believes it disappeared over the dam. Jerry Petrosky had a similar experience on Sunday. The jaeger has not returned since I came over around Noon.

As I was answering a few emails, Bill called out that the juvenile dark jaeger was back at the southeast corner of Aurora Reservoir. This is the swim beach area where many of the gulls spend the day. The other good location for gulls is the shore at mile 1.5. This is better as few people visit the area. It requires a good walk to get there. I got a far off glimpse of the jaeger as it flew to the west-northwest. We are going to wait a while and then checkout Quincy and Cherry Creek Reservoirs, which are in the direction the Gull, flew.

We did not relocate the Jaeger at Quincy or Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County).

Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir & Banner Lakes Wildlife Area

October 19, 2010

Richard Stevens:

We biked the 8.8 miles around Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County) this morning. There were not many birds around; at least the weather was fantastic (cool temperatures and mild winds).

A Common Loon was swimming around the southeast corner (mile marker 4.5). Half a dozen Pied-billed Grebes were in that corner. Forty + Western Grebes swam in the middle of the lake.

Five hundred gulls were mostly Ring-billed and a dozen California. Ruddy Ducks, Redheads and a pair of Northern Pintail Duck topped the non-resident ducks.

We did not find any uncommon gulls, jaegers or scoters. Perhaps next trip.

The juvenile Sabine's Gull was found flying around below the dam at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).

The one holdout Burrowing Owl was still east of Picadilly Road at 0.5 miles south of 128th avenue. Hundreds of Eurasian Collared-Doves (400+) and 2 Great-tailed Grackles continue at the Picadilly Tree Nursery feedlot (south of 152nd and Picadilly).

In the afternoon, I looked for a place to go for a quiet walk and headed over Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Weld County).

I made a quick stop at Barr Lake (Adams) to look for the Common Loon reported a few days ago. No luck with the loon, I did see a Bonaparte's Gull flying below the dam. Many of the gulls were "resting" in the southeast corner of the rather water depleted lake (mile marker 7.0).

Both a Sora and Virginia Rail called from the cattails at Pond 7. A flight of longspurs some of which landed in the prairie dog village at the southwest corner of the property, included a Lapland Longspur, several Chestnut-collared Longspurs and two dozen+ McCown's Longspurs. It is always great to observe the three species at the same location.

The only warbler observed was a lone Orange-crowned Warbler in the windbreak at Pond 7.

At sunset, a flock of 22 Sandhill Cranes filled the air with their calls as they flew overhead!

I stayed until dusk; no owls flew about tonight.

Birding In the Foothills

October 18, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I decided to combine a short trip into the foothills for "fall colors" with a couple of bird searches (well, that's no surprise, is it)?

The Golden-crowned Sparrow visited behind the Visitor's Center at Red Rocks Park (Jefferson County). A couple of Spotted Towhees, Western Scrub-Jays and many Dark-eyed Juncos were also seen.

At Genesee Mountain Park (Jefferson) we walked from the group picnic area to the top and back. One of these days, someone is going to see a grouse along this road; we did not. No Williamson's Sapsuckers were found. They probably have migrated south by now.

We did collect (sightings) of the three nuthatch species, a Brown Creeper, several Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and Hairy Woodpeckers.

After lunch in Evergreen, we went over to Mt Falcon Park (Jefferson) hoping to find a Northern Pygmy-Owl. That did not happen, however a consolation was a Northern Goshawk flying below the overlook.

We heard a Wild Turkey back at the parking area, never saw it. No Dusky Grouse, their "favorite haunt" or mine anyway was cleared of underbrush early last year. Too bad, I have not come across one since. The "fall colors" are still nice to see.