Birding Around Denver Today

Richard Stevens:

I find myself again behind in updating my Blog. Limited access, long days and a tired body, tonight I finally found time to catch up!

November 29, 2011

Bryan Ehlmann and I were at Denver City Park (Denver County) about an hour before sunrise. We searched unsuccessfully for Eastern Screech-Owls in the cold, quite cold air.

A quick look found the Long-tailed Duck at appropriately named Duck Lake. After the Zoo opened, we checked to make sure no Long-tailed Ducks were part of their collection. They agreed; the bird must be wild.

From there, we drove over to Red Rocks Park (Jefferson). The Golden-crowned Sparrow had not been reported in a week or so. It still has not; the sparrow was a no show.

Our fortune did not ameliorate at the South Platte Birding Area (Adams) at 88th avenue and Colorado Blvd. We walked south to I270 and back without finding any uncommon waterfowl. We knew the Barrow's Goldeneyes had to be there somewhere; however, their hiding place was not detected.

A lone Northern Shrike "hung out" on the fence bordering the Engineer Pond.

After a late lunch, we drove out to Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Adams). At least one Long-eared Owl is out there again this winter. A Great Horned Owl was along the path to pond 13. No Short-eared Owls came out at dusk.

Guanella Pass to Aurora

November 28, 2011

Richard Stevens:

I wanted to try for White-tailed Ptarmigan on Guanella Pass (Clear Creek County) one more time before tonight's snowstorm potentially closes the possibility for the winter. Visiting birder Edward Benson and I threw snowshoes in the car and headed up there early this morning.

We found no owls along Guanella Pass Road (from the Grant Side, hwy 285). We did find that the gate across the road at Duck Lake was closed so we had to hike the last 1.5 miles to the Summit. Later I talked to a ranger who stated that it would now be common practice to gate the road the day after Thanksgiving.

Once we got to the top, it took less than 10 minutes before we stopped six White-tailed Ptarmigan walking around the wooden fence near the Summit. One advantage of fewer visitors at the top!

After dropping Edward off at an Aurora motel, I detoured to 3904 South Idalia Street, Aurora. After about 20 minutes, the Varied Thrush popped up on the shed at the house north of Buzz's home (address above). Later, I followed the Varied Thrush to the yard two houses north of the house with the birdbath and feeders (Myra's home; nice person!).

No Short-eared Owls were observed along the DIA Owl Loop on my drive home.

Canon City to Pueblo

November 27, 2011

Richard Stevens:

It was another picturesque day in Colorado. Winds were mild; temperatures were in the 60s.

My first goal was to find Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers or possibly Williamson's Sapsuckers in Canon City (Fremont County).

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Centennial Park took about an hour to relocate. Perhaps I just needed to wait for the day to warm up before it moved around; the morning was quite chilly. I waited another half hour; no additional Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers appeared.

At Rouse Park, I hoped for find another Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Instead, a male and female Williamson's Sapsucker came along.

No additional sapsuckers were found at the Cemetery or the Elementary School (where a Williamson's Sapsucker had previously been reported).

A check of Florence River Park did not find the previously reported Black Phoebe.

It was a long day so I started back to Denver. However, not before stopping at Pueblo Reservoir (Pueblo). The Red-necked Grebe was relocated when the lake was scoped from West Fisherman's Point.

The south marina added a Great Black-backed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull to my day list. The unexpected prize was a Glaucous Gull. While trying to figure out its age, a Bonaparte's Gull flew overhead!

A Canyon Towhee or two walked around the southern Campgrounds.

The definite highlight however, was relocating the Eastern Towhee west of the Valco Ponds parking area. It was a new county bird for me.

Just to press my luck, I walked along the Arkansas River to search for the Rusty Blackbirds. It was my lucky day, two Rusty Blackbirds walked along the shore, a nice end to my birding day!

Park and Chaffee Counties

November 26, 2011

Richard Stevens:

I returned to Park County to look into the water conditions. Antero Reservoir was 95 percent frozen. Spinney Mountain Reservoir was 75 percent ice covered, while Eleven Mile Reservoir was only 20 percent ice covered.

Not many waterfowl were on any of the lakes. One Common Loon and a few ducks swam on Spinney Mountain Reservoir. A flock of 6-8 Brown-capped Rosy Finches flew over while I was scanning the lake.

Eleven Mile Reservoir was a little more interesting. A White-winged Scoter and another Common Loon were among a dozen common ducks.

Buffalo Creek Campgrounds and Rough and Tumbling Creek BLM lands had few birds moving around.

I struck out on relocating the Lewis's Woodpeckers in Buena Vista (Chaffee) and the Pinyon Jays along Ruby Mountain Road.

After dark, I drove to the BLM land north of the Buena Vista Overlook. I set out several "owl listening stations" (playing Northern Saw-whet Owls recordings). No owls responded. The question of where Northern Saw-whet Owls winter in Colorado or if they do, still to be answered.

Trip from Burlington to Colorado Springs and On!

November 25, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Five of us listened for owls about an hour before sunrise at Hale Ponds (Yuma County). Only one Eastern Screech-Owl called this morning.

After sunrise, we searched for Long-eared Owls at the evergreen windbreak east of Foster's Grove. None was found today; however, as a consolation, we found a Pine Warbler! It fluttered in and out of the thick fir trees.

We received a text about a possible Streak backed Oriole at Fountain Creek Regional Park in Colorado Springs (El Paso). I decided to rush down there and report.

While it was 55 degrees with calm winds north of Burlington, I arrived at the southern end of Fountain Creek Regional Park in the rain. Fortunately, the northern end of this long park was partly cloudy and rain-less.

Eventually, I walked from the Visitor's Center to the north end of the park, to the south end and back without finding any orioles. At least 20 other birders also failed to find the bird. I called back to Bonny Reservoir and suggested not to waste the trip down to Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, Bryan Ehlmann and all had found 2 Long-eared Owls, one each on either side of the lake.

After the several hours of my hike, I drove around to the west side of Fountain Creek, which borders the west side of the park and stopped at the KOA Campgrounds. The Campgrounds were almost directly across from the spot where the Oriole was reported.

I walked around for an hour, inquiring about any "orange bird" sightings and handing out my CoBus business card. No Oriole, however a few new bird-reporting contacts were made.

My birding day ended along the road to the Crags Campgrounds in Teller County. Two Northern Pygmy-Owls were found around the old scout camp. A third was heard at the Campgrounds.

Birding In Northeastern Colorado

November 24, 2011

Richard Stevens: As one can tell from the publication dates, I have been rather lax in updating the blog. Tired tonight (not from Turkey as I do not like it), I will try to be more diligent and write less flat postings!

While waiting for our three turkeys to cook, nine of us searched for the Common Ground-Dove near the Wayside Rest Stop (Sedgwick). It was not found today. Two Rusty Blackbirds were our consolation prize.

Later we dropped by Ovid and walked from the northern woods to the sewage ponds. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker drummed along Lodgepole Creek, behind the high school.

The Purple Finch was found again southeast of 2nd and Monroe Street! Again, it was observed flying west into town.

A Brown Thrasher was relocated east of Lodgepole Creek, north of the Monroe Street Bridge.

No Stub tailed Wren or Northern Cardinal could be found today.

A White-throated Sparrow was among a dozen White-crowned Sparrows and a few Song Sparrows at the old Ovid sewage pond area.

Shortly after dusk, we heard an Eastern Screech-Owl call at Roger Danka's ranch! It was a decent end to a gorgeous Thanksgiving day! Temperatures reached the middle 60s; winds were calm.

Prewitt and North Sterling Reservoirs

November 23, 2011

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann, Ray Simmons and I visited Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington) at 4:30 am. We relocated an Eastern Screech-Owl while walking west between the western parking area and the Ranger's residence!

At least one Common Loon was out on the lake. To avoid geese hunters, we decided to hike the eastern and southern sides of the reservoir. It was a good choice! A Snow Bunting was found flying around just west of the southeastern corner.

Later, we returned to below the dam. Another good choice, this time we found a male Eastern Towhee! A White-throated Sparrow was with a loose flock of 11 White-crowned Sparrows and 3+ Song Sparrows.

Our birding day ended at Sterling Reservoir (Logan). An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Bonaparte's Gulls were observed from the dam.

Later we visited the picnic grove where a Barn Owl flew out, then circled back into its cover!