Tricolored Heron in Boulder County

October 11, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I was heading to the DIA Airport to collect a friend when picking up a text message about a Tricolored Heron at Walden Ponds (Boulder County).  Bryan's plane was delayed several times.  When it appeared that he would not return to Denver before dark, I resolved to take an hour and drive to Walden Ponds.

When I arrived (52 minutes later), the Tricolored Heron was standing on a small rocky island at the west side of the pond.  One hundred eight quick digital shots of the bird and I was pointed back to the airport (in 58 minute drive).

Bryan's plane did not land until ten minutes after my return to the airport.  Is not that "killing two birds with one stone"?

Witness photo is posted on the Colorado Birding Society's website at "Recent Witness Photos" link.

http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net

It was hot today with a high of 86 at 4:00 pm.  Anemometer readings in the afternoon were 17 mph with gusts to 25 mph.

Search for Sprague's Pipits

October 8-10, 2015

Richard Stevens:

October 8th

A couple of nice birds including a Northern Parula were discovered yesterday at Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan) by Van Remsen.  Terry Michaels and I decided to arrive at the Wildlife Area about 60 minutes before sunrise.

An Eastern Screech-Owl was heard calling north of the Platte River when we walked sections 6 East to 7 East.

Terry and I hiked Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area to the western end, then turned around and ended up at the eastern end.  We avoided the 7 mile hike back to Hwy 55 when Roger picked us up.

Eventually we relocated a Broad-winged Hawk, five Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and two Grasshopper Sparrows.  Unfortunately, the Northern Parula could not be found.

Several additional "new sightings" included a Blue-headed Vireo and Eastern Phoebe.  However, the highlight to be sure was a first year male Williamson's Sapsucker.  As far as we knew, this is a first Logan County sighting.

In the afternoon, the three of us traveled Logan & Sedgwick County Roads in search of Sprague's Pipits; without success.

No Greater Prairie-Chickens were found when we hiked the southern section of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area the last hour of daylight.  Shortly after dusk, we heard two Eastern Screech-Owls at Roger's ranch.

October 9th

Terry Michaels and I embarked on our birding day with another drive along the southern sections of Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area (Logan).  Again, no Greater Prairie-Chickens were encountered.

Red Lion Wildlife Area (Logan) was slow; we tried our luck at Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick).  An Eastern Screech-Owl called from the woods at the northeastern-middle section of Jumbo Reservoir (Logan).

Birding at Jumbo Reservoir was quite good.  We found both a Black-bellied Plover and American Golden-Plover along the shore.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull, which has been around since at least July 24, 2015, flew across the middle of the lake.  More importantly, while scoping the lake we observed a Jaeger chasing gulls. 

Unfortunately, it was too far away to identify.  When we hurried to the northeast corner of Jumbo Reservoir, the Jaeger could not be relocated.  One Common Loon swam around the middle of the lake.

A check of Little Jumbo reservoir and Red Lion Wildlife Area (Logan) did not find the Jaeger.  Where it flew remained a mystery.  One minute it was there, the next it was gone.

A stop at Sedgwick Bar Wildlife Area (Sedgwick) did not find any uncommon birds.  Ovid Woods and Ovid Sewage Ponds were quiet.  Only White-crowned Sparrows were found during those stops.

We drove the Sedgwick County Roads north of Highway 138 searching for Sprague's Pipits; again without success.  Several previous locations of years past were void of birds.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker was found at Sedgwick Cemetery.  Then we sat the last hour of daylight scoping Sedgwick Draw (just north of the Cemetery).  Ten minutes after sunset, a Short-eared Owl was observed flying down the draw (north to south).

An Eastern Screech-Owl was later found just east of Sedgwick Draw!

Weather today: high temperature was around 73 degrees.  Winds were 15 mph with gusts to 21 mph (by noon).

October 10th

Terry and I returned to Jumbo Reservoir (Logan/Sedgwick) hoping to find the Jaeger species found yesterday.  It was not around.  The Black-bellied Plover and Lesser Black-backed Gull were still there.

A singing Eastern Meadowlark northeast of the main Campgrounds was a nice consolation!

We spent the next five hours driving to previous locations of Sprague's Pipits; none was found.

We also checked a marsh on private property where I had photographed a Sharp-tailed Sparrow on 10/11/2000.  Then another private ranch where Roger Danka, Sue Ehlmann and Rebecca Kosten had found one on 10/23/2001.  Neither site produced a sighting today.  The habitat had remained close to what it was in 2000 & 2001.

We turned toward Denver in early afternoon. Our only stop on the way home was Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan).  A Red-bellied Woodpecker was relocated north of the pond.  The resident Eastern Screech-Owl did not call.

Weather today: temperatures reached 84 degrees; winds were up to 16  mph.  It was not a helpful day for birding.

Ruddy Turnstone at Chatfield Reservoir, Return to Barr Lake

October 7, 2015

Richard Stevens:

In the afternoon, I drove down to Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas).  Winds were less than 6 mph; temperatures stayed in the low 70s.

The Ruddy Turnstone walked along the marina sand spit.  Of all things, it was turning over stones.

Three terns came and went.  I could only make out a Common Tern and two Forster's Terns (while others found an Arctic Tern).

Later I scoped the lake from Massey Draw (west side of the lake).  The Red-necked Grebe was observed swimming below the dam's tower.

The Burrowing Owl reported near the southeastern entrance yesterday was not relocated.

Next, I stopped by Barr Lake (Adams).  No grosbeaks appeared during the hour I watched the thistles along the canal, near the Visitor's Center.  I enjoyed the called Western Grebes on the lake behind me.  Many sparrows coming and going to the thistles were mostly White-crowned.  One Lincoln's Sparrow made a short appearance.

About 30 minutes before sunset, I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Adams).  Three Burrowing Owls were at the prairie dog town 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue.  None was found at the other sites reported this summer.

Two Ferruginous Hawks were again at the same prairie dog town (as they have been most of the summer).  Northern Harrier count was higher today (seven female type, one male).  Two Red-tailed Hawks and a Swainson's Hawk were also observed along the route.

A Trip Up Interstate 76

October 6, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Terry Michaels and I drove up I76 to Jackson Reservoir (Morgan).  We ran into much fog early in the morning.  Winds were calm to 3 mph; temperature was in the low 50s until after Noon.

We spent about six hours birding the various sections of the State Park.  Before sunrise, we found an Eastern Screech-Owl and Long-eared Owl.

After sunrise, we saw the adult Parasitic Jaeger chasing gulls over the lake.  A Sabine's Gull was one of the many gulls flying about.

It took close to three hours before we relocated a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was reported the day before.

Warblers and vireos were absent.  We did not relocate the Black-bellied Plover reported yesterday.

On the way back to Denver, we stopped at Banner Lakes Wildlife Area (Adams).  No owls were found today.  Few birds moved around north of Highway 52.

Finally the Denver County Common Poorwill and Trip to Barr Lake

October 5, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I had some business in downtown Denver (Denver County) this morning and stopped by Cheesman Park on the way back east.  Thanks to Ira Sanders who pointed out the beer bottle and Common Poorwill sleeping next to it.  It was at the corner of 11th Street and High.

My next stop was Barr Lake (Adams).  Bryan and I had gotten photos of the two Grosbeaks accompanied by a 1st year Rose-breasted Grosbeak on 10/3.  I went back to see if they were still around and take photos of the male. 

Saturday the two unidentified Grosbeaks were of more interest.  I have not had time to look at the photos yet.  Today (Monday) I was able to take about 250 photos (digital) of the first year male.  At least one of the others was still there; however, it stayed mostly buried in the thistles.

I stayed about an hour on the side of the canal opposite the Visitor's Center.  Now and then the thistles would move.  Eventually the two Grosbeaks popped out for short views.

However, the movement in the thistles was also caused by 6+ White-crowned Sparrows, 3 Song Sparrows, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow and 1 Clay-colored Sparrow.

While waiting for the Grosbeaks, twenty seven Sandhill Crane circled overhead.  I hoped they would land in the sod farm to the southwest; they did not.

My birding day ended with a drive around the DIA Owl Loop (Adams).  It is the first trip since March that I did not see a Burrowing Owl.  No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight either.

A Sage Thrasher was on the DIA fence along 114th avenue at 100 yards east of Queensburg Street.

NOTE: After viewing the 360 photos taken Saturday 10/3, results: one young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and one adult female nonbreeding Rose-breasted Grosbeak were there today.  The third grosbeak was not photographed.

Final Trip to Mt Evans for 2015

October 4, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I lead a final trip to Mt. Evans Byway today.  The road is scheduled to be closed for the season tomorrow.  As it turned out, the road was already closed at Summit Lake (fourteen miles short of a search for Ptarmigan at the top of the mountain).

We relocated three Brown-capped Rosy Finches at the northwest corner of Summit Lake.  It took four of us almost two hours to find a pair of White-tailed Ptarmigan east of the Summit Lake parking area (about 400 yards east of the main road).

Later a walk down the Captain Mt trail at the Echo Lakes Campgrounds found a male American Three-toed Woodpecker drumming just south of the trail.  No Dusky Grouse or Barrow's Goldeneyes were found today.

Later I drove the DIA Owl Loop (Adams) by myself.  Burrowing Owls were found at Trussville Road & 114th avenue and Picadilly Road between 128th and 120th avenues.  No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

Elbert County to Arapahoe, Jefferson/Douglas and Adams Counties

October 3, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I chased a Common Poorwill report from Elbert County today.  It was not relocated.

A quick stop at Arapahoe County Road 30 and Boxelder Creek found a Townsend's Warbler quite far east of its range.

We continued west to Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas) where the Arctic Tern stood on the marina sand spit when we arrived.

We stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir to look for additional terns and found two Common Terns standing on the poles outlining the southwest marina (poles at extreme northwest corner of the marina).

We drove over to Barr Lake (Adams).  I was surprised that the three grosbeaks reported earlier in the day were still around.

We stood across the canal from the Visitor's Center and watched the three grosbeaks pick at the thistles along the canal.  The young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was easy to identify.  We however were more interested in the other two grosbeaks that remained unidentified.  I took about 300 photos (to be looked at later).

Burrowing Owls were later observed along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams) at Trussville and 114th avenue & Picadilly Road (between 128th and 120th avenues).

A Short-eared Owl was observed flying over the field 0.2 miles south of the prairie dog town near third Creek and Quency Street (the town at 3.4 miles south of Tower Road & 96th avenue).