Birding Around Denver

December 31, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I walked the Platte River Birding Area (Adams County) from 88th avenue to Hwy 224 and back, including a detour along Clear Creek to Washington Avenue.  Temperature peaked at 24 degrees; winds calm to 8 mph during the morning.

A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes is still on the South Platte River at 0.6 miles south of 88th avenue.  Just about, any of the common ducks that winter in Colorado were and can be found between 88th avenue & Hwy 224.

No Rusty Blackbirds, uncommon sparrows (Harris's, White-throated), wrens or shrikes were encountered.

Next, I hike Clear Creek from Lowell Ponds Wildlife Area (Adams) to the I76 bridges.  One American Dipper was between the bridges.  Thanks Bob Canter for the heads up.

On the way home, I scoped Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe) from the lower parking lot north of the swim beach.  Two Glaucous Gulls and at least two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were observed with many gulls to the east.

The lake is almost completely ice covered now.  Unfortunately, ice anglers kept most of the gulls quite far from shore.

A drive around the DIA Owl Loop (Adams/Denver) 30 minutes before sunset did not find any owls, Snow Buntings or Lapland Longspurs this afternoon.

Year lists start over tomorrow!  Happy New Year!

Golden and Red Rocks Park

December 30, 2015

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I drove the DIA Owl Loop early this morning.  Target birds were owls and Snow Buntings.  Temperature was 5 degrees at sunrise; anemometer reading was 7 mph.

Hundreds of Horned Lark flew around 112th avenue between 114th avenue and Gun Club Road.  They flew up from the stubble south of the road.  With some patience, we finally found a Snow Bunting (after half a dozen attempts).  At least two Lapland Longspurs were among the flock.

No Short-eared Owls appeared this morning.  The Barn Owl sometimes found along Hudson Road was also a no show.

In the afternoon, I drove to Golden.  The Common Redpoll was in the tree by the streetlight in front of Ira Sander's home at 314 DeFrance Court. 

A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into the evergreen in front of the house and all birds disappeared.  Later I relocated the Common Redpoll in the tallest tree in Ira's backyard.

While looking at the Common Redpoll, a Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (Hepburn's) was observed getting a drink in the gutter above my head.

Unable to get home (east of DIA) because of traffic, I drove over to Red Rocks Park (Jefferson).  I watched the feeder behind the trading post for an hour. 

No uncommon birds came along.  Many Dark-eyed Juncos were joined by three Spotted Towhees (2 males, female), four Song Sparrows and two White-crowned Sparrows.

At dusk, I searched for owls (mostly Long-eared Owls) at the south end of the park; without success.  Temperatures were now 17 degrees; winds were 5 mph.

I walked Morrison Road (just east of Red Rocks Park) from the southern to northern entrance.  No Northern Pygmy-Owls were found tonight.

Sterling Christmas Count CoBus version

December 29, 2015

Richard Stevens:

This year we (CoBus group) chose to time our Christmas Counts on the day or day after of the Audubon Christmas Counts.  Plenty of birders were conducting their counts.  We wanted to see what birds might have been missed.  On several occasions some uncommon and interesting birds have been found!

The Sterling Christmas Count CoBus version was this morning.  Temperatures barely reach double figures.  Fortunately, winds were calm to 5 mph.  It felt cold all day.

Highlights were a Snow Bunting and Short-eared Owl at Sterling Reservoir.  Full report will be in a future "Colorado Field Notes".

After returning to Denver, I drove the DIA Owl Loop.  Shifting through 4000+ Horned Larks found zero Snow Buntings and two Lapland Longspurs.

No Short-eared Owls appeared tonight.

One other highlight, a Snowy Owl that has been observed in eastern Adams County since 12/26, was still there tonight.  The location will remain undisclosed after several of us witnessed the disturbing behavior of the Snowy Owl found along 112th avenue. 

This owl is most likely the 112th avenue bird.

Crook Christmas Count CoBus version

December 28, 2015

Richard Stevens:

The CoBus group (Bryan Ehlmann, Jacob Washburn & Ray Simmons) conducted our Crook Christmas Count CoBus version today.  Winds reached 12 mph with temperatures barely reaching 20 degrees.  It was another cold day.

Before sunrise we found a Greater Prairie-Chicken north of County Roads 46 & 91.

Tamarack Ranch Wildlife Area is always a great place to bird.  The highlight was two Common Redpolls near the old Tamarack Pond area.

Other uncommon birds to come across included: two Northern Cardinals, 23 Eastern Bluebirds, five Long-eared Owls and five Eastern Screech-Owls.

The previously reported Red-bellied Woodpecker & Eastern Screech-Owl were relocated at Duck Creek Wildlife Area.

Unfortunately, we did not relocate the great birds found by Kathy Mihm-Dunning along Logan County Road 77, south of CR 62 (Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie-Chicken & Short-eared Owl).

At dusk we heard two Eastern Screech-Owls on Roger Danka's Ranch (Sedgwick).

Slow Drive Along the DIA Owl Loop

December 27, 2015

Richard Stevens:

After lunch, Rebecca and I drove through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams County).  The lakes were ice covered and void of birds.  The resident Bison turned out to be the highlight of the drive.

In the afternoon, I drove the DIA Owl Loop in search of Snow Buntings, Owls and Longspurs.  Regrettably, none was found.

Birding After the Snowstorm

December 26, 2015

Richard Stevens:

I went out on my own this morning to get a little birding in after yesterday's snowstorm.  Skies were mostly clear; the temperature hovered around 25 degrees.  Winds were 8+ mph.

Nine Greater Scaup were on Eaglewatch Lake (South Platte Park, near C470).

The two White-winged Scoters were back on nearby South Platte Park Reservoir.  They stayed in the Jefferson County section of the lake which does span Jefferson/Arapahoe Counties.

I did not find any uncommon gulls at Chatfield State Park (Jefferson/Douglas) just across C470 from South Platte Park Reservoir.  The three Long-tailed Ducks and Common Loon remained on the lake!

A quick drive around the DIA Owl Loop (Adams) did not find any Snow Buntings or owls.

Birding Before Christmas Day Snowstorm

December 25, 2015

Richard Stevens: email sent to "cobirders" listserve:

Hello cobirders,

Arapahoe County
Rebecca and I west out before the snow started.  We relocated a Glaucous Gull, 2+ Lesser Black-backed Gull & a Thayer's Gull at Cherry Creek Reservoir.  Nothing uncommon seen at Barr Lake (Adams County).

Jefferson County
Ira Sanders still has a Common Redpoll & Rosy Finches coming to his feeders at 314 DeFrance Court, Golden.

Happy Holidays!

Directions to birding spots on CoBus website:
http://coloradobirdingsociety. net16.net