Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Back In Denver

December 1, 2014

Richard Stevens:

On the return from Julesburg today by way of I76, we chose to search for the Winter Wren at Brush Wildlife Area (Morgan County) instead of Prewitt Reservoir.  Unfortunately, it was not found.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker and the resident Eastern Screech-Owl were consolation sightings.

After a quick stop at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan), I dropped Bryan off in Brighton and headed to Denver West Office Complex (Jefferson County).   The Pine Warbler (Chavez, 11/30) was first observed in the fir tree on the east side of Cole Blvd where the irrigation ditch runs under it.

The Pine Warbler then flew to the southeast corner of building # 6.  It fluttered about the pines and was loosely associated with four Mountain Chickadees, two Black-capped Chickadees, two Red-breasted Nuthatches and a White-breasted Nuthatch.

Afterwards, I drove to Red Rocks Park hoping for better photos of the uncommon birds there.  Unfortunately, only the Harris's Sparrow appeared during my one hour stay.

The birding day ended at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).  I arrived about 30 minutes before sunset.  My favorite spot to scope the lake is along the Cherry Creek dam trail about halfway between the southwest marina and the dam tower.

White-winged Scoter was found in the large raft of waterfowl about 100 yards to the east.  Gulls on the poles lining the marina included an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Thayer's Gull.

I parked along the Lakeview Drive at 100 yards west of where Cherry Creek goes under the road.  No Short-eared Owls appeared over the cattail fields today. 

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