South Platte River at 88th Avenue, Adams County

March 9, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Gary Weston and I arrived at Memorial Park in Arvada about an hour before sunrise. We walked around for two hours searching for the possible Northern Saw-whet Owl reported yesterday. Our search went from Memorial Park to North Jeffco Park to the west.

We did not find any small owls but the trip was not a total lost. An Eastern Screech-Owl popped its head out of a hole in the large cottonwoods at the east end!

Temperatures started to warm up and we decided to hike the South Platte River at 88th avenue in search of sparrows. Sparrows were quite rare. We found a couple of Song Sparrows east of the parking area.

The greatest number of sparrows was found while we detoured along Clear Creek to York Street and back. Harris's Sparrows have been found here on several occasions in the past, but not today. Our sparrow count was 9 Field, 2 Song, and 5 White-crowned.

Quite a few ducks are still "wintering" along the S. Platte. Northern Pintail Ducks and Northern Shoveler were in high numbers. The pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was again observed on the River below the green/white tower.

The Barrow's Goldeneyes eventually flew to the southern West Gravel Lake where they joined 3 Herring Gulls and an adult California Gull. A Loggerhead Shrike was at the Engineers Lake south of the confluence of the S. Platte and Clear Creek.

About 140 Ring-billed Gulls were at the south end of Tani Reservoir. Winds had picked up and were blowing toward this end. We assume that brought more food possibilities here or the gulls just did not want to fly northward in the stiff winds?

After taking Gary home, I drove through Barr Lake. Things were pretty slow there; winds had gotten quite strong and the high waves made counting waterfowl difficult.

Mountain Birding!

March 7, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Gary Weston, Tom Warring, and I found 12+ Barrow's Goldeneyes at the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit County), then returned to Loveland Pass (Clear Creek County). We hiked up the trail west of Highway 6 and found 3 White-tailed Ptarmigan. They were in the flat area (with a ditch) about 0.7 miles up. It easy to find the area as it is the only flat area south (or north) of the trail.

Afterwards drove over to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson). No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were found until we hiked along the Strawberry Jack Trail and south of the Parkview Trail. A female Three-toed Woodpecker was probably the one reported by Merlynn Brown yesterday. It was along the Strawberry Jack Trail and approximately 250 yards south of the Parkview Trail.

While in the area, a Northern Pygmy-Owl started calling. It could have been the one reported by James Junda on 2/3. This was approximately 300 yards south of the intersection of the Strawberry Jack and Parkview Trails.

Birding in Larimer & Boulder Counties

March 6, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Tom Warring and I met at Wellington Wildlife Area (Larimer County) about an hour before sunrise. No Short-eared Owls were found flying around this morning. We walked the windbreak just before sunrise and found 2 Long-eared Owls hidden in the evergreens.

We met up again at Swede Lake (Exit 262 of I25). It was fortunate that we parked along the western service road and about 50 yards north of Larimer County Road 32. While we scoped the whole lake, a flock of about 10 American Wigeons and the male Eurasian Wigeon were observed in a finger of the lake that could only be seen from our vantage point. Ten yards either direction and we were have missed the ducks. They swam in and out of the cove several times; eventually we lost them against the southern shore. I do not believe the cove could be seen from CR 32.

Tom had to leave for work and I decided to drive over to nearby Fossil Creek Reservoir. When I arrived a flock of 100+ White-cheeked Geese and 7+ Greater White-fronted Geese were along the south shore of Fossil Creek Reservoir. Winds were predicted to get quite strong today. However in my experience, if one gets out early, there are still an hour or two of calm before the storm on windy days.

When the geese saw my car, they flew to the field (backyard) of a house at the northeast corner of the lake. Scoping the lake from the broken pier (soon to be taken down) did not find the previously reported scoter.

In the end, I hiked both the Cattail and Sandpiper Trails. Cattails, the eastern trail allowed a limited view of Swede Lake. Unfortunately the sun was to the east which made it impossible to relocate the Eurasian Wigeon. No uncommon ducks were seen at this end.

Along Sandpiper, the western trail a Northern Harrier stood on one of the perches provided by the park. From the western end I again did not see a scoter, but found 2 Greater Scaup among many Redheads and a dozen Lesser Scaup.

Quite a few additional ducks were far out along the northern shore and left unidentified. The scoter could still be out there.

I worked my way south stopping at Donath Lake, Boyd Lake State Park, Horseshoe Lake, and Lake Loveland. The only uncommon Gull found was an adult Thayer's Gull swimming in the southeast corner of Horseshoe Lake (directly west of Boyd Lake State Park).

While I waited for Tom to finish some work he had in Loveland I continued south into Boulder County in search of the previously reported Mew Gulls. The six swans were still at Baxter Lake. Winds were gaining power which made looking through my scope difficult. I thought the swans had large bills, long necks, and a deeply sloped nape; all indications of Trumpeter Swans to me.

Nothing unusual was found at Ish Reservoir. No Mew Gulls were at Jim Hamm Park. I did find my first Tree Swallow and California Gull of the year. The six previously reported American White Pelican were also at Jim Hamm Park. By now, winds had picked up to 21+ mph with gusts to 32 mph. No uncommon gulls were found at Union Reservoir (Weld) across County Line Road from Jim Hamm Park.

Walden Ponds (Boulder) was also quiet. Boulder Reservoir did not add anything uncommon to my trip list.

Back at Loveland I met up with Tom and we headed to Fort Collins and Rist Canyon in search of Northern Pygmy-Owls. None were found in the now roaring winds. We had planned on driving up to Pennock Pass just to checkout conditions (snow?, open or closed roads) and then continue to Cameron Pass for Boreal Owls. With the predicted advancing snowstorm and high winds it was decided that such a trek would be useless and we turned for Denver and home.

Search for Greater Prairie-Chickens

March 2 to 5
To be written in a bit!

Cherry Creek Reservoir

March 1, 2009

Richard Stevens:

While doing chores I passed through Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County). What a beautiful day with temperatures in the mild 60s; winds were calm(ish).

I scoped the eastern sand spit for the first winter Slaty-backed Gull reported yesterday by Bill Schmoker; without success.

I did find an interesting Gull among the 60 or so gulls (Ring-billed and Herring Gulls). This Gull had a dark mantle but not near as dark as a Great Black-backed Gull or even Lesser Black-backed Gull. It was the same size or slightly bigger than the adult Herring Gull standing next to it.

Its head and neck had scattered brown streaks. When it stood it revealed bright pink legs. The yellow bill had a darkish reddish spot near the tip. It was too far away to tell the color of its eye.

This Gull fit the description of an adult Slaty-backed Gull? Could an adult and her offspring have migrated to Colorado together? I watched the Gull for about an hour. It changed position several times so I could see the color of the mantle. It appeared much darker than a Herring Gull or not? The color could still be a result of the light (which was mostly back lit).

I have seen several Herring Gulls that looked like the description that Bill Schmoker gave of his possible first winter Slaty-backed Gull. Perhaps they are hybrids of some type? In both cases, I figure his and my gulls were Herring Gulls. Will look further into them.

Several people eventually walked by and scared up all the gulls which then flew west. I plan to return tomorrow for another look.

Aurora Reservoir and Boulder County

February 28, 2009

Richard Stevens:

I met up with Bill Cryder and Terry Michaels at sunrise and we searched Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County) for gulls as soon as it opened (we did not see any black backed gulls fly toward the DADS landfill while we waited for the reservoir to open).

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the edge of the swim beach when we arrived. Unfortunately, it only stayed for about 15 minutes and took off toward the Landfill. Other gulls there included a few Herring Gulls and many Ring-billed Gulls.

Next we drove up to the S. Platte River at 88th Avenue (Adams) and looked for uncommon gulls; without success. Have not seen the Glaucous Gull in a while now!

We hiked down to the green/white tower and saw a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes on the S. Platte. There are still many ducks wintering on the river. We did not take the time to scope East and West Gravel Lakes.

Terry Michaels left for home and Bill and I headed to Boulder to look for the previously reported Mew Gulls. There were no Mew Gulls at Walden Ponds or Jim Hamm Park (Boulder). We could not pick out any Mew Gulls at Union Reservoir (Weld) either.

After sunset we drove over around the county and found a Long-eared Owl at its usual spot (unadvertised as it is on private land).

Aurora Reservoir & Lower Church Lake

February 27, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca and I did not find a Lesser Black-backed Gull or Short-eared Owl at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) this morning. Nor at Quincy Reservoir. We did see an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the swim beach at Aurora Reservoir. Unfortunately only for about 3 minutes before it took off for the DADS landfill.

In the afternoon Rebecca and I were looking for a drive to get out in the fresh air and chose Lower Church Lake (Jefferson County). Temperature was 35 degrees. Anemometer readings steady at 34 mph with gusts at 49 & 52 mph.

The five Trumpeter Swans (Mihm-Dunning, 2/7) were huddled down behind the cattails at the northern end of Lower Church Lake. They were so close, but only one raised its head up just once to look around. The wind could have blown it off. At least two Canvasbacks were also observed bobbing up and down on the waves.

The Arvada restaurant we ate at had its front door blown open and the glass shattered.