Carolina Wren In Denver

May 8, 2014

Richard Stevens:

I received a call from Angela Koehler and headed over to her yard near Washington Park.

She later emailed the "cobirders" listserve before I was able to call her back:

it's been two days since I last seen or heard the Carolina Wren.  Unfortunately I haven't seen or heard this beauty, since late Monday morning,  (May 5,  2014).  I was hoping for Richard Stevens, to witness this rare visitor here, when he came to document this rare sighting in Denver.

Later Angela went inside; I walked the alley behind her house and the surrounding neighborhood for about an hour.   The Carolina Wren called from the back yard two houses west of Angie's when I passed by down the alley.

Visits to Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Bluff Lake Nature Area

May 7, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Adams) when they opened at 6:00 am.  A Long-eared Owl (possible two) was heard in the Governor's Row area.

Later we search for an hour at the parking area along 64th Avenue for the Black-throated Sparrow reported yesterday.  Unfortunately, the sparrow was not found.  Two Burrowing Owls were between the parking area and Lake Ladora.

The day started out partly sunny, calm winds and temperatures in the 60s.  By noon, a storm blew in and anemometer readings were 26 mph, gusts to 33 mph.

Rebecca and I made the 3.6 mile round trip to the Rod & Gun Club Pond.  The trail was quite birdy after we reached the trailhead (1.1 miles from 64th avenue).

A Cassin's Vireo and Black-and-white Warbler fluttered about above the blind.  Unfortunately, no shorebirds were there.  On the trip back to our car, a male Burrowing Owl in its fresh orange and black plumage flew across the trail.  Many Chipping Sparrows and Lark Sparrows flew up from the rabbit brush.  A Lazuli Bunting added blue to the drab landscape.

We drove down 6th street (64th avenue) from Havana Street to where 64th turns from paved to gravel road.  On the trip back to Havana, a red bird was seen in the grove of trees just west of where First Creek crosses the paved portion of 64th.

After getting better views, the red bird was determined to be a young male Summer Tanager!

We stopped at Bluff Lake Nature Area (Denver) on the trip home.  A Northern Waterthrush walked along the shore at the southwest corner.  A Dusky Flycatcher and unidentified "empidonax" flycatcher were along the south end of the trail.

A Western Wood-pewee was farther east of the southwest corner and a Virginia Rail called from the cattails.

Winds increased and we headed for home before the rain and hail fell.

Another Day Around Denver

May 6, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann and I returned to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Prospect Park) at sunrise.  The Northern Parula was relocated about 100 yards east of the Footbridge over Clear Creek.  A Cooper's Hawk was found farther east.  No Eastern Screech-Owls could be found this trip.

We stopped at Matthews-Winter Open Space on our way to Red Rocks Park (Jefferson).  A male Summer Tanager surprised us (along Mount Vernon Creek, behind the restroom).  A couple of House Wren chattered the whole time we walked the park.

No Golden-crowned Sparrow or Fox Sparrow was found in the hour we waited behind the Trading Post at Red Rocks Park.

After dropping Bryan off, I heard about the Worm-eating Warbler at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) and headed over that way.  Unfortunately, I arrived about 50 minutes since that last report.  The warbler was not reported after that.

Burrowing Owls, no Short-eared Owls were observed along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams).

Birding Around Denver

May 5, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Today, temperatures reached to the high 70s; summer is coming.  Winds were calm.

We received an email from Angela Koehler that she had photographed a Carolina Wren visiting her Denver yard.  I went over to talk to her; regrettably, the Carolina Wren did not come back to her yard in the two hours we waited.

I then walked west down the alley for a block.  On the way back, I played a Carolina Wren recording and the Carolina Wren popped up from bushes in the yard just west of Angela's!

The Marbled Godwits reported earlier at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) were not found when I drove through the park.

Half a dozen Burrowing Owls were observed along the DIA Owl Loop (Adams, 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue).

A Long Trip to Pawnee National Grasslands Area

May 4, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I went to Crow Valley Campground (Weld County).  She wanted to see the Painted Redstart that was first reported on 5/1 (it was reported early 5/4).  Regrettably, the bird was not relocated after 7:00 am.

We walked around for about three hours.  I hiked to the north end of the property without seeing the Redstart (it was last observed north of the fenced in area, north of the group camping area at 6:35 am).

Eventually, I did find a Townsend's Warbler (group picnic area) and Plumbeous Vireo (southwest corner of the Campgrounds).  A couple of Brown Thrashers, House Wrens and a Hermit Thrush were other interesting birds around.

After checking the Washington Work area (northeast of the Campgrounds), we headed to Murphy's Pasture (CR 96, west of CR 77).  The highlights here were a Black-throated Gray Warbler and Chestnut-collared Longspur.

We relocated the Mountain Plover in the field south of CR 96, west of CR 77 and a second Mountain Plover on a traditional nesting area (to remain unnamed to protect the birds).

Because it took quite an effort to obtain the permit, we stopped at the field southeast of Highway 85 and CR 114.  Another Chestnut-collared Longspur was observed without having to walk farther than 40 yards into the field.

We passed Lower Latham Reservoir (CR 48) on our way back home.  A couple of Marbled Godwits were the only shorebirds around.  No Short-eared Owls flew around at dusk.

A Brief Grouse Trip, Northern Colorado

May 2-3, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Bryan Ehlmann, Mark Abrams and I made a short mini-grouse trip.  Gunnison Sage-Grouse have been scarce at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek (Gunnison County) the last few days and the extra 400 mile drive was skipped.

May 2

At first light we observed 21 Greater Sage-Grouse at the Jackson County Road 26b leks!

Before breakfast we drove around Walden Reservoir and found half a dozen Marbled Godwits and Willets.

The feeders at the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center had no uncommon birds.  A few Mountain Chickadees, Pine Siskins and a horde of Red-winged Blackbirds came to the feeders.

A male American Three-toed Woodpecker drummed across highway 14, about 40 yards east of the Visitor's Center.

Lake John Wildlife Area had few birds and we sat at the Delaney Butte Lek.  Seven Greater Sage-Grouse eventually displayed.

After dark, we walked a 1/2 mile either side of Cameron Pass.  Two Boreal Owls were found (one seen, another heard).

May 3

It was a long day today. We drove the 80 Route 30 minutes before sunrise.  A Dusky Grouse was at his usual place near the 2nd cattle guard. 

A dozen Sharp-tailed Grouse were relocated near the old Jimmy Gulch State Trust Lands.

A few Brown-capped Rosy Finches were found in Summit County.

We detoured to Loveland Pass (Clear Creek) where a pair of White-tailed Ptarmigan was observed below the western side of the Summit.

On the trip back to Denver, we made two stops.  The Long-tailed Duck was still at the west end of Rocky Mountain Lake.  The Northern Parula was heard near the eastern end of the chain link fence south of the Prospect Park footbridge.

Birding the Foothills

May 1, 2014

Richard Stevens:

Rebecca Kosten and I stopped at Rocky Mountain Lake (Denver County); the Long-tailed Duck is still on the lake!

The Golden-crowned Sparrow did not show up in the 30 minutes we watched behind the Red Rocks Park Trading Post.

Then we continued west to Genesee Mountain Park (Jefferson).  A male Williamson's Sapsucker was found around the pavilion at the group picnic area.  Another male and a female were observed around the snag near the flagpole at the top of the park.

Later Burrowing Owls were observed at the Prairie Dog Town at 3.4 miles east of Tower Road & 96th avenue.

A Great-tailed Grackle was at the feedlot at 152nd avenue & Picadilly Road.  The Ibis were at the flooded field along 152nd avenue, 0.1 miles east of Picadilly Road.

I picked up Bryan Ehlmann and Mark Abrams and we headed into the mountains.  A quick stop at Crow Valley Campground (Weld) found the Painted Redstart reported earlier in the day.

We searched unsuccessfully for Flammulated Owls on Pennock Pass (Larimer).