Return to Barr Lake and DIA Owl Loop

March 28, 2009

Richard Stevens:

I returned to Barr Lake State Park to see if the Vermilion Flycatcher had made it through the Blizzard. At least a half dozen birders plus myself could not relocate the flycatcher.

I also stopped at five homes south of the park to see if any people (friends) had seen a "little red bird"; no one had.

In Barr Lake Estates, a Harris's Sparrow was found at feeders at a private yard. The landowners did not want dozens of birders coming by, but did allow me to phone Bryan & Sue Ehlmann. They drove over from Brighton and witnessed the sighting!

Later Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe) was again checked for American Tree Sparrows. None were found. A pair of Mountain Bluebirds wandered around the Lake Loop.

Along the DIA Owl Loop we saw a Ferruginous Hawk standing on Trussville Road (just south of 128th Avenue). Also observed were one Rough-legged Hawk, one dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, and a Prairie Falcon.

Burrowing Owls were again seen at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th Avenue site and the site along Tower Road at 0.4 miles north of 56th Avenue.

Vermilion Flycatcher at Barr Lake State Park

March 25, 2009

Richard Stevens:

I had promised my feet that they would not have be in hiking boots today. As happens quite often I broke the promise when I heard about the Vermilion Flycatcher at Barr Lake State Park (Adams County).

We hurried over and watched the red and brown male Vermilion Flycatcher for a good 30 minutes. Afterwards I searched around the Visitor Center and Boat Ramp (mile marker 7.5) for American Tree Sparrow; again without success.

It was a good thing that we hurried over to Barr Lake to see the Vermilion Flycatcher. Denver was hit by a blizzard the next day. I returned briefly on March 26th and searched an hour for the Vermilion Flycatcher. Visibility was down to 20 feet and the Vermilion Flycatcher was not found. March 27th I decided to not leave the house and to leave the snowy roads to others.

Reynolds Park

March 24, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Our target birds today were Northern Pygmy-Owls and Dusky Grouse. We returned to Reynolds Park and hiked to the top of Eagle's View.

A Dusky Grouse flew by at the clearing 500 yards uphill from the intersection of the three trails (Oxen Draw, Raven's Roost & Eagle's View). Another male Dusky Grouse was booming near the top of Eagle's View (near the old park boundary marked by a rock cairn and small dollar sized silver plate in the ground).

One American Three-toed Woodpecker was found just downhill (north) of the three trail intersection. Another was drumming along Eagle's View at 600 yards uphill of the intersection.

We returned to the DIA Owl Loop and found Burrowing Owls at two locations. One each Burrowing Owl were observed at the 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th Avenue and along Tower Road at 0.4 miles north of 56th Avenue.

This time a Ferruginous Hawk was observed over the prairie dog village located 3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th Avenue.

Pine Valley Ranch Park

March 23, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Allyson Marceau and I searched for American Three-toed Woodpeckers at Pine Valley Ranch Park today. After yesterday's snow, 50 degree temperatures and mild winds we welcomed.

Our trek took us 1.5 miles up the Buck Gulch Trail before we found a pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers. The male and female Three-toed Woodpeckers were 50 feet east of the trail at the Park Boundary Sign (from Pine Lake it really is the third Park Boundary sign that you pass before the "real" Park Boundary Sign as the trail weaves in and out of Pine Valley Ranch Park before leaving the park for good and entering Pike National Forest……how's that for one long sentence?).

We were quite happy not to have to hike the whole 6.0 mile loop to find a Three-toed Woodpecker and turned back toward Pine Lake.

We passed Reynolds Park on the way back to Denver and made a quick stop and search for Northern Pygmy-Owls; without success.

The rest of the day we visited Barr Lake State Park, Cherry Creek State Park, and Star K Open Space in search of an American Tree Sparrow; without success. My experience in past years is that once the Tree Sparrows start to depart Colorado, they are quite difficult to find just one. It turned out to be the case today.

Along the trek we looked for the Ferruginous Hawk that had spent the winter along the DIA Owl Loop; without success. On Burrowing Owls were found yet either.

Jumbo Reservoir

March 22, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Allyson Marceau and I spent the night on the west side of Denver. We woke up to snow and wet roads. The plan was to search for American Three-toed Woodpeckers in Pike National Forest. However we though the snowy trails and wet habitat would not be all that inviting for us or the woodpeckers.

Instead we headed northeast 180 miles to Jumbo Reservoir and a chance at the juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake. When we arrived at Jumbo Reservoir winds were 40+ mph with gusts to 58 mph. Waves were stronger and higher than I had ever seen there.

With the help of Cole Wild the Black-legged Kittiwake was found trying to fight the winds at the southeast corner of the lake. We watched the Kittiwake for 30 minutes and then continued around the reservoir.

Few additional gulls were found. We did add at least one each Ring-billed, Herring, and California Gulls to our day list.

Quite a few ducks were holding their own in the rough waves. The previously reported male Barrow's Goldeneye was west of the dam. Also seen were: Redheads, Canvasbacks, Mallards, Gadwalls, Northern Pintail Ducks, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Common Goldeneyes, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, and Green-winged Teal.

One Tree Swallow turned out to be our only swallow sighting. Winds definitely kept down the number of birds we could find.

Our plan was to continue west to Pawnee National Grasslands for a search of longspurs. When we reached Sterling the general prediction was that the area could be hit with 4-6 inches of snow. We turned southwest and returned to Denver.

Kansas to Yuma County

March 21, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Before sunrise, Allyson Marceau and I sat at the eastern Lesser Prairie-Chicken outside of Elkhart, Kansas. Sixteen (11 males, 5 females) Lesser Prairie-Chickens put on quite a show for us. A check of the western lek did not find any birds, but perhaps they had already departed?

Few birds moved about Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca County, Colorado). We did find a lone Grasshopper Sparrow and a couple of Common Ravens.

Few birds were found at Lamar Community College. It appeared to be too early for Mississippi Kites and Chimney Swifts.

Sheridan Lake had no water and birds. We observed two Great-tailed Grackles at the first house south of I70 and along Highway 385 (traditional location).

We did not take the time to visit Bonny Reservoir and instead continued north to Wray. Driving toward the Yuma County Road 45 lek we found two groups of Greater Prairie-Chickens (a group of 6, another of 3). At the lek itself we watched another 7+ Greater Prairie-Chickens dance.

Notice: You can see the Greater Prairie-Chickens and under good light pick out the reddish air sacks. However the birds are quite far away.

Gunnison County to Kansas

March 20, 2009

Richard Stevens:

Allyson Marceau and I were at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek long before sunrise. It was surprisingly warm for this time of year and winds were calm. It is early in the season; however 3 male Gunnison Sage-Grouse did show up about 15 minutes before sunrise.

Today was a day of much driving as we had to travel almost 400 miles to Elkhart, Kansas for a shot at Lesser Prairie-Chicken tomorrow. We tried to get there before sunset to see the Lesser Prairie-Chickens dance; unfortunately we missed it by 15 minutes.

On the way we stopped at the Monarch Pass (Chaffee County) overlook. An American Three-toed Woodpecker fluttered about the evergreens and telephone poles just south of the overlook (which appears to be the roof of a Monarch's store).

Our only other stop was for a quick search for the Eastern Towhee which had been at Bent County Roads JJ & 16. The farmer had burned the underbrush and there were few places for the Eastern Towhee to hide. It was not found.