Rich Stevens' Bird Trips
August 2003
Saturday Birding 8/30
Rebecca Kosten and I enjoyed a great day of birding. We led an
impromptu trip to Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson County).
Thirty minutes before first light we stopped at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt
(Jefferson County) in hopes of finding an Eastern Screech-Owl.
None were heard Saturday morning. A Townsend's Warbler was observed
south of Clear Creek and the chain link fence and East of the Prospect Bridge.
A Cooper's Hawk was found north of the scout corral. While a
Plumbeous Vireo was observed southwest of the bridge just north
of the Kipling Avenue parking area.
It took us about an hour to find an American Three-toed Woodpecker at
Pine Valley Ranch Park. A male was working the trees 120 yards East
of the Buck Gulch trail and 80 yards South of Pine Lake. A second
bird was heard but not observed uphill and west of Buck Gulch trail.
We headed to Fort Morgan in the late afternoon, but made several stops.
Eight Burrowing Owls were watched at 3.4 miles East of Tower Road and
96th avenue. Many Lark Buntings are still south of Trussville & 114th avenue.
It started to rain upon our arrival at Barr Lake at 3:30pm.
We decided to hike west from the Niedrach Trail. Rain was coming
down rapidly by the time we reached the shoreline. Once the
lightning started however, we were convinced to retreat to our car.
An hour later, the lightning stopped and I headed back out on
the finger of land jutting into Barr Lake from the Niedrach Trail.
The juvenile Ruddy Turnstone was preening on the western shore.
I radioed Rebecca and she came out to see the bird.
A Caspian Tern flew overhead during our stay.
While the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was never observed.
The Caspian Tern eventually flew to the southern side of the
finger of land south of the one with the Ruddy Turnstone.
We believe this maybe where the Ruddy Turnstone came from
after the rainstorm.
Seven Forster's Terns stood out on the islands west of the shoreline.
I continued along the shoreline eastward toward the boat ramp,
while Rebecca returned to the road around the lake. She found
a Townsend's Warbler at mile marker 8.9. I observed nine
Baird's Sandpipers and 2 Spotted Sandpipers along my trek.
We met up at the banding station, but never found the previously
Mourning Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, or Philadelphia Vireo.
In fact, I never found any songbirds during our stay.
Note (added 8/31):
Rebecca & I also observed a Long-tailed Jaeger while
standing on the south side of the land jutting west into
the lake from the Niedrach Trail. The bird flew from the
two islands to the North and toward the land mass to the South.
The bird landed out of sight on the far side (where we thought
the Ruddy Turnstone came). It was relocated on 8/31 by Leukering.
There was also an interesting gull flying about also.
So far, no one has reported see it. Maybe Monday!
(Hint: Lesser Black-backed Gull).
(Whatever, this bird is not a full adult gull).
Birding Southern Colorado 8/26-8/29
Rebecca Kosten and I headed down to the Colorado State Fair and
to bird in Las Animas County. It was hot during our four day trek.
Tuesday 26
We stopped briefly at the Fort Carson home (El Paso County) where
the female Magnificent Hummingbird has been visiting since 8/17.
She made several appearances around 8:30am.
When we arrived at the State Fair in Pueblo, it was discovered that
it did not open until 2:00pm. So we drove over to the Swallows Road
west of Pueblo Reservoir (Pueblo County). A Curve-billed Thrasher
was found along the Swallows Road (south of Tejon Avenue).
Two Scaled Quail were along Tejon Avenue.
Valco Ponds was productive also. We found Cassin's and Red-eyed Vireos.
I also found a Townsend's Warbler. A third vireo appeared to be a
Philadelphia Vireo, but we just did not get a long enough look to be sure.
Wednesday 27
We started our birding day near Walsenburg (Huerfano County) searching
for the Hepatic Tanagers and Grace's Warblers reported back in June.
Neither bird was found. Lathrop State Park held little of interest.
We next looked for American Three-toed Woodpeckers along Greenhorn Road
(Custer County). A Blue Grouse was observed near the Clear Creek Trail
along highway 165. After dark we searched for owls at several campgrounds
in Custer County. One Flammulated Owl and two Northern Saw-whet Owls
were heard along highway 165.
Thursday 28
A male Hepatic Tanager (rather late bird) was found on a private ranch
in Las Animas County. It was not far from where a pair had successfully
nested earlier in the summer. Many Cassin's Kingbirds are still around.
After lunch we headed to Cottonwood Canyon in Baca County.
Cassin's Sparrows were rather numerous along Las Animas County
Roads 30.0 and 219.1.
Once in Cottonwood Canyon we quickly located Rufous-crowned Sparrows
(1.4 miles East of the camping area at East Carrizo Creek and CR 6).
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Eastern Phoebes, Say's Phoebes,
Western Kingbirds, Cassin's Kingbirds, Blue Grosbeaks,
Mississippi Kites and a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker
are still in the area. Only one Lewis's Woodpecker was located.
No Painted Buntings or Northern Cardinal could be found.
Many Common Nighthawks flew overhead near dusk.
A Western Screech-Owl was heard and observed at 8:00pm.
Friday 29
We hiked Picture Canyon (Baca County) at first light.
Northern Mockingbirds seemed everywhere.
Two Rufous-crowned Sparrows stood on the rocks along
the trail to the Indian Pictographs. American Kestrels and
Western Meadowlarks were numerous.
Half a dozen Burrowing Owls were in pasture G (near the
Washington Work Center). No Eurasian Collared-Doves were
found in Springfield or Campo. Lamar Community College
(Prowers County) was quiet. The Northern Cardinals were missed.
We stopped briefly at Fort Lyons WLA (Bent County).
No Black Rails responded to our tapes.
Trip South to Colorado Springs 8/21
Finally recovering from a three week bout of West Nile Virus.
Thanks to all for the kind words about a quick recovery!
Another cobirder and I traveled down to Colorado Springs to have
a look at a strange hummingbird today. On the trip back to Denver
we drove Elbert County Road (Elbert County). The field 4.2 miles
south of highway 86 (along Elbert CR) is now cut and had few birds.
We found a pair of Dickcissels in the Alfalfa on the east side of
Elbert CR at 2.2 miles south of highway 86. The birds came up to
the telephone wires for us for several minutes. We had a single
bird 1.1 miles south of the Red Barn 4.5 miles south of highway 86.
We stopped at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe County) at 6:30pm.
Five terns stood on the sandbar in the southeast corner of the
reservoir. One was a Common Tern and two were Forster's.
Two remained unidentified. A Green Heron and two Black-crowned
Night-Herons were at the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands Pond.
Another cobirder and I drove down to Fort Carson to look at hummingbirds.
During our stay (12:30-2:30pm), we observed two different and rather
large hummingbirds. Unfortunately, the IDs are not as straight
forward as I would have liked. I lean more toward Magnificent
rather than Blue throated. I just gave away my Peterson Hummingbird
Book to a birder headed to Arizona. But I am thinking that if I
need the book, I should not be the one to make the final ID.
Thoughts on adult female bird:
While the breast and undertail coverts were gray, they were spotted
and not solid. (Would expect a more solid gray look on Blue-throated).
The throat on juvenile and adult female were also spotted and not solid.
(Again expect more solid on BTHU). There was little contrast between
the back of birds and rump. (Would expect bronze color on rump of BTHU).
Things in favor of MAHU, my impression of tail was that it was black
with large white spots. (Would expect center of MAHU tail to be
greenish and with smaller spots. Spots are subjective. I only
observed tailed fanned briefly.)
Watch out for mosquitoes!
Trip to Aurora Reservoir to Get Out of the House 8/20
First of all thanks to all for the kind words while I have spent the last
four weeks fighting this West Nile Virus. I guess my case was around the
90th confirmed case in Colorado this year (no prize in any case, I believe
we are up to 400 cases now). I hope to have turned the corner and am
getting stronger now. Special thanks go to Steve Spencer and Lisa Novin
for watching over the CoBus website and my email while I was “out of it”.
Yesterday, I had to get out of the house for the second time in a month.
My trip was to Aurora Reservoir because I tried to pick out a place
where the mosquito population would be low. The short grass,
open prairie and few trees of Aurora Reservoir seemed to fit.
Unfortunately I was only able to hike the first two miles of the 7.8-mile
circle. Fatigue set in and I back tracked to my car. So my walk was from
Mile Marker 0.0 to 2.0. Most of the gulls observed were Ring-billed with
a few California Gulls mixed in the group. A group of sandpipers at
mm 0.5 included Baird's, Western, and 1 Least Sandpiper.
A Great Egret was in the cove at mile marker 1.8.
Several Great Blue Herons hunted along the southern shoreline.
The Caspian Tern was not found, however I may have not gone far
enough as the cove at mm 3.0 cannot be inspected but up close.
Western and Eastern Kingbirds are still around. One Say's Phoebe and
a flock of Chipping Sparrows were observed. No Orioles, but I seldom
see any here because of the lack of trees. Western Grebes, a few
Redheads, American Coots, and Mallards made up the waterfowl count.
More Bird Trips
HOME
Please feel free to contact CoBus and
Rich Stevens at the following address:
E-mail: