Rich Stevens' Bird Trips
January 2001
Birding Metro Denver 1/27
I checked out a couple of metro birding spots on Saturday.
By 2:00PM, the snow came down rapidly; temperatures were around 30 degrees.
While stopping to eat lunch at the Burger King at Alameda Blvd and Santa Fe,
I walked the half block across the street and scoped the South Platte.
One male Barrow's Goldeneye continues just downstream from the Alameda Bridge.
One Ringed Turtle-Dove caught my attention.
The bird was approximately 50 yards downstream on the west side of the river.
My trek took me next to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson County).
The immature Harris's Sparrow came to eat the seeds below the tree stumps
(northwest corner of eastern parking area; off Kipling).
Two Spotted Towhees also came to feed here.
I did not locate the Brown Thrasher or Northern Mockingbird today.
Between Prospect Pond and Bass Lake, there were 9 male 5 female
Hooded Mergansers, 14 Common Mergansers, and 2 male Red-breasted Mergansers.
I hiked Clear Creek from Kipling to Youngfield Blvd in search of the
female Greater Scaup that continues to be reported. The bird was not located.
A male Wood Duck was at the western end of the gravel pit
north (west) of Interstate 70. Few birds were at the cemetery north of here.
Cherry Creek Reservoir 1/25-1/26
I checked CCk Reservoir for an hour on Thursday and two hours on Friday.
The Golden-crowned Sparrow did not make an appearance on either day.
Only one Song Sparrow showed up on Thursday and three on Friday.
The American Tree Sparrows did not turn up either day.
It could be most of the sparrows found a new location to feed.
There were two American Bald Eagles in the southeast corner of the reservoir.
While many Canada Geese were on the ice near the southwest marina,
no uncommon Geese were among them.
Wild Trip to Durango 1/14-1/15
Bryan Ehlmann and I left at 10:00PM Sunday night to be in Durango at first light.
The female Harlequin Duck was in the Animas River
(just south of 29th street & 3rd avenue).
Unfortunately, Bryan and I had to be in Denver at 2:00PM, so we turned around
and came directly back (quite a wild seven hour trip in either direction!)
Cherry Creek Reservoir 1/12
I stopped briefly at Cherry Creek Reservoir while running chores this morning.
The Golden-crowned Sparrow was still at its usual location (see 1/4).
Two American Bald Eagles were in the cottonwoods at the southeast end.
The Red-tailed Hawk was again at the northwest entrance to the park.
(This is the bird with the leather strap on its leg.)
Birding in the Foothills 1/9-10
Wednesday (1/9) six birders went on the CoBus trip to Guanella Pass (Clear Creek).
On the trip up, a brief stop at Silver Plume produced sightings of
14 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches. At the Guanella Pass summit,
we were able to locate two White-tailed Ptarmigan.
The birds were between the Rosalie and 603 trails.
On the return trip, we found the male Three-toed Woodpecker
that "hangs out" just south of the Guanella Pass campground!
Few birds were found at feeders in Georgetown and the City Park.
Back in Denver, Bryan Ehlmann and I stopped briefly at Alameda Blvd and the
South Platte River. We could see a male Barrow's Goldeneye from the bridge.
We had stopped for gas and parked at the station just east of the river.
We ended the day by hiking Clear Creek from 74th avenue to the South Platte River
(Adams County) and then north downstream along the Platte. A male and female
Barrow's Goldeneye were 150 yards north of the white and green water tower.
They eventually flew to northern most East Gravel Lake. The Long-tailed Duck was
back in the finger of river formed by the island below the water tower.
She flew north when 20 Common Goldeneyes took off.
Later we observed two males and female Barrow's Goldeneyes in East Gravel Lakes.
Off in the distance was a Long-tailed Duck (near Dahlia Street side of lake).
We could not tell if it was the same bird found earlier. We did not see two birds
as found last week. Our day ended under a beautiful Colorado winter sunset!
On Tuesday (1/10), four of us went on the CoBus trip to Pike National Forest.
We found one female Three-toed Woodpecker along the Buck Gulch Trail,
north of the park boundary sign. There were three or four Hairy Woodpeckers
in the area also. Thanks to Merlynn Brown for the "heads up" on their location!
We stopped at Bear O' Lair Park west of Morrison on the return trip.
There were five American Dippers feeding in the creek between the parking area
and the first bridge to the east. One Red-tailed Hawk flew overhead.
On Monday (1/8), the Golden-crowned Sparrow was still at Cherry Creek Reservoir
(Arapahoe) at its usual location.
Around the Front Range 1/4-1/5
Bryan Ehlmann and I enjoyed a 7-mile hike up Waterton Canyon (Jefferson County)
and a cold overnight camping trip. We did hear a Northern Pygmy-Owl approx.
1/2 mile up from junction of Steven's Gulch and the Colorado Trail.
The bird could not be found in the morning. Along the hike we observed many
Spotted Towhees, Townsend's Solitaires, American Dippers, and two Golden Eagles.
On the trip over to Waterton Canyon, I stopped briefly at Cherry Creek Reservoir
(Arapahoe County) on 1/4. The Golden-crowned Sparrow was at its usual spot
0.4 miles east of the southwest marina turnoff (cattails below third curve sign).
On the return trip Friday 1/5, Bryan and I stopped at Alameda Avenue and the
South Platte River (Denver County). Approx. 40 yards north (downstream),
a male Barrow's Goldeneye was with 4 male Common Goldeneyes.
This was a first county sighting for both of us!
We then traveled up to the South Platte at Colorado Blvd and 88th avenue.
We parked there and took the 88 bus west to Washington Avenue where we
transferred to the 7 bus and went south. Depending upon how long a hike
one wants, you can get off at CO 224 and hike Clear Creek east to the
South Platte and then north back to your car. Or continue on the 7 bus to
around 52nd avenue and hike the South Platte River back to your car.
We hiked Clear Creek in hopes of seeing the Double-crested Cormorants that
I observed in December. They were not found Friday. Once at the South Platte,
Bryan took the west side and I the east (fortunately).
At the East Gravel Lakes, I found two males and a female Barrow's Goldeneyes.
Also the adult male Long-tailed Duck (observed last December 28) was in the
small open area and accompanied by an immature Long-tailed Duck!
Bryan had to circle around at the 88th avenue bridge to join me on the east side.
The weather was fantastic the last two days.
Near 60 degrees, and we encountered little wind!
Adams County 1/3
I birded Adams County on this warm winter day (Wednesday); winds were calm.
I do not know the exact location of Mr. Leukering's Swamp Sparrow observation
(I assume this was the spot). As I stepped out of my car (7:30 AM) at the canal that
runs north under 152nd avenue (Bromley Road) approximately 0.3 miles east of
Picadilly Road, a Swamp Sparrow was below me. He worked his way up the
western edge of the canal and gave me a 2-minute look.
Two Marsh Wrens and two Virginia Rails also made appearances along the canal.
In the cattails 2 blocks east of the canal (near chain link fence to private
property) 2 additional Marsh Wrens "popped up" along with 6 Song Sparrows.
A flock of 9 White-crowned Sparrows and 5 American Tree Sparrows were
along the canal across the road to the south.
I did not see any Great-tailed Grackles along Picadilly Road. I inspected
three flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (each 40-50 birds) and only observed
males and a few females. No Rusty Blackbirds were among them.
I then hiked the 6.5 miles to Brighton in search of the male Bullock's Oriole.
Along 144th avenue at Lewistown (1.6 miles west of I76) there were two
Great-tailed Grackles. One in the tree above the yellow house (in front of
lavender barn if my eyes did not deceive me), the other fed on the ground
along the western side of the house. This location is 1.8 miles as the crow
flies from Buckley Road and I76 (southwest end of Barr Lake). A spot where
I have observed Great-tailed Grackles many times during past winters
(worth inspecting as one drives along Interstate 76 near Buckley Road).
A dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk was along 144th, east of Chambers Road.
Once at 2nd and Mather, I stood across the street for an hour.
The Bullock's Oriole did not appear at the feeder at 378 2nd street.
I walked around the neighborhood for another 2 hours and could not locate the bird.
One block north a Ferruginous Hawk stood the large cottonwood at 2nd & Skeel.
Two Common Grackles were a block south at 2nd and Laurel. I also observed
5 Brewer's Blackbirds, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Brown Creepers,
many White-breasted Nuthatches, and many Black-capped Chickadees.
One Red-breasted Nuthatch visited feeders along 3rd street.
In a four square block area, I counted at least 12 houses with feeders.
The Bullock's Oriole has many choices for food.
I then proceeded to Denver City Park (no longer on foot). There was a juvenile
Greater White-fronted Goose on the frozen pond below the Denver Museum.
My day ended by watching an Eastern Screech-Owl at a friend's house.
The location is 14 blocks east of the Denver City Park.
Cherry Creek Reservoir 1/2
As I pulled up, the Golden-crowned Sparrow was feeding in its usual location.
Three American Tree Sparrows and two Song Sparrows accompanied it.
(For directions to location, see 12/28)
A Blue Jay briefly stopped by and the Northern Shrike loomed in the background.
I still have not found a hawk for 2001. The Red-tailed Hawk was still standing
sentinel at the northwest entrance (as he has been for several weeks). He
has a leather strap on one leg and therefore I conclude not to be a wild bird.
Birding Along South Platte 1/1
The first day of the year when year lists start over is always enjoyable.
I hiked along the South Platte to 1 mile North of 88th avenue and
back South to 58th avenue. Winds were calm; it was not warm however.
Unfortunately the Long-tailed Duck was gone. I found two Barrow's Goldeneyes
20 yards south of the white and green water tower; another male with female
was 200 yards south of tower.
At first light, there was a male Greater Scaup with several hundred Lesser Scaup
just south of the 88th avenue bridge. The larger size and whiter mantle first
attracted my attention. On closer look, I could see the more rounded head and
that its bill was larger and wider than the Lesser Scaups nearby. I even
managed to notice that its flanks did not have markings as the Lesser Scaups.
Finally, the birds flew and I could examine the white on its wings.
The Greater Scaup had white that extended into the primaries whereas
the Lesser Scaups white was limited to the secondaries.
I noticed that as perspectives changed, both the Lesser and Greater Scaup's heads
appeared to be green. Sibley states head color is essentially useless in the field.
While counting waterfowl, I missed the strange duck observed later in the day
by Bill Schmoker. I did see a white duck just north of I76 that had a
Northern Shoveler bill (it had a little black on its back and tail).
Other highlights were two adult California and one adult Herring Gulls.
An adult Bald Eagle flew overhead near 74th street.
Later a visit to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt produced some nice sightings.
The Harris's Sparrow was cooperative and appeared within 2 minutes of my visit.
The Brown Thrasher was observed by a couple of people, however I missed it.
Four beautiful White-winged Juncos came to feed on the seeds near the cottonwood
at the northwest corner of the western parking area (off Kipling).
One Brown Creeper searched the tree for food. Many Black-capped Chickadees
and two White-breasted Nuthatches also made an appearance.
While searching unsuccessfully for Eastern Screech-Owls, another birder told me
about a Northern Mockingbird. I relocated the bird near the footbridge at the
south end of Bass Lake. It was protecting the black berries from Starlings
and other birds. The bird was quite vocal also.
Finally I watched a female scaup that was with three female Common Goldeneyes
just south of the footbridge near the west parking area (off Kipling).
There was a female Greater Scaup reported last week on Prospect Pond and
this could have been it. After watching the bird for 20 minutes, I still
could not decide what species it was. The head looked rounded, maybe.
I wished to see it fly to see the white in the wings; however it did not.
Maybe another birder will get a closer look?
More Bird Trips
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