Rich Stevens' Bird Trips
May 2005
Arapahoe County Reservoirs 5/28
I ventured out after lunch to do chores and such. Looked at
Cherry Creek Reservoir again (missed Brown Pelican at CCK,
Quincy, and Aurora Reservoirs in the morning), did not see BRPE.
However, it was worth the trip. A small group of sandpipers was
on the southeast sandbar. Best bird was a White rumped Sandpiper!
I walked over through swallow shore and got pretty good looks.
Did not have my camera with me, which figures. Never leave home
without it, but I did because the car got so hot in the bright sunlight.
No Caspian Terns today either. At least one Clark's Grebe was there.
There were no other uncommon birds found at the three lakes today.
Colorado Foothills and Plains 5/26-5/27
May 26
Bryan Ehlmann and I decided to hike up Waterton Canyon
(Jefferson County) yesterday morning and go owling after dark.
On the trip up (7 mile hike to the public area) we observed
Lazuli Buntings, Common Yellowthroats, Spotted Towhees,
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, and 1 Gray Catbird.
After dark, we managed to hear a Northern Pygmy-Owl
about a mile up the trail from the reservoir. Another NOPO
was 0.5 miles further south.
May 27
We returned before noon Friday and after lunch headed to
Cherry Creek Reservoir. We did not find the Brown Pelican
reported Thursday. Two Caspian Terns were on the southeast
sandbar. Quick stops at Quincy and Aurora Reservoirs did
not find the Brown Pelican either.
Our next stop was Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas).
Several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are hanging around
the feeders behind the visitor's center.
On the west side of the park (Castlewood Canyon Road), we found
a Wild Turkey about 0.1 miles north of the Falls Parking Area.
Our next surprise was a runaway Emu. It looks like a car went
through a fence about 0.2 miles south of the park and the bird
was running east down the road.
Western and Mountain Bluebirds are using most of the bluebird
boxes along Castlewood Canyon Road. Several Lark Sparrows and
Vesper Sparrows landed on the barbed wire fence.
We headed to Elbert County Road (outside of Kiowa, Elbert County).
At least three Dickcissels called from the field east of the road.
Most we observed when we were standing next to the electric
building (about 4.1 miles south of hwy 83). A male Bobolink was
found on the east side of the road about 5 telephone poles north
of the electric building.
We ran upon another Dickcissel in the field just north of the green
barn with white trim (about 0.6 miles south of hwy 83).
Our final stop was back at Cherry Creek Reservoir. Again we could
not find the Brown Pelican. The poles around the southwest marina
were interesting. We counted 14 Great Blue Herons and 32 Black-
crowned Night-Herons.
Jefferson County 5/25
At first light Wednesday morning I went checking on a Prothonotary
Warbler report at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson County).
I hiked and sat south of the Prospect Bridge for about 3 hours;
without success.
If anyone wants to look further, the bird was reported on the
south side of the chain link fence and moved from directly south
of Prospect Bridge to the first gate to the east. Brush is thick
here and it is difficult to see far into them.
I walked around to the south side of the area (that is not
private); again without success. The birder reporting the bird
did state that he had never seen one before and was
a beginning birder.
Not much else found, it was awful quiet. My first Yellow-breasted
Chat of the year here was up the tree bridge trail.
My next stop was White Ranch Open Space (Jefferson). A male
Black-throated Blue Warbler was observed up the Belcher Trail.
Other birds found during a two hour hike included a Lazuli Bunting,
a male Red-naped Sapsucker, and a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers.
After lunch I had business near Cherry Creek Reservoir. I watched
the Black-chinned Hummingbird fly back and forth from the trees
southeast of the ranger's office to the trees north of the 12-mile
picnic area. It takes him only seconds; beware when looking for
more than one bird.
Birding Around Denver 5/24
Birding was slow today. It rained again in the afternoon.
Temperatures were around 90 degrees; winds were 15+ mph.
I believe we reached a new high temperature for today's date.
At first light, I hike Bluff Lake Nature Area (Denver County).
I did not find the Hooded Warbler or Rose-breasted Grosbeak
reported last week. Birds were few.
A Plumbeous Vireo was between the bird blind at the southwest
corner and the first bench to the east. The only warblers
were a couple of Yellow Warblers. I did not see the
Black-headed Grosbeak found last week.
My next stop was Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson). Again birding
was slow. A Plumbeous Vireo (the one from last week?) was 50
yards east of the Prospect Bridge (south side of Clear Creek).
A couple of Western Tanagers, 2 Yellow Warblers, and
a couple of Song Sparrows were just about all found.
The male Black-chinned Hummingbird is still southeast of
the Ranger's Station at Cherry Creek Reservoir (Arapahoe).
He made it through yesterday's rain and hailstorm.
Barr Lake 5/23
I enjoyed a long day of birding at Barr Lake (Adams County).
Winds were mild most of the day. Temperatures did reach near
90 degrees. It may have been a new record high.
I arrived at Barr Lake at 5:20am (sunrise was 5:41am).
The Worm-eating Warbler was located off the Niedrach Trail
boardwalk. I watched it for about 20 minutes as it walked
up and down the trees just west of the boardwalk (and just
10 paces on to it). The warbler stayed deep in the willows
and I was not able to get a good photo (only a couple of
witness shots).
Continuing south along the boardwalk, I found the Magnolia Warbler
in the cottonwoods at the south end of the boardwalk. It stayed
high in the trees and mainly near the southeast end of the loop
(narrow path with trees lining both sides).
Returning north to the footbridge, I found a Red-eyed Vireo
just north. It moved back south to the Niedrach trail. A few
Yellow Warblers were here also.
At mile marker 8.8, the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak flew up to
the single tree in the clearing and sang for 30 seconds or so.
He then flew back to the trees along the shore. The reported
female Rose-breasted Grosbeak never made an appearance.
A Northern Waterthrush was found in the trees just south
of the clearing (north of the banding station). It stayed under
the overhanging limbs and walked the shore and nearby logs.
(This is mile marker 8.6).
I continued to the Pioneer Trail (mm 8.1). A few Yellow
Warblers, a pair of Western Tanagers, and a Downy Woodpecker
were about all found down the trail.
Note: Added when remembered: A pair of Lesser Goldfinch were
found along the Pioneer trail. They were of the Black-backed
form of LEGO. This is uncommon on the plains.
My non-birding friends ask what I could be doing all day.
I was now at mile marker 8.0 and had been at Barr Lake for
4 hours (with 8 additional miles to go to make the 9 mile loop).
From mm 8.0 to the south end of the dam (mm 7.0) few birds
were observed. A couple of Yellow Warblers, 1 Hermit Thrush,
2 Swainson's Thrushes, many Eastern Kingbirds, many Western
Kingbirds, and many Bullock's Orioles were it.
Below the dam just north of where the canal enters the thin
line of trees running north, a Northern Parula fluttered about.
From here to the other end of the dam (mm 6.0), several Common
Yellowthroats, Brewer's Sparrows, 1 Clay-colored Sparrow, and
3 Song Sparrows were observed. A few additional Yellow Warblers,
but no Yellow-rumped Warblers had been found yet today.
I took an hour rest from birding and hiked over to the Wendy's
(across the highway to the northeast) for lunch, then returned
and continued my trek.
Birding is slower from mm 6.0 to 4.0, as the trail leaves the end
of the lake and runs along some railroad tracks. Two Yellow-
headed Blackbirds flew by the trail near the cattail pond at 4.5.
Once at mm 4.0, the trail returns nearer the lake. From there to
mile marker 3.0, three Plumbeous Vireos were found.
Again, I did not see one Yellow-rumped Warblers?
An adult Bald Eagle could be seen on the nest off in the lake.
From mm 3.0 back to the footbridge (mm 9.0 and 0.0) it rained.
Few birds were seen.
Other birds not mentioned included 1 Cordilleran Flycatcher,
1 Least Flycatcher, 1 Dusky Flycatcher, and 9 unidentified
empidonax species.
Of course Northern Flickers, American Robins, Common Grackles,
Brewer's Blackbirds, and House Wrens are always around.
Absent from this week's hike were any Towhees?
Sedgwick Back to Denver 5/22
Rebecca and I drove from Sedgwick County by way of Yuma
County to Denver. We checked on a couple of locations for
owls from Sedgwick to Yuma Counties. We found ourselves at
the Yuma 45 lek just after sunrise. Six Greater Prairie-
Chickens still visited this morning.
We briefly checked Bonny Reservoir for the previously reported
Neotropic Cormorant; without success. A pair of Baltimore Orioles
was found west of the Wagon Wheel Picnic area. A male Red-bellied
Woodpecker was in the area also. Less than 15 minutes were spent
at Wagon Wheel and Foster's Grove campgrounds; no uncommon
birds were recorded.
Our main concern was owls (Barn, Long-eared, etc) , Mountain
Plover, Dickcissels, and Bobolinks. So we skipped most of my
regular stops on the eastern plains and tried less traveled roads.
At 5:00pm, we drove along Elbert County Road. Two Dickcissels
were at their traditional summer location (about 4.1 miles
south of Hwy 86). We also found Bobolinks at two other
locations and Dickcissels at one.
Our birding day ended at the Winkler Ranch (south of Castlewood
Canyon State Park). We found 2 male Bobolinks at 0.4 miles south
of the ranch entrance along Castlewood Canyon Road (1.5 miles
south of the southern entrance to the Park).
After dark we tried unsuccessfully to scare up an owl along
Castlewood Canyon Road.
Eastern Plains 5/17-5/21
Below is report put together by Roger Danka. We stayed with
him for a week and enjoyed quite a super week of migration.
Migration is in full swing up in the northeast. We have found
some fantastic birds in the past few days. Most of our sightings
have been on private lands unless otherwise stated.
May 17
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Parula (male, female)
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Red-eyed Vireo
Dickcissel
Upland Sandpiper
Short-eared Owl
Field Sparrow
Red-necked Phalarope (Jumbo)
Cassin's Kingbird (Jumbo)
Red headed Woodpeckers
May 18
Worm-eating Warbler (2 locations)
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Northern Waterthrush
Possible Louisiana Waterthrush
Eastern Screech-Owl
Short-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
May 19
Worm-eating Warbler (Jumbo Res.)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Jumbo)
Nashville Warbler (Jumbo)
Mourning Warbler (Julesburg wla)
Black-and-White Warbler
Northern Cardinal (Ovid)
Northern Parula (female)
Red-eyed Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Dickcissel
Our great week of birding continued. We birded between several
thunderstorms which probably contributed to the super birding!
It does appear that things are starting to wind down.
May 20
Cassin's Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Mourning Warbler
May 21
Red-eyed Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
Black-and-White Warbler
Eastern Screech-Owl
Dickcissel
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)
Birding Around Denver 5/15
It was a beautiful morning with temperatures in the 60s;
winds were calm most of the day.
We spent the first two hours of daylight searching for the
Magnolia Warbler reported yesterday at Belmar Historic Park
(Jefferson County). The warbler was not found.
Dozens of male Western Tanagers and 2+ female Western Tanagers
flew about the lake. Yellow-rumped Warblers numbered 6+ birds.
The highlight was a Dusky Flycatcher hawking insects at the
northeast corner of building #4. A Cordilleran Flycatcher was
also observed. One American Avocet and a pair of Cinnamon Teal
were at the lake.
We then spent two hours hiking Wheat Ridge Greenbelt at Prospect
Park. The Eastern Screech-Owls were not out at 11:00am. There
was a Yellow Warbler and Plumbeous Vireo south of the Chain link
fence south of Clear Creek and 50 yards east of the Prospect Bridge.
A Northern Waterthrush walked along the stream at the corner of
the fence along the Tree Bridge trail (0.5 miles west of the
Prospect Bridge). Birds were few with only 2 Western Tanagers
and a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers observed.
Our final stop of the day was to hike 3 miles north (from Buckley
Road & 56th avenue) along the east side of Rocky Mountain Arsenal.
Six Lark Buntings were the highlight. Again birds were few.
Migration has not come through here yet; or has it passed us by?
Burrowing Owls numbered over 6+.
Cherry Creek Reservoir 5/14
We drove through Cherry Creek Reservoir while doing chores
this afternoon. Not much happening at the southwest marina
or 12 mile beaver pond. The male Black-chinned Hummingbird
was on the top of the trees without leaves southeast of the
ranger's office.
Barr Lake 5/13
Barr Lake was quite birdy today. Skies were overcast to partly
sunny; temperatures reached the high 60s; winds were calm to
breezy by noon.
The best birds seem to be south and west of the bridge at the
nature center. At first light a Blackburnian Warbler moved
between the Niedrach trail and the boardwalk to the west.
A Gray Vireo was seen here also. A Plumbeous Vireo
fluttered about the trees in the middle of the boardwalk.
I watched a Gray-cheeked Thrush in the first group of trees
further southwest after returning to the main trail. At least
one Least Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and two
unidentified Empidonax species were encountered along here.
Returning to the northeast of the footbridge, I found several
Yellow Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 19+ Green-tailed Towhees,
dozens of Chipping Sparrows, and more House Wrens.
A Northern Waterthrush walked along the water's edge along the
main trail, just north of the Pioneer Trail. Another Northern
Waterthrush walked the logs below the main trail, halfway
between mile marker 8.0 and the boat ramp.
The walk below the dam was quite interesting also.
An Ash-throated Flycatcher (my first Adams County) was hawking
insects below the tall cottonwoods at mile marker 6.8 (where
the stream first enters woody area north of mm 7.0).
Another surprise was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the trees along
the canal that heads east around mile marker 6.6. A Sora
called from the cattails north of this canal. Two male
Yellow-headed Blackbirds were here too.
The trees along the north-south canal were quite birdy.
Common Yellowthroats called. Flocks of sparrows included
Lincoln's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow,
Song Sparrow, and a Lark Sparrow.
As I was trying to photograph a Clay-colored Sparrow,
a Virginia Rail came out of the green foliage along the canal.
The number of Green-tailed Towhee seemed high today. I only
encountered one Spotted Towhee. Western Kingbirds were many;
Eastern Kingbird numbered 12+. One Townsend's Solitaire was
hanging around. One Orange-crowned Warbler was at mm 7.3.
One male MacGillivray's Warbler was seen at mm 8.1. Several male
and one female Western Tanagers were counted. My species count
ended at 100.
I drove the DIA Owl loop in search of Lark Buntings.
None were found today.
Burrowing Owls were at:
3.4 miles East of Tower Road & 96th Avenue
1.0 miles South of Picadilly Road & Bromley Lane
Powhaton Road & 128th Avenue
Aurora Reservoir & Barr Lake 5/7
Four of us conducted the Aurora Reservoir Spring count this morning.
Birding was slow. Only Ring-billed, California, and two Herring
Gulls were observed. A Say's Phoebe was at the south end.
The highlight was two Sage Thrashers on the boundary fence near
mile marker 3.5. Sparrows included Savannah, White-crowned,
Song, Vesper, one Lincoln's, and 2 Lark Sparrows.
I went over to Barr Lake on my own in the afternoon. Birding was
better here. I did not find the Little Gull or Bonaparte's Gulls
reported yesterday. Two Franklin's Gulls swam in the middle
of the lake.
The highlight was definitely a Gray-cheeked Thrush at mile marker 8.6.
It stood 5 yards away for 10 minutes and allowed great looks before
sulking back into the woods. A Black-and-White Warbler was found
at mile marker 7.9.
Seven male and one female Bullock's Orioles, one Hermit Thrush,
one Swainson's Thrush, 6+ Western Kingbirds, a dozen House Wrens,
Downy Woodpeckers and many Yellow-rumped Warblers were among
the other birds observed. Swainson's Hawks, Northern Harriers, and
a Red-tailed Hawk roamed the skies. Two Barn Swallows were near
the entrance to the state park.
Burrowing Owls were at all locations along the DIA Owl loop.
Closest were two Burrowing Owls 1.0 miles south of Picadilly
Road & Bromley Lane.
Return to Bear Creek Greenbelt 5/6
I stopped by Bear Creek Greenbelt while doing chores this morning.
Temperatures were in the middle 70s; winds were mild.
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was hawking insects in the field on
the south side of Bear Creek. Park in parking area on the west
side of Wadsworth Blvd (across from the Phillips 66 gas station,
0.7 miles north of Hampden Blvd/highway 285). Flycatcher was
600 yards west of Wadsworth Blvd.
A quick drive over to East Reservoir did not find the hybrid
Glossy Ibis reported earlier in the week. The area was void
of birds except for many Common Grackles. There were
many dog walkers around the lake however.
Return to Boulder 5/5
I returned to Boulder for another search for the Scott's Oriole
reported along Hanover Avenue between 44th & 45th streets.
The weather was again fantastic with temperatures in the middle
70s and mild winds. I arrived at 3:00pm.
At 4:00pm, the male Scott's Oriole made an appearance at Hanover
and 43rd street. Several birders watched the oriole until 5:15pm
Search for Scott's Oriole in Boulder 5/4
I headed up to Boulder after a few hours sleep needed to
recover from the all night owling trip. It was a fantastic
day with temperatures in the 70s and mild winds.
Three hours were spent searching for the Scott's Oriole that
was reported "hanging around" Hanover Avenue between
44th & 45th streets. I hiked from Broadway to Tantra
and Table Mesa to Squires Circle.
The Scott's Oriole was never found.
Three Townsend's Solitaires, one Red-breasted Nuthatch, and
two White-breasted Nuthatches were about all observed.
Owling in Larimer & Jackson Counties 5/3 to 5/4
Rhodes, Boehm, Miener, and I went owling in Larimer & Jackson Counties.
We started about an hour before sunset at Rocky Mountain National
Park (Larimer County). We managed to find a Northern Pygmy-Owl
along the Cow Creek Trail. The owl was calling just as the trail
went uphill and before the junction of trails. This is about a mile
from Cow Creek trailhead.
Our next stop was Pennock Pass (Larimer). A Flammulated Owl
answered our tapes as we stood about 1.2 miles west of the summit.
We heard another owl about 0.2 miles further west.
We then headed to Cameron Pass (Larimer & Jackson Counties).
We stopped every 0.2 miles from the Colorado State Forest to
the lower parking area of Joe Wright Reservoir (to the east).
Winds were quite strong this night and we only heard one Boreal Owl.
We were standing at the west end of the highest parking area for
Joe Wright Reservoir.
Several stops were made at the various campgrounds passed on
the drive east back to Fort Collins. No Northern Pygmy-Owls
or Northern Saw-whet Owls could be found this night.
Bear Creek Greenbelt & Cherry Creek Reservoir 5/3
At first light I was a Bear Creek Trail (Jefferson County).
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher stood in cattails along at west
end and the north side of the first pond north of Bear Creek
and west of Wadsworth Blvd (Jefferson County).
It was later scared by a dog and flew to the trees over the
wood fence on the south side of same pond. As a bonus, an adult
Broad-winged Hawk stood in the tall cottonwood just west of same pond.
This place was quite birdy. I also observed a Lincoln's Sparrow,
Marsh Wren, House Wren, several White-crowned Sparrows.
Later I drove through Cherry Creek Reservoir. One Willet walked the
shoreline at the south picnic area (overhangs look like gull wings).
We could only find one Osprey today. Two Caspian Terns flew along
the northern shoreline (picnic grounds). Two Bonaparte's Gulls
were at the swim beach.
The two adult and three juvenile Great Horned Owls were out in
the nesting tree near the northeastern entrance.
Eastern Plains 5/1-5/2
May 1
We ended our birding day at the Yuma County Road 45 Lek.
Approximately 10 birds were still booming.
After dark we found two Eastern Screech-Owls at Bonny
Reservoir/Hale Ponds. One called from north of the most
eastern Hale Pond. The other was located east of the
ponds at the entrance to Bonny Reservoir off CR 3.
May 2
We searched for Mountain Plovers as we worked our way south
to Lamar. Two were found along Kiowa County Road 79 and
south of Towner.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker was found at Lamar Community College
(Prowers).
Two Buttes Reservoir (Baca) was a little more interesting.
Chris Boehm found a Yellow-throated Vireo below the dam.
Gary Rhodes found a White-throated Sparrow among several
dozen White-crowned Sparrows.
In Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) we found Rufous-crowned Sparrows,
Cassin's Kingbirds, Western Kingbirds, Eastern Phoebes,
Ash-throated Flycatchers, Canyon Towhee, Say's Phoebes,
a Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Lewis's Woodpeckers, and
Chihuahuan Ravens. We did not find any Mississippi Kites
or Yellow-billed Cuckoos.
Our birding day ended at the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek where
7 males (no females) made an appearance.
We returned to Cottonwood Canyon after dark and located 2 Western
Screech-Owls. Then drove all night to pick up another birder this
afternoon at DIA. Tired but enjoying the birding, we head to
Rocky Mountain National Park later this afternoon.
Summit & Arapahoe Counties 5/1
Four of us ventured into Summit County this morning before
our trip to the Eastern Plains.
We searched for Rosy Finches in Silverthorne and found all
three species. Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin,
3 nuthatches, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and
Band-tailed Pigeons were also observed.
It took another hour; we finally located a White-tailed
Ptarmigan on Loveland Pass, east side at summit.
Rumors have it that Guanella Pass is definitely closed due
to the recent snows.
At Cherry Creek Reservoir we looked for some of the shorebird
species being observed it seems everywhere else. We found
5 Ospreys and 9 Swainson's Hawks. It appears the Great Horned
Owls have fledged; we only found one adult near the nest.
Shorebirds included 27 White-faced Ibis (field west of where
Cherry Creek crosses the main road); 2 American Avocets
(Cottonwood Creek Wetlands), 3 Willets, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs
4 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 Bonaparte's Gulls (alternate plumage)
at beach below the picnic tables with gull like covers; and
2 Willets and 2 Marbled Godwits (on poles around southwest marina).
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