Rich Stevens' Bird Trips

September 1999

Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 9/29

I birded Wheat Ridge Greenbelt (Jefferson County) for five hours.

At 7:05am there was a flock of 94+ Yellow-rumped Warblers plus one male Magnolia Warbler
feeding in the cottonwoods around the playground area.

At 8:15am I spotted a Northern Waterthrush just east of the Tree Bridge.

At 9:10am the flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers was just west of Prospect Bridge and
south of Clear Creek. This time I picked out the Magnolia Warbler and
two Townsend's Warblers. Also with the flock was a Virginia's Warbler.

At 9:30am a field trip of 300 school children showed up and I found few birds after that.

Also observed:
Orange-crowned Warbler (14)
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Blue Grosbeak (female)
Red-naped Sapsucker (male, first bridge of Tree Bridge trail)
Western Wood-Pewee

The Plumbeous Vireo observed on Monday 27th during a three hour search, could not be re-found.

I then hiked the two miles east to Johnson Park (another two hours).
The only birds observed at Johnson Park were three Orange-crowned Warblers.
Half way to JP, just east of Anderson Park, there was a Townsend's Warbler
accompanied by 34 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

It was a beautiful day after yesterdays snow (3 inches at my house on the plains).

Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 9/27

A quick trip (3 hours) to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt produced few bird sightings.
There was a Plumbeous Vireo sighted east of the eastern end of chain link fence.
Temperatures were around 50 degrees and it was breezy.

On the way home, I checked on the Burrowing Owl Colonies.
They should be moving out any day now!

Burrowing Owls
(2) (3.4 miles east of Tower Road and 96th avenue)
(3) --Picadilly Road; 1/2 mile south of 128th
(2) (Buckley Rd/56th ave; 1.5 miles north of Eagle Bunker)

CoBus Field Trip to San Luis Valley 9/26

Donna Fortney, Sue Dorsey, Bob Demsey and I traveled to the San Luis Valley and
the National Wildlife Refuges at Alamosa and Monte Vista.
We observed 5 Whooping Cranes (WHCR) at Alamosa NWR and many Sandhill Cranes
at both refuges. The best bet for observing the WHCR is to ask at the Ranger's offices
of the refuges for latest WHCR sightings.

At Homelake Wildlife Area and Smith Lake Wildlife Area,
there were few birds. The WHCR's made the trip well worth while!

Birding Eastern Plains 9/23-9/24

I traveled to the eastern plains of Colorado to bird the last two days.
September 23
Temperatures were warm and it was windy.
September 24
Cooler day and much wind!

Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 9/21

I ran into several other cobirders and we enjoyed a good five hours of birding
at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. Weather was great with no wind and mild temperatures.

Nashville Warbler (observed 20 feet west of eastern corner of chain link fence and
probably a second time 25 yards east of same corner)

Townsend's Warbler (along chain link fence, just east of prospect bridge)
Plumbeous Vireo (just west of scout camping area)
Broad-winged Hawk (adult)

Along with 9+ Orange-crowned Warblers, 4+ Wilson's Warblers, and
one Yellow-rumped Warbler.

A Trip to Colorado Springs 9/16

Donna Fortney and I traveled down to C.S. in search of the possible Inca Dove.
We spent three hours in the general reported area, without a successful sighting.

A trip to Fountain Creek Regional Park did not improve our bird list for the day.
There were many Wilson's Warblers and one Marsh Wren moving around.

A stop at Big Johnson Reservoir added four American White Pelicans and
several dozen Western Grebes and Ruddy Ducks to our day list.

At sunset at Castlewood Canyon State Park (Winkler Ranch),
we watched four Lewis's Woodpeckers flying around the cottonwoods north of the ranch.

A Beautiful Day at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 9/15

Usually I do not stay in one location all day, but what a beautiful day!
The weather at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt was superb, cool and no wind.

6:15am
Arrived at WGB
7:00am
A two-eyed, Red-eyed Vireo (just east of Bass Lake) with flock of
2 Warbling Vireos and six Wilson's Warblers
9:30am
Golden-winged Warbler and Townsend's Warbler with
4+ Wilson's Warblers and two Black-capped Chickadees
(just west of Prospect Bridge, south of creek)
10:30am
A one eyed, Red-eyed Vireo with several Orange-crowned and
Wilson's Warblers (just east of Prospect Bridge)
11:00am
Northern Waterthrush (just east of eastern end of chain link fence)
11:30am
Blue-headed Vireo and Plumbeous Vireo (just east of Bass Lake)
Thanks much to Schofield for staking out the spot!!!
12:00pm to 3:00pm
I sat at Prothonotary Warbler area just east and south of Prospect Bridge.
No birds were observed during this time.
3:10pm
Tennessee Warbler (along creek near first bridge going west along tree bridge trail)
Also here, were four Orange-crowned Warblers and Western Wood-Pewee
3:30pm
Blue-headed Vireo (back at location just east of Bass Lake)
It was again accompanied by 6+ Wilson's Warblers and 4+ Black-capped Chickadees.
4:00pm to 5:15pm
Back at PROW spot, no birds were observed.
6:15pm to 7:15pm
I went to dinner and started home.
However, I could not resist going back to PROW location. No birds observed there.

I ended day by filming a lone Cattle Egret on Prospect Pond and
four Common Nighthawks flying overhead. I had not observed any CONI for
about 10 days and thought maybe that they had all migrated.

I managed to photograph all birds observed but Golden-winged Warbler.
(Probably witness shots only and none of computer quality).

Weld County 9/13-9/14

Monday afternoon on the way to Greeley Audubon Society meeting
I stopped at Latham Reservoir. The Ruddy Turnstone was still
on the south side of CR 48. There were several other species of sandpipers.

Tuesday, I birded Crow Valley Campground (Pawnee National Grasslands)
for five hours. In the first four hours, the only interesting birds observed were
a Townsend Warbler west of campsite #7 and a Red-breasted Nuthatch at campsite #6.

As I was walking to my car, four birders came and asked to see the TOWA.
I went back to campsite #7 and many birds came out of the trees to west.
Cassin's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Townsend's Warbler
Bullock's Oriole
Along with many Wilson's Warblers, two Western Flycatchers, and a Western Wood-Pewee.

There was a second Plumbeous Vireo at the group picnic area.
A Broad-winged Hawk flew over the same area.
Three Short-billed Dowitchers fed in the pond to the north of the campgrounds.

No sandpipers could be found at Latham Reservoir or Beebe Draw Ponds on my way home.

Fall Bird Count at Bear Creek Park 9/13

I conducted point counts starting at the bridge over Bear Creek at Muskrat Meadows.
Ten stations were located 100 yards apart in each direction of the bridge.
Interesting Birds observed:
3west: Townsend's Warbler; Cordilleran Flycatcher
5west: Townsend's Warbler; Western Wood-Pewee
6west: Dusky Flycatcher
7west: Townsend's Warbler
10east: Western Kingbirds (9); Western Tanager; Western Wood-Pewee; Orange-crowned Warbler

Hunting for Boulder and Larimer County Pinyon Jays 9/11

Looking for a way to escape house chores Saturday,
I took Louise Jones to the Davis home northwest of Lyons.
Thanks much to Davis for being so gracious with his hospitality.

It required a two hour wait for the 25+ Pinyon Jays to come to the feeders.
During that time we observed many species and enjoyed a fantastic view.

The second highlight was a Northern Goshawk, which seems to visit his yard many days.

Other birds:
Evening Grosbeak (one has been visiting for a few days)
Lesser Goldfinch
Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches
Two Broad-tailed Hummingbirds
Spotted Towhee

At least one Pacific Loon was still at Baseline Reservoir today.

Birding Prewitt and Latham Reservoirs 9/10

It was another beautiful day to bird in Colorado.

Birding Weld County 9/8

What a glorious day to bird in Colorado.
Temperatures were middle 70's and there was no wind.

Having read about Steve Messick's Buff-breasted Sandpiper at 5:50pm on August 7,
I reached Latham Reservoir (Weld county) at 7:00pm. There were no sandpipers at all.
By the time I drove south to Beebe Draw Pond (Weld County),
it was too dark to distinguish characteristics of the dozen or so sandpipers there.
September 8
Before first light, I hiked to Murphy's pasture and pond on the Pawnee National Grasslands.
Returning to my car, I observed two McCown's Longspur, many Horned Lark, and not much else.

Birding Around Denver 9/7

It was a beautiful day in Denver. Temperatures were around 80 degrees, no wind!

Quincy Reservoir 9/6

At first light (6:00am) I traveled to Quincy Reservoir.
The adult and subadult Brown Pelicans were at the southwest corner.
In the next 30 minutes, they swam toward the eastern end of the reservoir.

I went over and picked up Donna Fortney and Sue Dorsey and returned to Quincy.
The two Brown Pelicans were back in the southwest corner at 8:30am.
They seemed quite happy standing on several logs (from 8:30 to 9:00am).

There were many Ring-billed and several California Gulls; not much else!

Northeastern Plains 9/1-9/3

Dodging storms off and on, I traveled to the northern plains of Colorado.
Between the rain, tornadoes, and hail, a few good birds appeared.
September 1
September 2
September 3
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Suggestions and Comments Welcomed: Email Rich Stevens at cobus@worldnet.att.net