Lou & Jan's Excellent Birding Adventures: May 2017

Trip Report Colorado

Date:

April-May 2017

Got caught unprepared for as much snow as we got, and had mostly mediocre weather. But the scenery made up for it. We're going back next year a little later in the spring hoping for less snow. Without boots and snow tires, we missed several planned destinations.

I learned that my GPS made more mistakes than around home. A couple of times it told us to turn down a jogging path -- and once it took us onto a snowmobile trail where we got stuck in short order on the ice. Luckily two young snowmobilers were kind enough to push us out of there. The GPS also tried to put us on some rugged roads that were signed for only 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Glad we brought our handwarmers.

1. American Robin
     Location:  Alamo Car Rental Station
     County: Denver  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

2. Common Grackle
     Location:  Alamo Car Rental Station
     County: Denver  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

3. European Starling
     Location:  Alamo Car Rental Station
     County: Denver  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

4. House Sparrow
     Location:  Alamo Car Rental Station
     County: Denver  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

5. Red-winged Blackbird
     Location:  Alamo Car Rental Station
     County: Denver  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

6. American Crow
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

7. Black-capped Chickadee
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

(a subspecies of Dark-eyed junco)
prettier than the ones we have back east

8. Gray-headed Junco
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

9. Mountain Chickadee
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

10. Pine Siskin
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

11. Pygmy Nuthatch
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

usually found only out west
(subspecies of Northern Flicker)

12. Red-shafted Flicker
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

13. Western Bluebird
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

14. White-breasted Nuthatch
     Location:  Genesee Mountain Park
     County: Jefferson  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-25

15. Belted Kingfisher
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

they're everywhere

16. Black-billed Magpie
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

17. Brewer's Blackbird
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

18. Canada Goose
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

19. Cassin's Finch
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

20. Cooper's Hawk
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

21. Eurasian Collared-Dove
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

22. Mallard
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

23. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

24. Spotted Sandpiper
     Location:  Nottingham Lake Park
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

25. Turkey Vulture
     Location:  Walking Mountain Science Center
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

26. American Goldfinch
     Location:  Miller Ranch Open Space
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

27. American Coot
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

28. Barn Swallow
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

29. Chinese Goose
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

30. Cinnamon Teal
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

31. Common Raven
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

32. Hairy Woodpecker
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

33. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

uncommon this time of year in this location

34. Pied-billed Grebe
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

35. Tree Swallow
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

36. Violet-green Swallow
     Location:  Lake Creek Village Wetland
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-26

37. Audubon's Warbler
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

38. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

39. Lesser Goldfinch
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

40. Myrtle Warbler
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

41. Rock Pigeon
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

42. Song Sparrow
     Location:  Veltus Park
     County: Garfield  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

43. Bald Eagle
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

44. Horned Lark
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

45. Ring-necked Duck
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

46. Say's Phoebe
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

47. White-faced Ibis
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

48. Yellow-headed Blackbird
     Location:  Dotsero Ponds
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

49. American Kestrel
     Location:  Gypsum Ponds SWA
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

50. Great Blue Heron
     Location:  Gypsum Ponds SWA
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

51. Osprey
     Location:  Gypsum Ponds SWA
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-27

comical to watch this songbird who thinks it’s a
duck go under water in the shallow rapids

52. American Dipper
     Location:  Gore Valley Trail
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-28

very uncommon this time of year in this location

53. Brewer's Sparrow
     Location:  Gore Valley Trail
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-28

54. Fox Sparrow
     Location:  Gore Valley Trail
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-28

55. Townsend's Solitaire
     Location:  Gore Valley Trail
     County: Eagle  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-28

56. Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
     Location:  Silverthorne area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-29

57. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
     Location:  Silverthorne area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-29

58. Red-naped Sapsucker
     Location:  Silverthorne area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-29

59. Red-tailed Hawk
     Location:  Fairplay area
     County: Park  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

60. Steller's Jay
     Location:  Fairplay area
     County: Park  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

61. Common Goldeneye
     Location:  Goose Pasture Tam
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

62. Gadwall
     Location:  Goose Pasture Tam
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

63. Green-winged Teal
     Location:  Goose Pasture Tam
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

64. Lesser Scaup
     Location:  Goose Pasture Tam
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-04-30

65. American Avocet
     Location:  Frisco area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-01

photo bombed the Pine Grosbeak

66. Clark's Nutcracker
     Location:  Frisco area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-01

67. Mountain Bluebird
     Location:  Frisco area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-01

68. Pine Grosbeak
     Location:  Frisco area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-01

69. Ring-billed Gull
     Location:  Frisco area
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-01

70. Blue-winged Teal
     Location:  CO-103 Idaho Springs to Echo Lake
     County: Clear Creek  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-02

71. Gray Jay
     Location:  CO-103 Idaho Springs to Echo Lake
     County: Clear Creek  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-02

72. White-crowned Sparrow
     Location:  CO-103 Idaho Springs to Echo Lake
     County: Clear Creek  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-02

73. American Pipit
     Location:  Georgetown Lake
     County: Clear Creek  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-02

74. Savannah Sparrow
     Location:  Georgetown Lake
     County: Clear Creek  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-02
     out of place

75. American Wigeon
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

76. California Gull
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

77. Common Merganser
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

uncommon this time of year in this location

78. Northern Harrier
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

79. Northern Shoveler
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

beautiful bird
first time I ever saw one

80. Pinyon Jay
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

81. Willet
     Location:  Osprey Viewpoint Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

82. Western Grebe
     Location:  Dillon Peninsula Trail--Dillon Reservoir
     County: Summit  State: CO  Country: US
     Date: 2017-05-04

NOTE: Photos are best-of-trip and thus may not be from the location where
the species was first seen.

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