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What should have been another rest day......

 

14 April 2021

Today should have again been another rest day since I had 4 rides in the previous 3 days and I’m tired. I need to make sure I manage my physical efforts so I don’t overdo it, don’t burn out, don’t hurt myself, etc., because I’m not as young as I think I am! But sometimes you gotta chase good birds. 

I got a message from my friend Myron G that he had a Marbled Godwit at Chatfield State Park, which is one place I’m going to end up riding to a LOT this year. I waffled. I should stay home and rest and do work. I should go. Godwits come through and I could get them again, but they don’t linger long (usually) and could be tough to get later. I decide to go for a ride.

I hit the road and get not even a half mile from my house and my phone is ringing. All the birds flushed and didn’t come back. Sigh. I pondered going home for about 1 second and rode on to Chatfield. I get to the park and call Myron to see if he’s relocated the bird. No dice. Another deep breath. I’ll go to where the bird was originally found and cross my fingers, meanwhile Myron is checking a different spot. I arrive and see the American Avocets returned and there was another bird in there! Another large shorebird. It was light brown! My heart skipped a beat. The Marbled Godwit was back! I tell Myron and I’m pretty sure I heard him yelp a “Yes!” from a couple miles away. 

The Marbled Godwit was a sweet score and code 4 bird on my list. Bonus birds while I was there included an early Semipalmated Sandpiper, 5 Baird’s Sandpipers, the avocets, and 2 Horned Grebes that I had managed to not find thus far this year.


Marbled Godwit and American Avocets sleeping (digibin photo)
https://ebird.org/checklist/S85556090


Chatfield State Park and the foothills in the distance

 
Chatfield State Park, the marina sand spit

With mission accomplished, I decide to check out the prairie dog town by the southeast entrance of the park. This is a periodic spot for Burrowing Owl. I’d also expect a Long-billed Curlew here at some point, esp. in bad weather (not today). Curlews were reported all around town on this particular day, so even more reason to look. I didn’t see an owls or curlews, just an adult Golden Eagle. I decide to start riding for home, but opted for a very slow cruise through the Plum Creek area. I flush a few Sage Thrashers near the road and stop to see what else is around. 

One thrasher starts singing, so I put the bike down and just enjoy the peace and quiet and a Sage Thrasher song. Myron drives up and we enjoy the thrashers. A couple minutes later the Golden Eagle comes flying over and a young Bald Eagle comes off the reservoir and they tangle, briefly locking talons. Right after the cool show, I hear a series of paired high pitched call notes. I couldn’t place them immediately. We hear it a couple more times. The calls are moving north. I scanned the sky carefully. LONG-BILLED CURLEW!!!  I got Myron on the bird and he got some photos (yay!!).

                                        
                                            Long-billed Curlew photo by Myron Gerhard.                                                                                    https://ebird.org/checklist/S85555959

The curlew was flying north and didn’t appear to stop, but then again we were fist bumping and I may have done a little dance in the street. What a find! Curlews are pretty tough to get around here, and especially tough on the bike. This is a code 4 on my list, but it probably should be a code 5 (rarest category). What a great green year bird! This was one I did not expect to get, but that's how big years go right? I got a Short-eared Owl earlier in the week! What made this curlew special was that I found it. It wasn’t simply a satisfying chase. Plus I got to experience it with a friend and it was flat out awesome!

We hung out chatting with excitement for a few minutes. Then here comes the curlew again! It came from the north, circled, and appeared to land in the prairie dog town I had been checking just 15 minutes earlier. I guess I had the right idea anyway.

I rolled home, totally pumped up on adrenline. I honestly don’t even remember the ride home, other than it was a little harder than usual because I was on my back up bike since my main bike is waiting for its appointment at a bike shop.

Please consider a pledge or donation. Click the link (scroll to the bottom) to pledge or donate to support the Joe Roller Memorial Research Grant! 
https://cobirds.org/CFO/Grants/

Green Big Year species list: 143
Miles ridden: 725 miles (as of Apr 14) including 125 miles on 5 rides in 4 days
# of rides with a frozen water bottle and broken shifter: 1 
# of dropped water bottles at stop lights: 1
2021 Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year Species List

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