27 May 2021
This spring migration has been very slow, to put it nicely. However, I have amassed an incredible list of birds in spite of the lack of passerines. In a green big year, there are a lot of tough decisions about what to chase, what to let go, what bike routes to choose, what routes are crummy enough or too sketchy such that I decide a bird isn't worth it, and where am I physically in terms of getting there and back! So far this year, I feel like I've largely made good decisions on what to go after. Even better yet, I've gotten many of the birds I've chased. Looking back on the spring, I feel like I chose wisely to chase "just a Palm Warbler" and some other species as many of those didn't present additional opportunities and may not later this year! If some of those do show up again, I already have them and I haven't overdone it to get the birds I have seen. That said, some other birds did provide a second chance. I chased a Scarlet Tanager south of town and missed, which was a hilly, challenging 41 mile ride. Amazingly I got a singing male in Denver just 10 days later. I largely won't likely get second chances at many individual rarities, but I had an absolutely amazing spring.
As of this writing, I have gotten 229 species! I had no goal for number of species by a certain date due to many other things going on in life that may limit my time and ability, but considering I had 244 species last year, I'm doing pretty well! I didn't start until late March 2020 and didn't do BIG rides for birds either. Just this week I was riding in Chatfield State Park (surprise, right?) and it sort of hit me that I am pretty well committed to doing this green big year and doing it for Joe. I've definitely had a heck of a lot of luck birding this spring and I think Joe has had my back. I've had more fun birding this spring than I've ever had. There have been so many memorable birds, memorable rides (good and bad!), and awesome experiences in the field. Sure there's been a couple crummy rides, but I've quickly forgotten those. I remember the awesome rides and birds and the good times. The following recap of birding on May 24 and 26 epitomize how things have been this spring. The best way to explain it other than saying I'm lucky is it has been magical. Simply magical. Fingers crossed I have half this kind of luck the rest of the year.
Now that I've gotten to nearly 230 species, would you consider a pledge or donation to support the Joe Roller Memorial Research Grant? Click the link (scroll to the bottom). All funds support bird research in Colorado. We are getting closer to raising $30,000 to support the next generation of ornithologists (once I get to 250 species). Thank you!
https://cobirds.org/CFO/Grants/
24 May 2021
I set out early in hopes of finding Lewis's Woodpeckers that have been hanging out south of town. I looked for and missed the woodpeckers last week. That first attempt was a 36 mile ride, and a tough one at that, with nothing to show for it outside an Eastern Kingbird for the year (which was a good bird to get).
I rolled through Chatfield State Park on the way and refound a Lincoln's Sparrow found by Joey Kellner earlier in the morning. Not a rare bird by any means, but they have been scarce this spring, like so many other passerines. I figured I have to get one in fall, but it was nice to check off one of the last "Code 1" species on the list. Lincoln's Sparrow was #221 after a Common Nighthawk (#220) was over my house the previous night.
I rode south through Chatfield and while riding the dirt road towards the Audubon Center, I found a Red-headed Woodpecker ON THE ROAD! Red-headed are fairly rare around here, with maybe 2 breeding spots in the county (I'm not sure either are active anymore), but they are hard to find. A few birds show up as they pass through, but always a good bird here. I stopped really fast and eventually got a couple photos.
Digibin photo of Red-headed Woodpecker!
This is what happens when you find a rarity and just ditch your stuff. Fortunately this "road" doesn't really get any traffic other than bike and foot.
I worked my way through the Chatfield Audubon Center and stopped to try for a Marsh Wren south of Platte Canyon Reservoir (no Marsh Wrens), and down towards Roxborough Park Road where the Lewis's Woodpeckers have been hanging out, most of the time. I tried a shortcut to Roxborough Park and it ended up being a LOT more climbing than necessary. Note to self, do not take that road again! Anyway, I get to the Lewis's area and settle in at a good vantage point in the shade to wait for them. After a few minutes, I find one! What a relief. Lewis's is a "Code 4" on my list, along with the Red-headed Woodpecker. What a nice morning!
Lewis's Woodpecker (just right of center in the middle of the photo).
Not too bad for a distant digibin photo!
From this location, there's no real easy or "good" way to get home. One route is the main north-south dirt road that is REALLY hilly and rutted up, while the other is a main drag, with some sections of shoulder grooved for paving. Neither are especially fun. I had decided to swing through the eastern side of Chatfield State Park on the way home and opted for the paved route. At least this route is largely downhill. After a 5 min wait because of paving activities, I get to Chatfield. I decided to check out the Plum Creek Area. This area has a variety of habitats and has turned up some good birds in the past (this is where I had the surprise flyover Long-billed Curlew in April). I just couldn't resist checking it out again. I rode up the old paved path and heard something singing constantly. I quickly realized it was a Northern Mockingbird! I got some looks at it and as I went for a photo, it flew south and was gone. Ok, all of you who don't live in the SW metro may not realize that mockingbirds are pretty local here and rarely stick around. I'm not sure they even breed on my side of town. Not the rarest of birds, but a really nice bird to get. It's a tricky species to find around here though!
I explored the river bottoms a little and on my way out. I stopped for some chipping sparrows and saw a kingbird flying around in the distance. I forget about the sparrows and go check the kingbird since a Cassin's was reported somewhere around here a week ago (meaning it won't be here now). It was a Cassin's! This is another pretty tough bird to find around here and so close to home! I managed to get some phone photos of this beauty. Cassin's Kingbird was #225! Unbelievable morning of cycling and birds. Gorgeous weather on top of it.
Ditched bike scene #2 for the day.
26 May 2021
I had to do that "work" thing on the 25th, and of course, Joey Kellner turns up a suite of good birds at Chatfield State Park. I figure I'll try for them and maybe get lucky and find one. I set off after the kids get up. They usher me off and tell me I smell like sunscreen. This time I ride my old cyclocross bike with road wheels and have wellies strapped on the rack. It's time to get wet to get some birds.
I get to the Deer Creek area of Chatfield State Park to look for the Green Heron that Joey found yesterday. I held little hope of finding it, but the area is largely flooded and has some good habitat for a Green Heron. But I thought that maybe it'd stick around. I missed the Green Heron that was north of home about 16 miles (I went the ONE day it wasn't reported over like 10 days). This is much closer and easier to get to. I had to try. I work around the north side of the flooded area and don't see it. I go around to the south side and get on my boots when Joey calls and says he's on his way to join me.
Possibly one of the goofiest photos of the year. Me with my cycling gear and wellies
(and missing binoc eye cup).
Joey and I stomp around and decide to split up. Within probably 10 seconds Joey has the bird! It was quite skittish, but we both got photos. What a GREAT green big year bird. This is a Code 4 on my list, which is a rarity that needs to be chased. What luck!
Photo by Joey Kellner.
While I was looking for the heron, Reed Gorner is texting me asking about the Veery that Joey found the day before. Then he says he relocated the bird! And it was singing! The bird is maybe 3 miles away as the Veery flies. The Green Heron flew (we didn't flush it) and we decided we better go try to get the Veery. I hammer it down to the river bottoms and take the wrong trail through the woods. Derp! I did get my first Red-eyed Vireo of the year during my detour, so that was a small consolation. I eventually get to the right spot and ditch the bike in the woods. We walk the area and hear and see no Veery. We slowly work our way back and I see something walking on the trail about 50m away. It's the VEERY with a Lark Sparrow! This is one of the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Joey got some actual photos of the bird (below) and even thought to take a couple photos of me looking at the bird. What a morning. Veery is a tough bird around here and one I never expected to get a chance at! Thanks to Reed for refinding it and giving us the intel! Veery is another "code 4". Solid birds for the year list.
Joey goes off in another direction and I hit the Plum Creek area again. Joey had a Little Blue Heron (Code 5, so mega rare) there the day before. I decide to look around and have little luck with anything. I was on a possible Marsh Wren (which I still need) and my phone rings. Sigh. Who is calling? I better look just in case. It's Gregg Goodrich, who is a friend and local birder who calls with good birds. He says "Hey Scott, do need that Little Blue Heron? I'm on it right now" (or something like that). I about drop the phone while packing up my bag and trying to figure out where Gregg is. At the most, he's a mile away! I'm RIGHT THERE! What are the odds? I ride the nasty old broken path at high speed and see Gregg way down in this field of reforestation. I call him trying to figure out where the bird is. Voicemail. Drat! I don't see anything. He's pointing. I see nothing. I call again and we chat. I lean my bike against a pole and start walking down through the field.
Suddenly 4 Snowy Egrets flush from the creek that's below a berm and out of sight. And here is the Little Blue Heron! It's flying away! I try to get a photo and actually manage a flight shot with just my phone. I figure that this was it as it'll be gone. I got the bird though. I saw it for only 10 seconds or so and thought it'd drop out of sight, but it perched up in a tree along the creek! The snowy's perched in another tree. I see Gregg getting photos. I should have taken a photo of him taking photos! I walk through the field to get a better angle for a photo as the lighting was horrible. I manage a couple photos before all the birds flew and dropped into the river bottom and vanished. Gregg came up to me and we celebrated. What luck that I was RIGHT THERE when he found the bird and he thought to give me a call. Gregg had no idea I was there too. Dumb luck. That is when I realized just how lucky I have been. That is the moment when I realized how magical this green big year has been so far. I couldn't have written a better script. I've said it before and here it goes again, the best part of this is not only are we raising money for a good cause and doing it for Joe, but I'm seeing so many great birds with friends and having a grand time (plus I can eat all the food, I think I've mentioned that before! Food. Yum.).
Green Big Year species list: 229 (as of May 26)
Miles ridden: 1266 miles (as of May 26)
Elevation gain in 2021: 50,700 ft
# of rides with a frozen water bottle and broken shifter: 1
# of dropped water bottles at stop lights: 1
# of trips to Chatfield State Park: 18
2021 Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year Species List
Thanks for reading!
Scott
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