13 May 2021
I finally decided I needed to commit to a day of city riding to get the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at First Creek at Green Valley Ranch. I wanted this bird but just never pulled the trigger for what would be a long day in the saddle. I had wanted to save myself for the big day on May 7, but more frequent shorter trips for more birds. I also really needed to try to make sure I don't overdo it and burn out in prime migration. Plus Green Birder Thomas Heinrich had made the 85 mile round trip from Boulder, so there was a bit of "Somershoe, you better go get that bird!" in my head. Thomas has set the green birding bar VERY high with big trips, overnighters as well, so I'm trying to do my best, and maybe this is a little healthy competition and motivation. Whatever, I'm loving seeing Thomas's rides and getting after birds when I can.
I coordinated with a couple friends to meet me there, and John Breitsch had been wonderful and sent me some specifics on where he was seeing birds. I'd never been to the park before, so I needed some extra eyes and intel! I left the house at 615am and arrived at 831, and had the night-heron at 835 (#200!!!)! John happened to be there and got me on the night-heron right away!
Now that I've gotten to 200 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/
John then quickly got me on a second year male American Redstart (#201), which was singing a little bit along the creek. They aren't the rarest warbler, but a nice one to get. I went off looking for Marsh Wren and didn't find one (again), but I heard a Common Yellowthroat singing (#202). John had relocated a Black-throated Gray Warbler already this morning, at the other end of the greenway. Everyone took off to find it. I rode over and happened to HEAR it singing and got Kathy Holland and Kathy Kay on the bird (#203!). John and Karen arrived shortly thereafter. We all enjoyed the warbler. Quite a successful trip.
It was awesome to meet John and learn his patch a little bit. It was really great meeting Karen Drozda, Kathy Kay, and Chris Curwen! Of course, birding with Kathy Holland is always a blast. A huge thank you to Karen for bringing a gallon of water for me to refill my bottles!
Black-throated Gray Warbler, photos by Karen Drozda
I wanted to hit the road by 10am to start heading home. I left at 10:01. Great! Largely uneventful trip back towards Washington Park, outside one yahoo who thought he owned the shoulder of the road I was riding on (and it was one of the 2 short stretches of sketchy busy roads I needed to ride). I checked out the rookery at Wash. Park for Cattle Egret, which unsurprisingly I didn't find, but a lot of swallows had been flying around. I decided to work them for Chimney Swifts, which ought to be around. After about 5 min I spotted one (#204)! I ended up seeing 3 of these flying cigars. One flew over my head and called a little, and then they were gone. I was 51 miles into my ride, and as good as stopping feels, I couldn't let myself tighten up.
I got back to my neighborhood feeling pretty cooked. Early this morning a birder near my house reported a White-winged Dove. I had stopped to look for one in Denver, but didn't see it. Well, I decided to ride over to their house, at 1pm, and it's 75 degrees or so, and fruitlessly look for this dove. I know I won't find it. I went anyway. Sometimes you just have to. I roll up and stand in the shade and see nothing but a Mourning Dove and House Finches. THEN I HEAR IT! WHAT? Am I delirious? I wait and hear it again a few minutes later. It was up the street a couple houses. I hear it a third time! I think it was in a dense spruce. I never saw it, but I heard it three times. No doubt it wasn't a collared or mourning dove. #205 and a great county bird (my second for my county). I get home, make a meal, and plop into my work chair for a meeting at 2 pm...... 67 miles on the day, but 5 green year birds and a few GOODIES!
14 May 2021
After 2 days and 108 miles of riding, I decided to go for a ride. I rode 5 miles to Harriman Lake Park to see what I could find. I met a friend there who quickly got me on a nice Northern Parula (there were at least 2 females) (#206). In my exploring, I picked up my first Clay-colored Sparrow and Wilson's Warblers (#207 and #208, respectively). I went back to where a likely Gray Flycatcher was earlier in the morning that I had just missed. I found it! #209. Rob Raker and I got brief looks and Rob got some photos which helped eliminate Hammond's Fly, and the call it gave eliminated Dusky Fly (it'll be nice to confirm this with looks at his photos).
Digibin photos of one of the Northern Parulas!
Now I'm being ambitious and rode AWAY from the house and into Lakewood where 4 Red-necked Phalaropes were continuing (amazingly, after 2 or 3 days!). I felt alright on the ride and rolled up and got them! #210!! I imagine I'll find some red-necked phals this fall, but you never know and I had the legs to go get them today. I'm pleased with my chasing and birding decisions this week, in spite of so many good birds around lately!
Digibin photos of the Red-necked Phalaropes!
Now for a couple days of being dad and resting my body (I hope!).
Green Big Year species list: 210 (as of May 14)
Miles ridden: 1085 miles (as of May 14)
# 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: 16
2021 Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year Species List
Thanks for reading!
Scott
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