I know I have been delinquent in blogging for about 2 months! I got home from field work in Montana in time for Fathers' Day and was swamped with work, family, some bird chasing and finding, and sleeping. I simply haven't had a chance to write up some of my more recent adventures. Here's the first of a couple posts coming fast and furious!
If you don't want to indulge in the lengthy summer stories, here's my current stats on the big year.
Totals:
Green Big Year species list: 243 (as of July 12)
Miles ridden: 1643 miles (as of August 5)
Elevation gain in 2021: ~72,000 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: 20
2021 Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year Species List
Now that I'm inching closer to 250 species and have topped by 2020 total of 244 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 June 2021
I rode to Cherry Creek State Park in search of continuing Dickcissels and some other goodies. Dickcissels were being reported periodically but not very consistently, so I didn't want to just wing it for a 35 mile round trip. I got great intel from a couple friends (you know who you are, thank you) and I went over. I slow rolled the bike path listening for birds and picked up an Orchard Oriole near the Cottonwood Wetlands that do not have Marsh Wrens! I got south of the Shooting range and immediately had 2 Dickcissels singing. Score! I hung around and got a Blue Grosbeak that had been reported the day before. I had most of my 3 main targets quickly, so I rode around the fields south of the shooting range and ended up finding at least 5 Dickcissels. I then worked every marsh for Marsh Wrens. There are no Marsh Wrens anywhere. I found numerous female Common Yellowthroats that chatter like a Marsh Wren, but alas no Marsh Wrens. Humph! It was a wildly successful morning, outside the mosquitoes being terrible in places and well, those pesky Marsh Wrens.
Poor digibin photos of a Dickcissel (left) and Blue Grosbeak (right)
Some eBird lists:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S90689335
https://ebird.org/checklist/S90689351
2 July 2021
A few days earlier, I had done some scouting in Conifer by car (GASP!) with a friend from back east. I got him some lifers and I had some needed green birds staked out at nests! I got up very early on the 2nd and started riding up Deer Creek Canyon on my way to Conifer. As a cyclist, there are good days and bad days, and some days where you wake up just knowing you don't have it, but can get through a ride. This day was the later. Needless to say it was my slowest climb up the canyon and by far the most painful. It was really terrible. If I wasn't meeting a friend, who had hot breakfast sandwiches for me, I probably would have thrown in the towel and gone home. I persevered, for better for worse.
I arrived at Beaver Ranch Park about 30 min later than planned. My buddy Rob Doster handed me food and I scarfed it town. I felt invigorated. We walked to my staked out nests for Red-naped and Williamson's Sapsuckers and got them all. We missed Three-toed Woodpecker, but it was a great morning. While we chatted in the parking lot, just as I was about to leave, I heard a call that caught my attention. I looked up and EVENING GROSBEAK! We saw a pair fly over and agreed on the identification. Major score! I hoped to find one, but I just needed luck. I got it!
Williamson's Sapsucker at staked out nest along the trail.
I had also talked with Karen Strong about trying for her Band-tailed Pigeons. I won't get this species unless I get to her house. Considering I wasn't feeling 100%, I told myself to harden up and go for it. I got to Karen's house and up the one mile of probably 9% grade and didn't fall over from going too slow! It worked out as I got there and quickly saw at least 18 Band-tailed Pigeons! But the ride involved riding through Conifer and then a couple miles on Hwy 285. There's a huge shoulder....that's covered in debris. I'm never doing that again for anything. Of course I had to backtrack a couple miles on Hwy 285 to get to back roads to get home. I got ONLY four green big year birds, but they were all big time pick ups.
Diginbin Band-tailed Pigeon!
In the end, the day entailed riding 53 miles and 5300 ft of climbing. That ride really hurt in many ways, but it was a success. My back was a little achy for a few weeks after that ride. As much as I love long climbs and punishing myself, this day was a little too much.
The lists:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91129896
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91129894
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91130154
12 July 2021
Two birds I was hankering to get were Indigo Bunting and Grasshopper Sparrow, both of which were not being reported much within cycling range this year. I got real lucky and got a Grasshopper Sparrow at Chatfield State Park, Plum Creek Nature Area on 10 July per good intel from a buddy and leniency from my wife to make a fast trip (#19 of the year) to Chatfield.
On July 8, I birded Chatfield specifically looking for Indigo Bunting. I was slowly riding into the Plum Creek area and HEARD one! I stopped and looked for it, but couldn't see it. I did some playback, which is something I don't do often, and the bird came zooming into me! However, it had one white wing bar and a white/gray lower breast and belly. It was a Lazuli x Indigo Bunting hybrid! Hybrids are not uncommon along the Front Range and in this case, it was a bummer! No half credit for a hybrid!
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91442256
However, on the morning of the 12th, I saw an early morning report of an Indigo Bunting (with photo) at a park about a 9 mile ride from the house. I got great info from the observer (Anne Craig, THANKS!) and rolled up and he was singing his heart out. I got some poor digibin photos, but enjoyed the bird and meeting Anne. This was a great bird to get for the big year and quite a satisfying and efficient chase. The bird wasn't seen after the 12th, so I'm glad I was able to zip up there!
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91653971
I'll detail some other trips in another post. I'm often asked what birds do I still need for the year, so I'll provide a list of needed birds. Obviously Marsh and Canyon Wren is on there!
Thanks for reading.
Scott
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