Upcoming DFO Field Trips

Chico Basin Ranch Tuesday, September 28 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Mark Amershek (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720 243 1521) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: Meet at the Safeway on Lincoln Avenue and Yosemite (one mile west of I-25 on the north side of Lincoln) Lone Tree CO. Usually this is part of the DFO Spring Field Trips - but this area can be interesting in the early Fall. This is a fee area. We need volunteers with high clearance vehicles to drive on ranch roads. Let leader know if you can drive. Chico Basin Ranch is a working cattle ranch located in El Paso/Pueblo counties southeast of Springs. The driving distance from the departure location will be approximately 100 miles, a little over two hours. The ranch will be birded by following the ranch roads in vehicles with stops to bird on level open areas such as ponds, wetlands, and grasslands. This will be an all-day trip so bring water, snacks, and lunch. Scopes will be handy but not necessary. A two-way radio per car would be helpful. We will bird until 4 p.m. and should be back at the starting location around 6 p.m. Register online or contact the leader.

Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe County) Saturday, October 2 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mary Cay Burger & Edward "Buzz" Schaumberg (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720-940-8394) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: Enter the east side of State Park via Lehigh off of Parker Road. Go just past the entrance station and turn left (south) at the first intersection. The road bends and heads west with the reservoir ahead of you. Go about 1/4 mile, just past the next intersection. The parking for Pelican Point will be on your left. State Parks pass or day pass required. Look for gulls, waterfowl, and a variety of birds. Habitats include deep water, marshlands, mixed grasses, and cottonwoods. We will drive to the various stops and walk 1-2 miles. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Scopes are useful. Register online or contact the leader.

Chatfield State Park Tuesday, October 5 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM David Suddjian & Donna Stumpp (Email: [email protected] Phone: 831-713-8659) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: On Deer Creek Rd west of S Wadsworth Blvd, south of C-470. We will explore various places in the state park in search of migrant landbirds and waterbirds, variety, and hoping for something unexpected. This is a good time for a jaeger or a Sabine's Gull, or some other fun species on the reservoir. Bring a scope if you have one. Plan for up to 3-4 miles of walking. Bring snacks, lunch, drinks. Register online or contact the leader.

Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat/Sawhill (Boulder County) Wednesday, October 6 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Chuck Hundertmark (Email: [email protected] Phone: 303-604-0531) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 8 Directions: From northbound U.S. 36, take Foothill Parkway exit. Go north 2 miles to Arapahoe Ave, then east to 75th St. Go north on 75th St past Valmont Rd and railroad tracks. Turn left at Wildlife Habitat sign. Follow road west and south to Cottonwood Marsh parking lot. Prefer that you be vaccinated for this trip. The trip will involve walking 1-2 miles on level ground. Bring binoculars, snacks, and water. We will look for fall migrants and waterfowl arriving for winter at the lakes at Walden and Sawhill Open Space areas, so bring a scope if you have one. Register online or contact the leader.

Willow Spring Open Space Thursday, October 7 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Jared Del Rosso (Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-275-6252) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 6 Directions: Meet at the Homestead School parking lot 7451 S Homestead Pkwy, Centennial. From I25 go west to Homestead Pkwy on E Dry Creek Rd. about 2 miles. Prefer that you be fully vaccinated for this trip. Willow Spring Open Space consists of an extensive marsh, surrounded by weeds, wildflowers, and grasses. During this early-October dusk walk, we might encounter late nighthawks, flycatchers and bluebirds, as well as early arriving winter sparrows. As the sun sets, we'll listen for rails and snipes in the marsh, and we'll look for signs of mammal activity. Expect about 2-2.5 miles of walking, including on narrow, uneven footpaths. Much of the trail is open and unshaded, so if it's an unseasonably hot evening consider water and other needs. Register online or contact the leader.

South Platte River at E 64th Ave Friday, October 8 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Karen Strong & Diane Roberts (Email: [email protected] Phone: 3039813994) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 8 Directions: Meet at the dirt parking lot on the east side of York St and E 64th Ave. This is east of I25 and south of I76 and close to the Denver Water Treatment Plant. Use the google map on the field trip description for full directions. This area of the South Platte River holds interest because there is a spillway of the waste water from a water treatment plant. This means there will be warmth, warm water and food for waterfowl &land birds alike. We will walk the level bike path for 3-4 miles checking waterfowl, gulls, herons and land birds along the banks. Varying weather temps so bring layers of clothing, water, binoculars and water. Any questions for the leader, please ask. Register online or contact the leader.

Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas County) Saturday, October 9 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Gregg Goodrich (Email: [email protected] Phone: 303-655-9135) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 8 Directions: Meet at the parking lot next to the restrooms on the west side of the canyon. Go 0.4 of a mile west of Franktown on Hwy 86. Go south on Castlewood Canyon Road for 2.9 miles to the parking lot next to the restrooms. State park pass required. From the meeting place we will bird the trails on the west side of the canyon. This is a beautiful riparian habitat of the upper Cherry Creek. Late migrants will probably be seen. October 9th is eBird’s Global Big Day. Join us to get your Big Day off to a big start. After birding the canyon for 4-5 miles of easy/moderate trails we will go to the nearby Walker Road Lake. Register online or contact the leader.

Prospect Park (Wheat Ridge Greenbelt) Tuesday, October 12 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mark Amershek (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720 243 1521) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: From I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about 3/4 mile and turn right (west) on 44th Avenue. Go 1 mile and look for the entrance to Prospect Park (small sign) on left (south side). Follow park road south past and around Prospect Lake on right to parking lot (by restrooms and picnic shelter). This is a trip with easy walking and accessible for mobility impaired individuals. Bring water and a snack; lunch optional. Good trip for novice birders and new members. Register online or contact the leader.

Rueter-Hess Reservoir (Douglas Co.) Wednesday, October 13 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM Diane Roberts & Tim Ryan (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720-278-9025) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: Meet at Barr CCC Park, 18964 S Twenty Mile Rd, Parker, CO, located on the SW corner of Main St and 20 Mile. We will meet &first bird at the Barr CCC Park in Parker. The next stop will be Rueter-Hess Reservoir. We can carpool or drive separate depending on individual needs. We will stop at various points along the lake and perhaps the dam wall. It is a large body of water so we will be scoping portions. Bring binoculars, scopes, snacks, water, and sunscreen. This is a restricted access area, therefore, participants should plan on staying the entire time at Reuter-Hess Reservoir. Tim Ryan with Parker Water &will provide the necessary Reuter-Hess liability releases. There will be port-a-potty opportunities at either location. We should complete the trip before lunch time. Register online or contact the leader.

Waterton Canyon Sunday, October 17 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM Susan Blansett & Sue Summers (Email: [email protected] Phone: 303-475-2718) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: From C-470 take Wadsworth Blvd south past west entrance to Chatfield SP to Waterton Canyon Rd. Turn left and then take the first left into parking lot for Discovery Pavillion. Gather at Stone House. From C-470 take Wadsworth Blvd south past west entrance to Chatfield SP to Waterton Canyon Rd. Turn left and then take the second left into the Waterton Cayon parking area, where restrooms are available. Our walk of 4-5 miles will be at a relaxed pace on a level, gravel surface. We'll expect seasonal birds and hope for the unusual, including possible Bighorn Sheep. Register online or contact the leader.

Boulder County Tuesday, October 19 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM David Suddjian (Email: [email protected] Phone: 831-713-8659) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: From northbound U.S. 36, take Foothill Parkway exit. Go north 2 miles to Arapahoe Ave, then east to 75th St. Go north on 75th St past Valmont Rd and railroad tracks. Turn left at Wildlife Habitat sign. Follow road west and south to Cottonwood Marsh parking lot. We will visit several productive locations in Boulder County from Boulder to Longmont, and east, maybe into Weld a little bit. We begin at Walden Ponds and go from there, with the rest to be decided, but we will visit spots good for migrants and maybe follow up an rare birds known to be around. Plan for a few miles of walking on level trails. Bring scope, lunch, drinks. Register online or contact the leader.

Standley Lake North Shore Area Saturday, October 23 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM Donna Stumpp (Email: [email protected] Phone: 3035884818) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: Meet in the free parking lot located mid-way on the north side of the lake on West 100th Ave at Owens Street (39.878, -105.123). The parking lot is west of Wadsworth on 100th, but east of Simms. We will be viewing Loon Lake, Standley Lake, and exploring much of the open space on the north shore in search of migrant waterbirds and land birds. Bring a scope if you have one. Plan for a walk of about 3.5 miles on easy terrain with minimal elevation change. Restrooms available. Register online or contact the leader.

Park County Explorations Monday, October 25 5:30 AM - 4:00 PM David Suddjian (Email: [email protected] Phone: 831-713-8659) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: Meet at the Aspen Park RTD Park-N-Ride on Hwy 285. The address is 26137 Conifer Rd, Aspen Park, CO. A continuing series to explore beautiful Park County's avifauna and interesting ecology. This trip will focus in South Park, visiting some of the large reservoirs such as Eleven Mile, Spinney Mountain and Antero to seek fun waterbirds (loons, scoters possible), as well as visiting other spots to find migrant landbirds and more. Amazing scenery! Good for county birding. Bring a scope if you have one, and plan for a variety of weather. There will be up to 2 miles of walking, some on uneven but level ground. Bring lunch, snacks and drinks. State Park entry fee. We will carpool from the meeting spot. Register online or contact the leader.

South Platte Park--South End Tuesday, October 26 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mark Amershek (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720 243 1521) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: Meet at parking lot adjoining the South Platte Reservoir. The reservoir is just north of Chatfield off of C-470. Take C-470 to the Wadsworth Blvd exit and turn north onto Wadsworth. Turn right (east) on West Chatfield Avenue and follow the road for 1.5 miles. Make a sharp turn right at the sign that says South Platte Reservoir and follow the access road around to the parking lot. Details: After exploring South Platte Reservoir, we will walk along the lakes, and river of South Platte Park looking for water fowl. The walk is 3 mile mostly on trails and paved bike-paths. . Bring water, snacks and a scope if you have one. Register online or contact the leader.

South Metro Area Friday, October 29 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM Jared Del Rosso (Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-275-6252) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 6 Directions: Meet at Belleview Park, in the lot adjacent to Englewood Children's Farm (5001 S Inca Dr, Englewood, CO 80110). The lot is on the north side of W. Belleview Avenue, approximately .3 miles east of S. Windermere Street. *I prefer if trip participants are fully vaccinated.*

The south metro area includes rich birding areas, particularly along the High Line Canal, Big and Little Dry Creeks, S. Platte River, and amid the area's open spaces and parks. Many are under-birded. This trip--hopefully the first in a series around the South Metro Area--focuses on hotspots with fewer than 100 checklists or species on eBird. We'll try to expand lists, submitting high-quality checklists and contributing to citizen science efforts. We'll also try to come away with a few good stories, observing the birds--common ones included--as they live their lives in suburban and urban landscapes.

This month, we'll bird a few parks and trails in Littleton: Progress Park, Belleview Park, and the S. Platte River (between S. Prince St and W. Union Ave, approximately). Expect about 4 miles of walking on paved and/or gravel trails. Be ready to share the trails with pedestrians, runners, bicyclists, and dog walkers.