Thanks Brian. Due to your directions I found the pair this morning and observed them awhile, though today they were out considerably further than 300 ft from the parking lot.
During that period, a bullsnake climbed a tree near them and entered a cavity a ways up. The birds approached as it was climbing up and seemed annoyed, and landed several times to peer into the hole. The snake left after maybe 10 minutes. I don't think that's where their nest is, however. I later saw one of the pair enter a cavity in a tree about 20m away several times, and each time it was followed by a cacophony of chirps and squeaks from inside. I should have some decent photos once I get around to sorting them. I filled up my entire memory card for the first time. Stephen Hendrix On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 2:54:57 PM UTC-6 Brian Johnson wrote: > Today I deiced to head to a different Jeffco park. Centennial Cone, in > Clear Creek Canyon. I parked at the West Trailhead and hiked a part of Elk > Ridge Trail. On the way back I found two > *Lewis's Woodpeckers. * > I found them in a gully area with several cottonwoods, some dead and a few > alive. They were activity flycatching. The area is about 300 feet or so > from the parking lot, if google maps is right. > To get there you will need to park at the West Trailhead, be advised there > is multiple trailheads, you want Centennial Cone West Trailhead. From > Golden take US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon. At the intersection with HWY > 119, Peak to Peak Highway, follow 119 about a quarter mile to Douglas > Mountain rd. Take this snakey narrow road to the trailhead, there is a > large wooden sign for Jeffco Parks. From the parking lot follow Elk Ridge > Trail, don't go down the Travios Trail. Stay on Elk Ridge Trail. The trail > at this point is not to difficult, past the woodpecker area it gets steep. > They are in the cottonwood gully you will come to, the trail bends to the > right then cross on the other side of the gully. They might even have a > nest, but I could not verify that. > One other important note, Centennial Cone has alternating travel use on > weekends. Hiking/horse prohibited on Even-numbered Weekend days and biking > prohibited on odd numbered weekend days. There is a $50 fine. Don't let > this bird be a $50 woodpecker. Plan accordingly. > Good Birding Brian Johnson, > Englewood > > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/83e39014-d85f-492e-9b39-bce124f9882en%40googlegroups.com.
