The idea was that raptors should be soaring in the afternoon in the passes at Sunrise today so Bruce and I headed that way. It was a slightly overcast day so thoughts of Black swift were in mind also. It was warm not hot, and a nice breeze, so a great day for a hike, but FOY Pierce birds just were not happening today. Hopes were for GOEA, GOHA, ROWR, PRFA, and maybe GCRF in the day, and LEOW and BOOW after dark.
On the way up we met Roy Morris and four women coming down the trail and they had seen 5 Long-eared owls in the meadows near Sunrise campground and Shadow Lake the at dusk yesterday. They were confident we’d also see them tonight. Our hopes were high.
Anyway we hiked to Fremont Lookout, trying for Rock wren and with eyes skyward a lot. Also worked the meadows near Frozen Lake for Horned Lark. No luck at all on the way up, but on the way down we flushed on HOLA while >100 Mountain bluebirds flew by, worked the meadow, and perched on the fence by the lake.
After dark it was really quiet. Clouds covered the sky so no moonlight, and no owls anywhere despite trying all around the campground for LEOW and on the road back to Sunrise in the usual places for BOOW.
Home by about 11:30.