Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Davenport on Grouse Trips Tuesday, 3/22

March 22, 2011

It has been decided that instead of waiting a week for a grouse trip to finish and getting reports, I will transcribe telephone reports of current grouse trips. I will do my best. Amy Davenport

The Weston group drove through the Colorado National Monument, Mesa County. It's early in the season and few migrating birds were found. A hummingbird zipped by and was left unidentified. Juniper Titmice were found at the Campgrounds. No vireos or warblers were found.

They finally found a Chukar up Escalante Canyon Wildlife Area. It was seen walking the rocky hillside just east of the old goat ranch. Mountain Bluebirds and a couple of Western Bluebirds were seen. They did not find the Black Phoebes.

At Fruitgrower's Reservoir, Delta County, they watched several dozen Sandhill Cranes. The only shorebirds were Greater Yellowlegs and Killdeer. Two Tree Swallows flew around.

They missed Dusky Grouse at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, Montrose County. The south rim road is gated at the Visitor's Center.

The Stevens group started the day at the 20 Road Lek south of Hayden. They found 7 Sharp-tailed Grouse. Skipping Oxbow Wildlife Area, they headed south to Rifle, also missing the Eurasian Wigeon.

They skipped Cameo and drove up the Grand Mesa. A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was found at the Powderhorn Ski Area. Unfortunately, no Northern Pygmy-Owls during this stop or the trip back down.

Half a dozen Red Crossbills flew around the Visitor's Center. No White-winged Crossbills were found. At the Grand Mesa Lodge, they saw Mountain Chickadees, Gray Jays and a Clark's Nutcracker.

After dark, they found 3 Boreal Owls at the various pullovers south of the Spruce Grove Campgrounds. No Northern Saw-whet Owls responded to recordings at the "famous" pullover north of Mesa, CO.

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