April 14-21, 2014
Richard Stevens:
April 14
Sandi & Bob Duchesne and I finally started on our 9/8 day grouse trip after birding in snow and blizzard conditions yesterday. Total mileage: 3430 miles.
Loveland Pass was open when we arrived. However, winds were 24+ mph with gusts measured at 37 mph. Between clouds of snow blowing across the landscape, we still could not pick out a White-tailed Ptarmigan. Plans to visit Loveland Pass later in the trip, did not materialize.
After finding three species of Rosy Finches in Summit County, we continued to Jackson County and the Greater Sage-Grouse Leks along CR 26. A 14 Greater Sage-Grouse came to the lek while after sunset (some snow falling).
April 15
We visited the 20 Road Leks (Routt County) at first light and watched a dozen Sharp-tailed Grouse "do their thing". Only one female was picked out among the males running around in the tall grasses.
Next, we visited the 80 Road Leks in hope of finding one of the resident Dusky Grouse. No Dusky Grouse displayed this morning. Greater Sage-Grouse appeared to be done for the morning. Sharp-tailed Grouse on the other hand were not. We counted 14 Sharp-tailed Grouse still displaying at one of the leks.
No Barrow's Goldeneyes were found on the Yampa River (Moffat) as we passed on our way to Rifle (Highway 13). Perch Pond was void of birds altogether.
After missing Chukar for 54 hours over 13 days, Coal Canyon's Chukars were generous. A male Chukar stood on a larger rock near the parking area and called for over 30 minutes. Another Chukar wandered below the rock (female?).
A dozen or so Black-throated Sparrows and dozens of Rock Wrens also sang around the parking area. It was more Rock Wrens than I had ever observed in one spot before.
We had much time before sunset and drove to Baxter Pass Road. Unfortunately, we could not locate any of the Sagebrush Sparrows found last week. The resident Long-eared Owls were also missed.
A stop at several locations in Grand Junction did not produce a Western Screech-Owl sighting.
Finally, we headed up the Grand Mesa. No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were enticed to appear around the Powderhorn Ski Area this afternoon. The highlight was a calling Northern Saw-whet Owl near the National Forest Sign a few miles south of the entrance to Powderhorn!
We searched several hours for Boreal Owls. While briefly hearing one call close to the Visitor's Center, no great evidence of them being around was collected.
A final stop at Powderhorn Ski Area did not produce a Northern Pygmy-Owl sighting and we left for the motel.
April 16
A drive up to the Campgrounds at the Colorado National Monument was quite satisfying. We found Pinyon Jays in the Campgrounds and along the trail north of the Visitor's Center. Juniper Titmice were also found at both locations.
Instead of driving the 23 miles through the Colorado National Monument, we decided to try for the Lucy's Warblers in Yellow Jacket Canyon instead. The 280-mile trip took almost 6 hours to get to Cortez. Then it took another 45 minutes to drive the 22 miles to Yellow Jacket Canyon.
Yellow Jacket Canyon is located in a high plains desert habitat. Once we drove as far as possible in our 4-wheel drive, it required a hike of 1.2 miles to reach the lush riparian area along Yellow Jacket Canyon Creek.
The trickle of this creek provides water for plush trees and wildlife (birds). The canyon has an impressive bird checklist!
While we were never sure of previous instructions, the three of us hiked down the canyon to the last open gate. Then we continued to the end of the trail (stopped by the creek, about another mile or so). Rock Wrens continuously called from the rocky hillside as we made our way down the trail.
On the way back, we first heard and then observed two Lucy's Warblers. One stayed high in the cottonwoods now leafing in the spring sun. While the second Lucy's Warbler called from deep in the thickets. (Look around the only large snag along the trail, east of the last open gate).
A Black-throated Gray Warbler and Ash-throated Flycatcher were also found high in the cottonwoods. A couple of Bushtits also came by. While a Gambel's Quail called from under the same bush as the sulking Lucy's Warbler. Several Spotted Towhees flew across the trail in front of us.
The rare Colorado warblers and the beautiful scenery made the hike quite a superb experience!
April 17
Our goal today was to visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose) at dusk. The six-hour drive back from Yellow Jacket Canyon left us with a few hours "to kill" (bird) before heading to the National Park.
We stopped at the Eckert Post Office and watched two Lewis's Woodpeckers fly about the cottonwoods to the south of the building.
Fruitgrower's Reservoir had a few American Coots and many Western Grebes. No Clark's Grebes could be picked out among the grebes, which were quite far from the northern shore.
A single Bonaparte's Gull flew around the shallow field north of the reservoir proper. Shorebirds were non-existent.
Finally, we drove to the National Monument. The gate at the Visitor's Center was open and we were allowed to drive to the western end of the park (South Rim Drive self-auto tour).
We listened for Northern Pygmy-Owls without hearing any (good place to check, highly successful on previous trips).
Eventually we found three Dusky Grouse. The first was one of the most interesting sightings we ever experience.
A lone male was a good 90 yards in front of our vehicle. When Bob stepped out of the car (behind the car), the Dusky Grouse ran down the road, circled the car, then attacked Bob. The bird kept biting Bob's pants as I drove away to give them both room.
Bob tried to walk to the car, which was now 50 yards away. The Dusky Grouse caught up with him and grabbed Bob's pants again. Bob repeated the walk, and then ran toward the car, which I had moved another 50 yards up the road.
Finally, Bob broke out in a full run and reached the car. Just a few yards ahead of the attacking Dusky Grouse, Bob jumped in the car and I took off. The Dusky Grouse followed the car for another 30 yards or so, before giving up his chase.
Clearly, we had accidentally entered the Dusky Grouse's territory. The territory appeared to be quite large and defendable.
April 18
Our birding day started at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek (Gunnison County). Winds were mild and temperatures were in the high 30s (it felt much warmer than last week's visit, 10 degrees).
We only observed seven Gunnison Sage-Grouse this morning. Last trip there were 41+ birds, which departed shortly after sunrise. This morning a couple of birds did not leave until an hour or so after sunrise.
Our trek continued east and we stopped at Monarch Pass (Gunnison). Two male American Three-toed Woodpeckers drummed from the south side of highway 50. Half a dozen Gray-crowned Rosy Finches fluttered about the firs while we watched the Three-toed Woodpeckers.
Then another male was drumming from the north side of highway 50. Eventually this male flew to the south side of the highway and only 12 feet or so directly overhead! He was low enough to give us good looks at his yellow crowned head!
A stop at the BLM Land at Highway 285 and Saguache County Road 390 was interesting. While we found no Sagebrush Sparrows, a dozen Sage Thrashers sang from the sagebrush. A male Black-throated Gray Warbler flew low over the brush and came within 20 feet of us. He seemed out of place in this treeless habitat. A Western Kingbird was the first of the season for us!
Our plans changed once again and we decided to search for our target Sagebrush Sparrows, perhaps White-tailed Ptarmigan and Boreal Owls in the San Luis Valley.
I purchased the last copy of John Rawinski's "Birding Hotspots of South-central Colorado" that could be found at the Forest Service Office in Del Norte. After consulting the book, it was determined that any access roads to White-tailed Ptarmigan and Boreal Owls were closed due to snow (at least for another month or so).
Instead, we drove Forest Roads 600 and 650 in search of Gray Flycatchers. None was found; it was probably too early in the season for them to arrive in the valley.
Next, we drove into Conejos County and John James Canyon to search for Sagebrush Sparrows. During a 3-mile hike into the canyon, no Sagebrush Sparrows were found. We did see many Rock Wrens, two Sage Thrashers and one male Black-throated Sparrow.
Fortunately one the drive out of the canyon, a Sagebrush Sparrow perched on Sagebrush and allowed us excellent views. The ravine about 1/2 mile from the open gate into the canyon supplied brief views of two additional Sagebrush Sparrows.
April 19
Our troop departed the San Luis Valley and took Highway 160 east toward Springfield. Along the way, six Long-billed Curlews were found.
Two were along Baca County Road 16 at 0.4 miles north of CR R; another two were 0.1 miles north of CR R.
Cottonwood Canyon is always a pleasure to bird. While no target birds were expected (we would have liked a Gray Flycatcher) the canyon is always filled with birds. These included Canyon Towhees, Spotted Towhees, Eastern Phoebes, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, another Western Kingbird and Chipping Sparrows. Even a couple of my nemeses Rufous-crowned Sparrows appeared for us!
The old Campo Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek road has been closed to birders for five or six years now. Besides the Lesser Prairie-Chickens, it was always a good road to provide sightings of Cassin's Sparrows. In the mornings, male Cassin's Sparrows would fly up and sing while performing their ritual mating flight.
With that in mind, I decided to stop at the gravel road running north from just east of the old Campo Lek Road. Most years, six or seven species of sparrows can be seen along this road (within 1 mile of Baca County Road G).
It must have been early in the season, for only two species were observed. Many Vesper Sparrows flew about the grasses. Two Cassin's Sparrows were found among them!
While my companions went to dinner, I hooked up with Terry Michaels and Jerry Petrosky. Terry had found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the Fort Lyons Wildlife Easement along Bent County Road JJ, east of CR 19. They did not find Black Rails.
I offered to "trade" a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher sighting for a Black Rail sighting. We rushed west to the Wildlife Easement. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was farther west then its first location, however, we all saw it again!
Later I played a recording and two Black Rails responded!
April 20
While my trip companions went to Granada to see the Lesser Prairie-Chickens at the Arena Dust Ranch, I met Jerry Petrosky and we birded around Lamar. It was a beautiful Easter morning with sunshine and little wind.
We found two Northern Cardinals and a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the Lamar Community College woods. Then the Black-and-white Warbler found yesterday by Terry Michaels made an appearance! We briefly observed a Hawk, which most likely was one of the Broad-winged Hawks reported earlier by Scott Sever. Our looks were too brief to state for sure.
Jerry dropped me off and I walked from the motel to the small park (North Lake Park) along the Arkansas River, north of Lamar. Few birds were on the water, however, a Harris's Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow flew around the tall grasses to the south.
Later in the afternoon, Sandi & Bob Duchesne went to look at Greater Prairie-Chickens on the Bledsoe Ranch. I instead chose to bird the Wray Fishing Unit and Stalker Pond (Yuma County).
It was an excellent choice and chance. The two Eastern Phoebes (probably nesting) were along the outlet canal along Yuma County Road FF. A House Wren called from deep in the riparian area.
A Harris's Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow were along the entrance road to the Fishing Unit. Unfortunately, the area closed before I could walk deeper into the property.
Instead, I walked back to Stalker Ponds and enjoyed my best birding day ever there. A Common Tern flew around the small lake and called constantly. Several times, it flew directly overhead.
A small horseshoe shaped mudflat at the western end held eleven Marbled Godwits and a Willet. While a male Northern Cardinal sang from the Russian Olive trees just west of there.
I tried to circle the lake but found the trail blocked by a fence at the northwest corner. Instead of backtracking along the southern side of the lake, I chose to walk the western and southern perimeter of the park.
It was a most fortunate choice. A sparrow popped up several times from the tall wild grasses. I immediately could tell it was an "Ammodramus" sparrow by its shape. It had a yellowish face with dark streaks across its breast and while belly.
In the four or five times it flew up, moved a dozen feet and dropped back down into the grasses, I could see that it was not a Le Conte's Sparrow. Its face was not orange enough and it lacked a well-defined lateral throat stripe.
Several additional looks and I ruled out a Grasshopper Sparrow, as the breast stripes were dark and well defined. Finally, it landed for about 20 seconds on top of a rabbit brush. There was no rufous in the coverts and tertials.
My final look was the bird looking directly at me. The narrow breast band with streaks and light yellow color of head, cinched the ID; it was a Baird's Sparrow! A great end to my birding day! I walked the two miles back to the Sandhiller Motel.
April 21
After Sandi and Bob returned from watching the Greater Prairie-Chickens display on the Bledsoe Ranch, we headed east, eventually hoping to search again for Chestnut-collared Longspurs near the Pawnee National Grasslands (Weld).
We stopped at Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) and found that two of the wintering Long-eared Owls continued at the Campgrounds.
We passed by the field at Weld County Roads 86 and 96. We did not find the Mountain Plover, which has been reported there several times.
The rest of our short day was spent searching for Chestnut-collared Longspur; without success. Many McCown's Longspurs, no Chestnut-collared Longspurs were found.
