April 1-8, 2014
Richard Stevens:
April 1
Aaron Budgor, Marvin Kwit and I headed out to search for the gallinaceous birds of Colorado.
Our first stop was Loveland Pass (Clear Creek County). Unfortunately, winds were 28+ mph, gusts to 40+ mph. Blowing snow reduced visibility. No White-tailed Ptarmigan were found. We planned to return on our last day. It should be noted that tunnel construction has created massive traffic jams.
After searching for mountain species in Silverthorne (Rosy Finches, Pine Siskins, Pygmy Nuthatches, etc) we continued north to Jackson County.
No Barrow's Goldeneyes were on the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit County).
Our birding day ended under cloudy skies, winds 24+ mph and off and on snow. No Greater Sage-Grouse appeared at the County Road 26b leks while it was still light enough to see them.
April 2
We returned to the Jackson County Road 26b leks. Skies were partly cloudy, winds 10 mph, temperatures in the 20s. Eventually 21 Greater Sage-Grouse, all males, came to the lek!
After breakfast, we drove east to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center. Pine Siskins, Red-winged Blackbirds and one Gray-crowned Rosy Finch came to the feeders behind the Visitor's Center. Our target birds Pine Grosbeak and Gray Jays did not show up this morning.
On the drive to Steamboat Springs (Routt), we stopped at the road to the maintenance sheds on Rabbit Ears pass. No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were enticed to make an appearance.
As a consolation, a flock of 24+ male and female Red Crossbills flew back and forth across the road. A male White-winged Crossbill was of great interest!
We drove around Steamboat Springs in search of the Sharp-tailed Grouse that winter around town. Unfortunately, we could not find any. Again, Pine Grosbeaks also escaped us.
April 3
Our day started at the 20 Road Leks in Routt County. Eventually 21 Sharp-tailed Grouse flew to the lek and displayed.
On the trip back to Steamboat Springs, we detoured to the 80 Route Leks. Several reports of Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Sage-Grouse have come in this spring. We found the road muddy and not passable in our 4-wheel drive vehicle due to snowdrifts.
After breakfast, we turned around and headed to Craig (Moffat). Just outside of town, a dark Hawk with wide tail bands attracted our attention. At first, we thought it to be an adult Common Black Hawk. Unfortunately, after further review we decided it was an adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk.
NOTE: later we looked at the only photo I took before the hawk flew over the mountain. It clearly showed an adult Zone-tailed Hawk!!!
No Barrow's Goldeneyes were found along the Yampa River south of Craig (where they had wintered). No birds were on Perch Pond about 20 miles south of Craig.
We continued to Coal Canyon at Cameo. A 30-minute search for Chukar was not successful and it was decided to try again tomorrow morning.
Our search for Boreal Owls on the Grand Mesa needed complete dark. With hours to spare, we searched unsuccessfully for American Three-toed Woodpeckers at the Powderhorn Ski Area (Mesa County), and then continued to the Grand Mesa Lodge.
The feeders at the Grand Mesa Lodge were empty and odds of finding a Pine Grosbeak or Gray Jay seemed futile.
We continued south into Delta County and Fruitgrower's Reservoir. The lake itself had few birds (Western Grebes, American Coots). The swallow flooded field to the north hosted Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. Two Willets were considered early migrants.
Several dozen Sandhill Cranes were found below the dam on the west side of the reservoir. A stop at nearby Evelyn Horn's home did not find any Lewis's Woodpeckers flying around her large cottonwoods.
As luck would have it, we stopped for gas next to the Eckert post office. A Lewis's Woodpecker flew around the trees behind the building adding a nice bird to our trip list.
With an hour of sunlight remaining, we returned to the Grand Mesa. No Dusky Grouse appeared along Highway 65 as we drove to the summit (sometimes they do walk across the highway at dusk).
We checked the road east of the Visitor's Center and stopped at many of the pullovers along the snow-lined highway. Only one Boreal Owl called briefly this night.
Winds were calm and the temperature was 0 degrees during our search. In my experience (about 40 trips), I have never had success on the three nights when there was no wind. This I cannot figure out, as it would seem it was a perfect night for them to call?
April 4
We were back at the closed gate up Coal Canyon early this morning. Winds were 5+ mph, temperatures in the middle 20s. No Chukar were lured out this morning. One Chukar did call from the rocky hillside behind the old stone house near the entrance to the canyon. It was never seen, just tempting us to stay longer.
Instead of driving the while 23 miles of the Colorado National Monument, we drove to the Campgrounds from the northern (western) entrance. Shortly we found our target birds, Juniper Titmice and Pinyon Jays. It was too early for Gray Flycatchers and Gray Vireos; perhaps they will be around next week.
Several Gambel's Quail were walking around the subdivision just outside the southern (eastern) entrance as we passed by.
Our next stop was a two hour drive down Escalante Canyon (Delta). It is a frustrating trip for me because my record was 54 hours of missing Chukar over 13 days. FRUSTRATING!
We drove, walked and scoped the hillside, never found a Chukar. Then as we departed my not too favorite canyon, two Chukar were found in the long, green cultivated field just east of the old goat farm. Chukar are not extinct after all!
Our final stop of the day was to be the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose County). We found the gate closed at the Visitor's Center (best, more Dusky Grouse are found at the western end of the South Rim Drive). Snowdrifts close the south rim drive at the Visitor's Center most years until late May.
On advice of another birder, we walked west past the closed gate (legal to walk). A Dusky Grouse was found about 1/2 mile in around the only taller evergreen along the south side of the road.
While my companions photographed the displaying male, I continued west and found another Dusky Grouse about 0.2 miles farther down the road (near the only evergreen tree along the north side of the road).
On the drive out, we found a third male Dusky Grouse displaying along the south side of the road (at about 0.25 miles west of the intersection with the Campgrounds). In my experience, most of the Dusky Grouse remain "loyal" to their displaying spots and should be easy to relocate on future trips (of course giving them plenty of room to "do their thing", it is mating season).
April 5
An hour before sunrise we sat in our vehicle at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek (temperature was 18 degrees). Rule prohibit running of cars (because of noise that might disturb the birds). Fifteen minutes before sunrise, two Gunnison Sage-Grouse were seen walking toward the road. They were perhaps 15 yards from us. Light was poor, views were just slightly better than silhouettes.
After sunrise, grouse started to fly away and we counted another 39 Gunnison Sage-Grouse that had stayed behind willows and out of view.
As we turned east, we stopped at the Monarch Ski Area pullover on the south side of Highway 50 (just west of the Monarch Summit). A male American Three-toed Woodpecker responded within 20 seconds of a recording being played!
We rushed to get to the Elkhart, Kansas Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek. When we realized that arrival was not going to be before dark, we slowed down. Several Ferruginous Hawks, Common Ravens and Chihuahuan Ravens were observed along highway 160.
Pasture G across from the Washington Work Center seven miles south of Springfield did not host any Mountain Plovers yet. A dozen Burrowing Owls were counted.
April 6
At first light, we sat in the Elkhart, Kansas Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek. It was raining this morning; temperatures were in the high 30s.
No Lesser Prairie-Chickens could be seen out the lek windows. We heard several Lesser Prairie-Chickens to the south and peeked out the lek.
One Lesser Prairie-Chicken walked along the southern ridge. A second Lesser Prairie-Chicken perched on a candelabra cactus. When a Short-eared Owl flew over, the second bird disappeared.
We needed to be in Wray (Yuma County) by 4:00 pm, which left little time to stop and bird along the way. My companions later went to look for Greater Prairie-Chickens while I decided to stretch my legs after days of sitting in a car.
I walked from the Sandhiller Motel to Stalker Pond and the Wray Fishing Unit and back (about 8.2 miles before I was done).
The previously reported Northern Cardinal and Eastern Phoebe were not found at the Wray City Park. A Harris's Sparrow was singing along the Republican River about 0.1 miles west of the Park.
Stalker Pond was slow. Two hours before sunset the light spread across the park; the scenery was quite photogenic. A Harris's Sparrow and with nine White-crowned Sparrows popped out of the large woodpile at the southwest corner of the park. Unfortunately, the Northern Cardinal reported yesterday was not around.
A House Wren buzzed from the cattails between Stalker Pond and the Fishing Unit.
Wray Fishing Unit, which was just south of Stalker Pond bustled with birds. A pair of Canada Geese and a Greater Yellowlegs walked around the most western pond. The Greater Yellowlegs called constantly even when quite far from me.
A male Northern Cardinal sang from the windbreak north of the main road. This may have been the Stalker Pond cardinal. A Barn Owl flew out of the western end of the same windbreak. Meanwhile I could hear a Great Horned Owl calling from the eastern end of the windbreak.
As I walked out of the property, a Marsh Wren called from the cattails below Yuma County FF. Two Eastern Phoebes flicked their tails along the outlet canal under CR FF, east side of the road.
On the way back to the motel, there was a sad sight. A stunning adult Rough-legged Hawk was hit by a semi-truck barreling down highway 34. Regrettably, the Rough-legged Hawk did not survive.
April 7
My companions returned to photograph the Greater Prairie-Chickens north of Wray. Meanwhile I searched for the Harris's Sparrow reported a few days early (not found).
After breakfast, the three of us continued east toward Crow Valley Campgrounds. A large flock of longspurs (150+) was encountered along Weld County Road 105, about a mile south of Highway 14.
Pawnee National Grasslands (Weld) was quiet. We found no longspurs or plovers along the self driving car tour. The fields at highway 14 and county road 51 also entertained no plovers or Burrowing Owls.
As we returned toward Denver, we again passed by the "hot" longspur spot. Two or three Chestnut-collared Longspurs were observed among the many McCown's Longspurs.
A detour to Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld) found only a couple of American Avocets on the flooded field along county road 48. Beebe Draw Ponds was even slower. No shorebirds were in the area.
April 8
The final day of our long trip. We opted out of searching for White-tailed Ptarmigan at Loveland Pass, correctly deciding that the construction and traffic would add too many hours to the trip.
Instead, we resolved to drive to Boulder County and Fawnbrook Inn. While a few Evening Grosbeaks, many Pine Siskins and dozens of Cassin's Finches came to the feeders, no Pine Grosbeaks or Gray Jays were found.
Farther up the road, we detoured down Wild Basin Road (part of Rocky Mountain National Park). Two Gray Jays briefly crossed the road. An American Three-toed Woodpecker called near the traditional "woodpecker snag" (about a mile west of the entrance station).
A male American Three-toed Woodpecker worked the trees about a 1/2 mile west of the large picnic area (0.2 miles west of the entrance station).
We abandoned hope of seeing any Pine Grosbeaks and headed toward DIA Airport.
Our final target bird was a Baird's Sandpiper. None was found as we passed and scoped Walden Ponds (Boulder), Boulder Reservoir (Boulder), and Teller Lake # 5. Our last hope was the flooded field along Tower Road (about 0.1 miles north of 96th avenue). None was found and Baird's Sandpiper sightings will have to wait for another trip.
April 1
Aaron Budgor, Marvin Kwit and I headed out to search for the gallinaceous birds of Colorado.
Our first stop was Loveland Pass (Clear Creek County). Unfortunately, winds were 28+ mph, gusts to 40+ mph. Blowing snow reduced visibility. No White-tailed Ptarmigan were found. We planned to return on our last day. It should be noted that tunnel construction has created massive traffic jams.
After searching for mountain species in Silverthorne (Rosy Finches, Pine Siskins, Pygmy Nuthatches, etc) we continued north to Jackson County.
No Barrow's Goldeneyes were on the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit County).
Our birding day ended under cloudy skies, winds 24+ mph and off and on snow. No Greater Sage-Grouse appeared at the County Road 26b leks while it was still light enough to see them.
April 2
We returned to the Jackson County Road 26b leks. Skies were partly cloudy, winds 10 mph, temperatures in the 20s. Eventually 21 Greater Sage-Grouse, all males, came to the lek!
After breakfast, we drove east to the Colorado State Forest Visitor's Center. Pine Siskins, Red-winged Blackbirds and one Gray-crowned Rosy Finch came to the feeders behind the Visitor's Center. Our target birds Pine Grosbeak and Gray Jays did not show up this morning.
On the drive to Steamboat Springs (Routt), we stopped at the road to the maintenance sheds on Rabbit Ears pass. No American Three-toed Woodpeckers were enticed to make an appearance.
As a consolation, a flock of 24+ male and female Red Crossbills flew back and forth across the road. A male White-winged Crossbill was of great interest!
We drove around Steamboat Springs in search of the Sharp-tailed Grouse that winter around town. Unfortunately, we could not find any. Again, Pine Grosbeaks also escaped us.
April 3
Our day started at the 20 Road Leks in Routt County. Eventually 21 Sharp-tailed Grouse flew to the lek and displayed.
On the trip back to Steamboat Springs, we detoured to the 80 Route Leks. Several reports of Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Sage-Grouse have come in this spring. We found the road muddy and not passable in our 4-wheel drive vehicle due to snowdrifts.
After breakfast, we turned around and headed to Craig (Moffat). Just outside of town, a dark Hawk with wide tail bands attracted our attention. At first, we thought it to be an adult Common Black Hawk. Unfortunately, after further review we decided it was an adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk.
NOTE: later we looked at the only photo I took before the hawk flew over the mountain. It clearly showed an adult Zone-tailed Hawk!!!
No Barrow's Goldeneyes were found along the Yampa River south of Craig (where they had wintered). No birds were on Perch Pond about 20 miles south of Craig.
We continued to Coal Canyon at Cameo. A 30-minute search for Chukar was not successful and it was decided to try again tomorrow morning.
Our search for Boreal Owls on the Grand Mesa needed complete dark. With hours to spare, we searched unsuccessfully for American Three-toed Woodpeckers at the Powderhorn Ski Area (Mesa County), and then continued to the Grand Mesa Lodge.
The feeders at the Grand Mesa Lodge were empty and odds of finding a Pine Grosbeak or Gray Jay seemed futile.
We continued south into Delta County and Fruitgrower's Reservoir. The lake itself had few birds (Western Grebes, American Coots). The swallow flooded field to the north hosted Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. Two Willets were considered early migrants.
Several dozen Sandhill Cranes were found below the dam on the west side of the reservoir. A stop at nearby Evelyn Horn's home did not find any Lewis's Woodpeckers flying around her large cottonwoods.
As luck would have it, we stopped for gas next to the Eckert post office. A Lewis's Woodpecker flew around the trees behind the building adding a nice bird to our trip list.
With an hour of sunlight remaining, we returned to the Grand Mesa. No Dusky Grouse appeared along Highway 65 as we drove to the summit (sometimes they do walk across the highway at dusk).
We checked the road east of the Visitor's Center and stopped at many of the pullovers along the snow-lined highway. Only one Boreal Owl called briefly this night.
Winds were calm and the temperature was 0 degrees during our search. In my experience (about 40 trips), I have never had success on the three nights when there was no wind. This I cannot figure out, as it would seem it was a perfect night for them to call?
April 4
We were back at the closed gate up Coal Canyon early this morning. Winds were 5+ mph, temperatures in the middle 20s. No Chukar were lured out this morning. One Chukar did call from the rocky hillside behind the old stone house near the entrance to the canyon. It was never seen, just tempting us to stay longer.
Instead of driving the while 23 miles of the Colorado National Monument, we drove to the Campgrounds from the northern (western) entrance. Shortly we found our target birds, Juniper Titmice and Pinyon Jays. It was too early for Gray Flycatchers and Gray Vireos; perhaps they will be around next week.
Several Gambel's Quail were walking around the subdivision just outside the southern (eastern) entrance as we passed by.
Our next stop was a two hour drive down Escalante Canyon (Delta). It is a frustrating trip for me because my record was 54 hours of missing Chukar over 13 days. FRUSTRATING!
We drove, walked and scoped the hillside, never found a Chukar. Then as we departed my not too favorite canyon, two Chukar were found in the long, green cultivated field just east of the old goat farm. Chukar are not extinct after all!
Our final stop of the day was to be the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose County). We found the gate closed at the Visitor's Center (best, more Dusky Grouse are found at the western end of the South Rim Drive). Snowdrifts close the south rim drive at the Visitor's Center most years until late May.
On advice of another birder, we walked west past the closed gate (legal to walk). A Dusky Grouse was found about 1/2 mile in around the only taller evergreen along the south side of the road.
While my companions photographed the displaying male, I continued west and found another Dusky Grouse about 0.2 miles farther down the road (near the only evergreen tree along the north side of the road).
On the drive out, we found a third male Dusky Grouse displaying along the south side of the road (at about 0.25 miles west of the intersection with the Campgrounds). In my experience, most of the Dusky Grouse remain "loyal" to their displaying spots and should be easy to relocate on future trips (of course giving them plenty of room to "do their thing", it is mating season).
April 5
An hour before sunrise we sat in our vehicle at the Waunita Hot Springs Lek (temperature was 18 degrees). Rule prohibit running of cars (because of noise that might disturb the birds). Fifteen minutes before sunrise, two Gunnison Sage-Grouse were seen walking toward the road. They were perhaps 15 yards from us. Light was poor, views were just slightly better than silhouettes.
After sunrise, grouse started to fly away and we counted another 39 Gunnison Sage-Grouse that had stayed behind willows and out of view.
As we turned east, we stopped at the Monarch Ski Area pullover on the south side of Highway 50 (just west of the Monarch Summit). A male American Three-toed Woodpecker responded within 20 seconds of a recording being played!
We rushed to get to the Elkhart, Kansas Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek. When we realized that arrival was not going to be before dark, we slowed down. Several Ferruginous Hawks, Common Ravens and Chihuahuan Ravens were observed along highway 160.
Pasture G across from the Washington Work Center seven miles south of Springfield did not host any Mountain Plovers yet. A dozen Burrowing Owls were counted.
April 6
At first light, we sat in the Elkhart, Kansas Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek. It was raining this morning; temperatures were in the high 30s.
No Lesser Prairie-Chickens could be seen out the lek windows. We heard several Lesser Prairie-Chickens to the south and peeked out the lek.
One Lesser Prairie-Chicken walked along the southern ridge. A second Lesser Prairie-Chicken perched on a candelabra cactus. When a Short-eared Owl flew over, the second bird disappeared.
We needed to be in Wray (Yuma County) by 4:00 pm, which left little time to stop and bird along the way. My companions later went to look for Greater Prairie-Chickens while I decided to stretch my legs after days of sitting in a car.
I walked from the Sandhiller Motel to Stalker Pond and the Wray Fishing Unit and back (about 8.2 miles before I was done).
The previously reported Northern Cardinal and Eastern Phoebe were not found at the Wray City Park. A Harris's Sparrow was singing along the Republican River about 0.1 miles west of the Park.
Stalker Pond was slow. Two hours before sunset the light spread across the park; the scenery was quite photogenic. A Harris's Sparrow and with nine White-crowned Sparrows popped out of the large woodpile at the southwest corner of the park. Unfortunately, the Northern Cardinal reported yesterday was not around.
A House Wren buzzed from the cattails between Stalker Pond and the Fishing Unit.
Wray Fishing Unit, which was just south of Stalker Pond bustled with birds. A pair of Canada Geese and a Greater Yellowlegs walked around the most western pond. The Greater Yellowlegs called constantly even when quite far from me.
A male Northern Cardinal sang from the windbreak north of the main road. This may have been the Stalker Pond cardinal. A Barn Owl flew out of the western end of the same windbreak. Meanwhile I could hear a Great Horned Owl calling from the eastern end of the windbreak.
As I walked out of the property, a Marsh Wren called from the cattails below Yuma County FF. Two Eastern Phoebes flicked their tails along the outlet canal under CR FF, east side of the road.
On the way back to the motel, there was a sad sight. A stunning adult Rough-legged Hawk was hit by a semi-truck barreling down highway 34. Regrettably, the Rough-legged Hawk did not survive.
April 7
My companions returned to photograph the Greater Prairie-Chickens north of Wray. Meanwhile I searched for the Harris's Sparrow reported a few days early (not found).
After breakfast, the three of us continued east toward Crow Valley Campgrounds. A large flock of longspurs (150+) was encountered along Weld County Road 105, about a mile south of Highway 14.
Pawnee National Grasslands (Weld) was quiet. We found no longspurs or plovers along the self driving car tour. The fields at highway 14 and county road 51 also entertained no plovers or Burrowing Owls.
As we returned toward Denver, we again passed by the "hot" longspur spot. Two or three Chestnut-collared Longspurs were observed among the many McCown's Longspurs.
A detour to Lower Latham Reservoir (Weld) found only a couple of American Avocets on the flooded field along county road 48. Beebe Draw Ponds was even slower. No shorebirds were in the area.
April 8
The final day of our long trip. We opted out of searching for White-tailed Ptarmigan at Loveland Pass, correctly deciding that the construction and traffic would add too many hours to the trip.
Instead, we resolved to drive to Boulder County and Fawnbrook Inn. While a few Evening Grosbeaks, many Pine Siskins and dozens of Cassin's Finches came to the feeders, no Pine Grosbeaks or Gray Jays were found.
Farther up the road, we detoured down Wild Basin Road (part of Rocky Mountain National Park). Two Gray Jays briefly crossed the road. An American Three-toed Woodpecker called near the traditional "woodpecker snag" (about a mile west of the entrance station).
A male American Three-toed Woodpecker worked the trees about a 1/2 mile west of the large picnic area (0.2 miles west of the entrance station).
We abandoned hope of seeing any Pine Grosbeaks and headed toward DIA Airport.
Our final target bird was a Baird's Sandpiper. None was found as we passed and scoped Walden Ponds (Boulder), Boulder Reservoir (Boulder), and Teller Lake # 5. Our last hope was the flooded field along Tower Road (about 0.1 miles north of 96th avenue). None was found and Baird's Sandpiper sightings will have to wait for another trip.
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