Another Grouse Trip

March 19-25, 2018

Dan Barker, Violet (V) Simmons and I started out on a Grouse Tour.  We enjoyed beautiful weather, missing the inclement conditions other parts of Colorado were experiencing.  Our trip was similar to my last tour with a couple of notable exceptions.

March 19, 2018

Temperatures were only 43 degrees.  Winds were 7-8 mph with gusts to 18 mph.  Snowstorms in the mountains just west of Denver predicted to shut down roads.  We delayed the drive west and went to Reynolds Park (Jefferson) instead. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard (but not seen) while we walked along Foxton Road from the two parking areas.  

Instead of hiking up the mountain in snow we chose to continue to nearby Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson).  Along the drive V spotted an American Dipper in the South Platte River (Jefferson).

I heard the distinctive drumming of an American Three-toed Woodpecker as we walked the south side of Pine Lake.  After some effort, the male was seen hanging on the an old snag.  

No Short-eared Owls were found when later we drove the DIA Owl Loop.

March 20, 2018

The day was interesting. Temperatures only reached 10 degrees after yesterday's snowstorm.  Fortunately, the roads were not icy.  Winds in Silverthorne measured 30-32 mph; one gust reached 44 mph.

We scoped the hillside south of Loveland Pass (Clear Creek) at the first pullover on the west side of Hwy 9.  If was our first stop because the bowl is somewhat protected from the winds.  Good fortune, we spotted two White-tailed Ptarmigan hunkered under the pines perhaps 40 yards from us.

A stop at the top of Loveland Pass got anemometer readings of 52 mph.  It was difficult to stand let alone steady our binoculars.  No additional Ptarmigan sighted.

A stop at a friend's home in Silverthorne added three species of Rosy Finches as well as the usual mountain species.  Misses: Band-tailed Pigeons have not arrived yet.

Our birding day ended at the Jackson County Road 26b leks.  Winds were outrageous.  At least five Greater Sage-Grouse braved the winds to walk onto the leks.

March 21, 2018

Hayden: temperatures of 45 degrees with winds 6-12 mph.  Coal Canyon: 58 degrees with winds 10-16 mph.  

We decided to stop at the 80 Route Leks (Routt) first.  Just before sunset, the trusty Dusky Grouse came out of the willows at the second cattle guard up the route.  Greater Sage-Grouse were heard however not seen somewhere in the distance to the northwest.  The snowdrifts on the road were not passable by our SUV.

Then we drove over to the 20 Road Leks south of Hayden.  Five Sharp-tailed Grouse were running around performing their mating dance!

NOTE: for those visiting either leks.  Sharp-tailed Grouse come to their leks rather late in the morning.  Usually well after sunrise.  I suspect those who miss seeing them leave before the Sharp-tailed Grouse arrival.  In addition, they visit their leks late in the afternoon.  Usually after it is too dark to see them.

We continued west past Craig to the Oxbow State Trust Lands (Moffat).  Access is restricted in spring.  However, we scoped the sage covered landscape and found two Sage Thrashers and a Sagebrush Sparrow (all singing).

A stop at Rifle Rest Stop (Garfield) did not find any Great-tailed Grackles this trip.

Coal Canyon was not good to us. No Chukars were found.

Then, we drove up the Grand Mesa (Mesa County).  A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found at its traditional nesting tree.  No Northern Pygmy-Owls called this night at the Powderhorn Ski Area.  A Boreal Owl was heard and briefly seen at the second pullover south of the Spruce Grove Campgrounds.

March 22, 2018

Grand Junction weather: temperatures up to 66 degrees winds 12-13 mph with gusts to 22 mph

First thing in the morning, we returned to Coal Canyon.  The Canyon was nicer to us today.  A Chukar was found on the hillside southwest of the second pipe gate parking area.  A Black-throated Sparrow sang from the sagebrush along the road.  Two Pinyon Jays were observed flying long the ridge above us.

We skipped a drive through the Colorado National Monument (Mesa); however did stop at the eastern (southern) entrance to pick up our Gambel's Quail.  Nothing moved about the Devil's Kitchen picnic area.

The Western Screech-Owl was out at his favorite tree at Connected Lakes State Park (Mesa).

A Long-eared Owl was found below Fruitgrower's Reservoir (Delta County).  Nothing uncommon was found at Confluence Park in Delta.

Our birding day ended at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose).  Eventually one male Dusky Grouse was found along the South Rim Drive between the entrance Kiosk and the Campgrounds.

March 23, 2018

Gunnison weather: 48 degrees winds 12-13 mph, gusts to 35 mph  Pueblo: temperature 77 degrees winds 17-18 mph, gusts to a whooping 48 mph

At first light, we observed two Gunnison Sage-Grouse along CR 887

A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was observed drumming at the Monarch Pass resting pullover (Chaffee)

A Rufous-crowned Sparrow was relocated along Tunnel Drive, Canyon City (Fremont)

A Curve-billed Thrasher and two Scaled Quail were along Swallows Road (Pueblo)

Two Western Screech-Owls were found at Cottonwood Canyon (Baca)

March 24, 2018

Weather: Springfield 68 degrees Winds at 14-15 mph with gusts to 28 mph  

Two Lesser Prairie-Chickens were relocated at a private ranch (Baca) NOTE: my rancher friend does not want unattended visitors due to unpleasant past experiences

We found several Cassin's Sparrows displaying along the old Campo Lek Road (Baca)

A return to Picture Canyon added another Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Curve-billed Thrasher Northern Mockingbird and Field Sparrow to our trip list.

Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) added Bewick's Wren, Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Wren, Canyon Towhee, Chihuahuan Raven, Wild Turkey and another Rufous-crowned Sparrow to our day list

Lamar Community College (Prowers) was quiet with anemometer readings of 19 mph

After sunset, we found an Eastern Screech-Owl at Hale Ponds (Yuma)

March 25, 2018

My birding companions had to catch their flight out of Denver in the afternoon.  Our birding day would be short.

Wray weather: 41 degrees winds 13-14 mph with gusts to 18 mph

Just before sunrise, three Greater Prairie-Chicken were observed dancing at the Yuma County Road 45 Lek

We made brief stops at Wray Fishing Unit (looking unsuccessfully for a Barn Owl), however picked up an Eastern Phoebe and Stalker Pond picking up a Northern Cardinal

Then rushed back to Denver International Airport