April 17-23, 2019
Richard Stevens:
Five of us enjoyed a successful grouse trip. Weather was great and we made a couple of detours not done on previous trips. The trip required long days, little sleep and many miles driving.
April 17
Highs reached 68 degrees in Wray today. It was windy with anomometer readings of 24 to 26 mph.
An hour before sunrise we drove Yuma County Road 45 (turns into CR P) in search of Short-eared Owls and Greater Prairie-Chicken. Not finding either, we parked near the CR 45 Greater Prairie-Chicken and waited for sunrise.
Five males performed their entertaining dance. Eventually two females made an appearance. Although they did not seem impressed with the displays.
Before leaving the Wray area, we stopped at the Wray Fishing Unit and walked the entrance road. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker first discovered on 12/21 was still flying around the Pine Trees. An Eastern Phoebe first found on 3/23 was relocated along the Creek east of Yuma CR FF.
A male Northern Cardinal with bright red color was observed off in the distance along the southwestern side of nearby Stalker Pond.
Continuing south, we made a brief stop at Bonny Reservoir Wildlife Area (Yuma). Two Long-eared Owls continue in the windbreak at Foster's Grove Campgrounds area.
Our second male Northern Cardinal of the day was also in the Campgrounds. On the drive out fourteen Wild Turkeys crossed CR 3.
Along the long drive to Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) we noticed a Mountain Plover along Baca CR M, about 0.1 miles west of Highway 287/385.
Shortly after sunset, we heard and later saw a Western Screech-Owl around the Cottonwood Canyon primitive Campgrounds at Carrizo Creek. A Great Horned Owl called somewhere to the west. No Common Poorwill were enticed to respond to our recordings (probably not here yet).
April 18
High temperature at Cottonwood Canyon was 66 degrees. Winds were 10-11 mph with gusts to 22 mph on the southeastern plains.
At first light, we were parked on a friend's ranch. Five male Lesser Prairie-Chickens visited this private lek. No females joined them.
Later a walk along the gravel two-track road north of the entrance road to the old Campo Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek found two Cassin's Sparrows east of the tracks.
Returning to Campo, Burrowing Owl was perched on the fence along Baca CR G.
We returned to Cottonwood Canyon (Baca) which always offers a variety of birds. Today it added two Eastern Phoebes, an early migrating Ash-throated Flycatcher, two Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Canyon Towhees, Chihuahuan Ravens, a Bewick's Wren and Spotted Towhee to our trip list.
On the drive out along CR M, we observed a Greater Roadrunner running alongside the road.
A brief detour to the Carrizo Creek picnic area was a fortunate choice. Two Bewick's Wrens were fluttering about. The highlight was a male Vermilion Flycatcher along Carrizo Creek and the south end of the public area!
It was discovered that tomorrow would be a closed day at the Waunita Hot Springs Gunnison Sage-Grouse Lek. We booked it to Gunnison.
A five-minute stop at Monarch Pass for a rest stop added a male American Three-toed Woodpecker drumming and two Gray-crowned Rosy Finches circling overhead.
We arrived at the Waunita Hot Springs road just 15 minutes before sunset. I usually tell birders that visiting in the evening is not successful. In past trips, the birds show up after it is too dark to see them. We were quite fortunate as two males were staring each other down north of the main lek!
April 19
Southwestern Colorado was a warm 78 degrees this afternoon. Winds were 8-9 mph with gusts on the open plains of 18 mph.
Continuing our long day, we decided to drive to Durango. After a couple of hours of rest (who could sleep), we proceeded to Cortez (Montezuma) and beyond.
A visit to Yellow Jacket Canyon made the detour quite rewarding. Eventually we found a singing Lucy's Warbler, a Gray Flycatcher and male Black-throated Gray Warbler!
Back in Durango (La Plata), two Acorn Woodpeckers were found at their usual spot in Wildcat Canyon (Rafter J).
Huck Finn Pond and area was disappointing as both Lewis's Woodpeckers and Black Phoebes were missed.
We also missed Grace's Warblers at Haviland Lake Wildlife Area (La Plata). A male Williamson's Sapsucker was hardly a consolation prize. My early date for Grace's Warblers in La Plata County is 4/3; however, 4/22 is a more successful date.
Our birding day ended at the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose). The south rim drive was open and we drove up and down the road. Eventually two male Dusky Grouse was observed displaying. No females were found.
We retired early this evening in Delta for some greatly needed rest.
April 20
We experienced another beautiful day with a high of 75 degrees. It felt hot on the dusty arid lands around Delta and Grand Junction. Winds were 12-13 mph with gusts to 22 mph. The Grand Mesa was much cooler this night.
After a good night's sleep, we stopped by Fruitgrower's Reservoir (Delta). Two Willets walked along the western shore. A Lewis's Woodpecker was found west below the dam.
A detour to Escalante Canyon north of Delta was successful. A Chukar was observed in the field west of the Gunnison River.
Farther into the Canyon, we ran across another Chukar (near the old goat farm). Eventually two Black Phoebes were found. One was near a traditional nesting spot at Pinnacle Rock.
Next, we drove through Colorado National Monument (Montrose). Gambel's Quail were seen just outside the eastern entrance. A drive through the subdivision there is a great location to find them.
Devil's Kitchen trail added a Gray Vireo to our trip list. A Gray Flycatcher was along the trail across from the Visitor's Center. Four Pinyon Jays flew through the Campgrounds.
In the afternoon, we drove Mesa County Road 4 north to Brewster's Ridge. We did not find any Sagebrush Sparrows until entering Garfield County. The road is now Garfield CR 201. Sagebrush Sparrows can be quite elusive because they like to stay on the ground. I have found them to be enticed by recordings.
Our birding day ended on the Grand Mesa. Eventually we relocated a Northern Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl (Powderhorn Ski Area) and a Boreal Owl (pullovers south of Spruce Grove Campgrounds).
April 21
Temperatures in Hayden only reached 53 degrees. Winds were 5-6 mph with gusts to 12 mph.
We visited the Twenty Road Grouse leks outside of Hayden (Routt) just before sunrise. Four Sharp-tailed Grouse eventually flew into the grassy hillside west of the parking area. No Greater Sage-Grouse were heard or seen.
Afterwards we rushed to the 80 Route Leks. The road is still impassible due to snow drifts.
We wandered around Steamboat Springs (Fish Creek Road) where Sharp-tailed Grouse usually spend the winter months. A stop at a friend's home found that she had not seen any in weeks.
Stagecoach Recreational Area (Routt) did not add any uncommon birds to our trip list. Some years waxwings (Bohemian Waxwings being more rare) will be seen in the cottonwoods around the Lake.
Rabbit Ears Pass did not provide any Crossbill sightings this trip. We also missed the American Three-toed Woodpeckers usually observed along the entrance road to the maintenace sheds.
Finally we moved on to the Jackson CR 26b Greater Sage-Grouse lek. As the sun set and darkness fell, about twenty males and three females finally emerged from the sagebrush and walked to the lek!
April 22
High temperature in Silverthorne was 34 degrees. It had to be 10 degrees colder on Loveland Pass. Winds were 28-29 mph. On Loveland Pass they reached a "mild" 36 mph. I have been on the Pass and measured 70+ mph. We enjoyed the slower speed.
Shortly after sunrise, we visited a friend's home in Silverthorne (Summit County). They no longer welcome visitors to their feeders (too many rude experiences). However, they make an exception for me!
All three species of Rosy Finches are still visiting their feeders. Other visitors included Evening Grosbeaks, a pair of Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Pygmy Nuthatches, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Clark's Nutcrackers. They have not seen Band-tailed Pigeons yet this spring.
One Barrow's Goldeneye was on the Blue River Water Treatment Plant (Summit) as we passed by.
Finding a White-tailed Ptarmigan today was a task. After four stops on Loveland Pass, we found a pair below the western summit. Fortunately, winds were not super strong today. Keeping our scopes steady was not a problem; some days the winds make it difficult to stand upright.
We picked up one of our missed target birds at Pine Valley Ranch Park (Jefferson). It was quite an afternoon hike up the switchbacks. However, a male American Three-toed Woodpecker was encountered along the Strawberry Jack Trail about 300 yards south of the Pine View Trail intersection.
The trek is usually a good place to find a Northern Pygmy-Owl or American Dipper; neither was seen today.
April 23
Temperatures only reached 47 degrees on the Grasslands. Fortunately, winds were on 4-5 mph.
One day left, we drove to the Pawnee National Grasslands area (Weld) to search for our missing target birds--longspurs.
A drive west of the Pawnee National Grasslands found ten Sharp-tailed Grouse along Weld CR 134, east of CR 111 and another six along CR 111, north of CR 132. They are the plains subspecies of Sharp-tailed Grouse; perhaps someday will be considered a separate species.
Two Chestnut-collared Longspurs were at the northeast corner of Weld CR 69 and CR 96. Half a dozen McCown's Longspurs were found along CR 96, west of the Murphy's Pasture Road.
A lone Mountain Plover was found along CR 100, a mile or so west of CR 390!
My friends needed to catch their flight home and we headed to DIA Airport. A Ferruginous Hawk was seen along the DIA Owl Loop, just outside of the airport.
