Montrose & Delta Counties

July 10-11, 2019

Richard Stevens:

July 10

Terry and I met up with Jacob Washburn and Jamie Thompson today.  We have a cabin in Montrose County and enjoyed a leisure day with a barbecue, comparing notes, and making future birding itineraries.

In the afternoon, we drove over to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park (Montrose County).  Two Dusky Grouse were found along the South Rim Drive on the way to the western High Point.  Two Wild Turkeys ran across the western parking area.

We hiked to the High Point, regrettably, no Northern Pygmy-Owl were found or heard.  At dusk, two Common Poorwills were heard from the western parking area.  One was on the road about 1/4 mile to the east!

July 11

We headed north into Delta County today.  No shorebirds or Lewis's Woodpeckers could be found around Fruitgrower's Reservoir and Eckert.

Then we drove down Escalante Canyon & Wildlife Area west of Delta.  A lone Chukar walked along the field west of the Gunnison River.

Two Black Phoebes, one 1/4 mile west of the Chukar and another east of Pinnacle Rock were encountered.

Other birds observed included two Ash-throated Flycatchers, a Plumbeous Vireo, a male Blue Grosbeak, and two Pinyon Jays.  More surprising were a Gray Vireo and Least Flycatcher.

After dark, we did some owling west of Captain Smith's Site.  Our owl count was three Northern Saw-whet Owls, one Northern Pygmy-Owl and a surprise Western Screech-Owl.