March 3 through 9, 2009
Bryan Ehlmann:
The first grouse trip of the year is on the books. It was a little early to hunt for grouse but Lori and Chuck Wheeling found it to be the only time they had this year for the trip. Sue Ehlmann joined us for a successful trip. We found all the gallinaceous birds on our target list. Even the most difficult one, if you want to guess the answer is below.
March 3
We started out by looking at Rosy Finches at Fawnbrook Inn at Allenspark, Boulder County and then going into the mountains west of Denver. Our first attempt at White-tailed Ptarmigan was a bust. We looked for a good hour and a half, no luck.
We got a quick look at Barrow's Goldeneyes as we passed the Blue River Water Treatment Plant in Silverthorne, Summit County.
No feeders with seeds were found in Kremmling, Grand County and we drove up to Rabbit Ears Pass where American Three-toed Woodpeckers were also missed.
At sunset we drove Jackson County Road 26 north of Highway 14. Two Greater Sage-Grouse were found which allowed us to skip the Timberlake Lek north of Craig.
March 4
Before sunrise we sat at the 20 Road Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek south of Hayden, Routt County. It is definitely early in the season, but we got lucky. Two males displayed on the east side of the road for us!
Our next location was Oxbow Wildlife Area. Again it was early but we hoped to catch an early Sage Sparrow returning to his breeding grounds. Unfortunately neither a Sage Sparrow or Sage Thrasher could be found.
A Cameo-Coal Creek Canyon, Mesa County a Chukar jumped out of the ditch on the west side of the road across from the old stone house.
We started up the Grand Mesa to search for crossbills and owls. It was snowing rapidly when we arrived at the Powderhorn Ski area. A Three-toed Woodpecker was heard drumming below the western end of the upper parking lot.
Taking the advice of Richard Stevens we returned to Denver rather than drive farther up the Grand Mesa and a possible snow storm.
March 5
Too early for Black-throated Sparrows at the Colorado National Monument, Mesa County we drove the subdivision just outside the eastern entrance. At least 21 Gambel's Quail were found walking around just after sunrise.
The monument was slow. Too early for Gray Vireos, Gray Flycatchers, and Warblers, we did hope for a White-throated Swift or two. The view was spectacular; birds were rare.
A Juniper Titmouse was found in the campgrounds. Several Pinyon Jays called from below the overlook but they eluded our binoculars. Finally at the overlook, three White-throated Swifts flew by looking for insects which seemed pretty rare in the cold air.
At Escalante Canyon, Delta County we drove down to Pinnacle Rock to see if the Black Phoebes had returned yet. It did not appear that they had. On the trip out Lori pointed out a Chukar on the rocks just east of the sheep corral.
Confluence Park in Delta added additional Barrow's Goldeneyes, Ross's Geese, and a Tundra Swan to our trip list.
Fruitgrower's Reservoir, Delta had a few ducks and grebes, no shorebirds. Two Lewis's Woodpeckers were in the cottonwoods below the west end at Evelyn Horn's home.
The last hour of daylight was used up at Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, Gunnison County. On our third pass between the entrance and the Visitor's Center, Lori again with her great eyes spotted a Dusky Grouse about 15 feet off the road. It was about 20 yards west of the road to the campgrounds.
March 6
Before sunrise we drove Gunnison Road 884 toward the Waunita Hot Springs Lek. A Gunnison Sage-Grouse walked across the road; another flew over our heads and over to the lek.
We searched an hour at Tunnel Drive in Canon City, Fremont County for the Golden-crowned Sparrow. Several White-crowned Sparrows and one Rufous-crowned Sparrow were found, but no Golden-crowned.
It was recommended that we drive the Swallows Road just west of Pueblo Reservoir, Pueblo County. The road is known for Curve-billed Thrashers, Sage Thrashers, Shrikes, and Scaled Quail. Only 3 Scaled Quail and a Loggerhead Shrike were recorded today.
We stopped briefly at the marinas at Pueblo Reservoir, Pueblo County. No rare gulls were found in 30 minutes at each marina and we decided to move on.
Few rare birds had been reported at the various southeastern reservoirs and we decided to reach Cottonwood Canyon, Baca County while there was plenty of daylight to bird.
The usual residents were found at Cottonwood Canyon. Added to our trip list: 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrows, 2 Lewis's Woodpeckers, half a dozen Canyon Towhees, 8 Chihuahuan Ravens, and a pair of Mountain Bluebirds.
No Eastern Phoebes or kingbirds were expected and none were found. After dusk we did hear 2 Western Screech-Owls and saw one of them land in a tree above our heads.
March 7
Fourteen Lesser Prairie-Chickens displayed at the Kansas Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek outside of Elkhart, Kansas.
Being 50 miles farther south than the Campo Lek, Colorado didn't add any migrants to our trip list. A few White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and 1 Vesper Sparrow and Western Meadowlarks were around, not much else.
We passed the road into the Campo Lek on our trip back to Springfield, Baca County. The road heading north from there is usually good for Sage Thrashers; it appeared to be too early for them.
A Burrowing Owl was found in the prairie dog village just west of there. A Curve-billed Thrasher was under the trees with the large Swainson's Hawk nest, again not far west of the Campo Lek road off Baca County Road G.
Two Buttes Reservoir, Baca County was quiet. Chuck found a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker along the creek. We couldn't find a Barn Owl or any migrating birds.
Lamar Community College was also quiet. We couldn't find the previously reported Northern Cardinals or Red-bellied Woodpeckers. A female Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen at Willow Creek Park north of the College.
We missed Eastern Screech-Owls at Bonny Reservoir, Yuma County but were rewarded with several short looks at Long-eared Owls.
March 8
Six Greater Prairie-Chickens were watched at a lek on private land in Yuma County. We then drove over to the Yuma County Road 45 Lek where two additional Greater Prairie-Chickens were still displaying.
The stop was a success. We found 2 Northern Bobwhite on the old logs near the old city dump. Since our tremendous snow storms a couple of winters ago, many of the gallinaceous birds took a big hit. Northern Bobwhite seem to have taken the worst of it.
All the great gulls found at Jumbo Reservoir, Logan and Sedgwick Counties appeared to be gone by the time we reached the area. Two Greater White-fronted Geese and many Ross's Geese remained.
We drove the Mountain Plover Loop in Weld County. A few Lapland Longspurs still wander around the short grass prairie. We didn't find any McCown's or Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Mountain Plovers or Burrowing Owls. Crow Valley Campgrounds appeared empty of birds.
March 9
It was our second attempt at finding a White-tailed Ptarmigan. This time the search was a success. A Ptarmigan was found walking around the rocks on the west side of Highway 6 as we scoped the area from the first pullover south of the Summit. Thankfully it saved us from the 0.6 mile climb up the west side to their usual location.
Lori and Chuck has just enough time to make it to DIA and their flight home.
