Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 Tropical Birding Trip Report Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop 20-26 April 2014 Guided by Jacob C. Cooper All photos were taken by Jacob Cooper during the tour. 1 Tropical Birding Trip Report Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 Colorado offers birding experiences that can seldom be found anywhere in the world. Its unique topography and geographic location lead to eastern, western, southern and northern birds being found in relatively close proximity. During this tour, we “threaded the needle” between storms, encountering surprisingly good weather conditions while simultaneously discovering many birds we were not expecting. Our small band of three obtained diagnostic views of every grouse save Dusky, and were able to watch the males’ obscene and fascinating displays as they wooed nearby females. These incredible birds were worth the trip alone, but when combined with the unbeatable scenery, they made for an unbelievable journey. From being feet away from a vagrant Yellow-throated Warbler to enjoying the rambunctious antics of the Sharp-tailed Grouse, the mix of birds and experiences was enthralling. Note: The following abbreviations are widely used in this report; National Park (NP), National Monument (NM), National Historic Site (NHS), State Wildlife Area (SWA), State Park (SP), National Wildlife refuge (NWR) and National Forest (NF). 20 April 2014 – Genessee Mountain, Loveland Pass, and Silverthorne to Wray We started our morning at the Genessee Mountain Park west of Denver, just as the sun was rising above Denver and the plains. Immediately after exiting our vehicle, singing and calling Cassin’s Finches Haemorhous cassinii caught our attention and inquisitive Western Bluebirds Sialia mexicana flew in to see what we were doing. As the day brightened, boisterous Pygmy Nuthatches Sitta pygmaea flew in to harass us for trespassing in their mountain realm, and a pair of Williamson’s Sapsuckers Sphyrapicus thyroideus called and displayed to each other as the morning sun climbed in the sky behind them. After enjoying the beautiful morning and grabbing some snacks at the base of the hill, we headed up to the summit of Loveland Pass. Loveland, having been freshly covered with powder, was a mecca for snowboarders from the dusty plains. Luckily, we not only managed to secure a good parking spot, but witness one of the sportsmen flush a White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus from the slope in front of us. Maneuvering along the immaculate slopes, we were able to obtain stunning views of the bird as it foraged in some nearby willows. While we watched in awe, flocks of Red Crossbills Loxia curvirostra and Pine Siskins Spinus pinus flew up to feed on the few areas laid bare by the previous night’s winds. We then descended down into the town of Silverthorne. Famous for its high-elevation bird feeders, the town did not disappoint. Our stake-out spot sported a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks Coccothraustes vespertinus, and we were able to tease out a lone Black Rosy-Finch Leucosticte atrata from the large group of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches L. australis flooding the feeders. Watching the surrounding trees, we were also afforded views of our only Band-tailed Pigeons Patagioenas fasciata of the entire trip, and sorted through the different subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis feeding under the pines, finding individuals from the Oregon oreganus, Pink- sided mearnsi, and Gray-headed caniceps populations. 2 Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 Tropical Birding Trip Report A lone White-tailed Ptarmigan hides in the wind-swept willows of Loveland Pass. This bird is actually in the cover photo as well! From here, we heeded the call of the flatlands and proceeded to drive eastward. Pressing through our only snowstorm of the trip, we eventually broke onto the windy plains, where Swainson’s Hawks Buteo swainsoni battled the winds and the ubiquitous Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta graced us with its beautiful song. We arrived in Wray and met the rancher who showed us where the lek we would visit the next morning was located, and heard one of our only Blue Jays Cyanocitta cristata of the trip in the nearby City Park. 21 April 2014 – Wray to Lamar via Sand Creek Massacre NHS The next morning, we woke very early and parked where we had been instructed by the rancher the evening before, and waited for the sun to rise. The dawn darkness was haunted by the hooting of the Greater Prairie-Chickens Tympanuchus cupido, and as the sun rose, their fascinating display was fully realized. Leaning forward and inflating their air sacs, the birds whooped and hollered as they stomped out their own little display patches. Needless to say, seeing so many prairie-chickens at once was a breathtaking experience! We sat spellbound as the birds bickered and lunged at each other, and were only chased away when a herd of cows decided to come see what was so interesting in our particular part of the prairie. Driving out awarded us with our first Great-tailed Grackles Quiscalus mexicanus of the trip, and allowed us to return in time for a delicious breakfast in Wray. 3 Tropical Birding Trip Report Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 A male Greater Prairie-Chicken struts his stuff north of Wray, Colorado. Heading southward, we decided to check out a few ponds and historic localities along the way. A lake near Wray hosted a few migrant waterfowl, including some Northern Pintail Anas acuta and the neatly patterned Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris. Continuing south, we located numerous Burrowing Owls Athene cunicularia along the roads, and obtained excellent views of one of Colorado’s most common birds: the Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris. Eventually, we arrived at Sand Creek Massacre NHS and decided to learn about some of the history in the area. Immediately after arriving, a lone Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica flew in, and awarded us with amazing views. Driving around the park also gave us good looks at Lark Sparrows Chondestes grammicus and migrating flocks of Vesper Sparrows Pooectes grammineus. Continuing southward, our spirits stayed high as we weaved through the grasslands and located migrating Long-billed Curlews Numenius americanus and enjoyed our first Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo. Arriving in Lamar, we took a quick stop by the city park, and found a Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi that had yet to return to its summer home from its winter wanderings on the plains. 4 Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 Tropical Birding Trip Report 22 April 2014 – Lamar to Prowers County, Two Buttes Reservoir, Cañon City and Gunnison An early morning and night drive led us to the short-grass plains of Prowers County. We explored the nearby rangeland and, most of all, enjoyed distant (but clear) views of four displaying Lesser Prairie-Chickens Tympanuchus pallidicinctus. These birds, now listed as Threatened, are decreasing throughout their range, and fewer than 60 birds are thought to remain in the entire state. Also present in the small patch of grassland was a lone Long-billed Curlew and several Grasshopper Sparrows Ammodramus savannarum. Considering ourselves lucky to obtain such great views of the prairie-chickens, we decided to begin the long drive westwards. Many grassland specialists, such as this Grasshopper Sparrow, are found during the tour. This particular Grasshopper Sparrow was unique in that it was found in Craig, Colorado, and represents one of the few records of the species from the western half of the state! Arriving at Two Buttes SWA, we were able to hike down into the trees away from the wind. Our efforts were well rewarded; a singing male Northern Parula Setophaga americana was associated with several Yellow-rumped Warblers Setophaga coronata of both the nominate Myrtle and western Audubon’s auduboni populations. Exploring the wash further, we obtained excellent views of a perched Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus and got our fill of flycatchers with Eastern 5 Tropical Birding Trip Report Colorado: Chasing Chickens from Prairie to Mountaintop April 2014 Phoebe Sayornis phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens, and Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis. As we were leaving, a Chihuahuan Raven Corvus cryptoleucos flew by us, and a hybrid Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus offered a nice comparison with its mate, an apparent Yellow-shafted individual. Checking the lake, we had our first Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis of the trip, and enjoyed our views of the Two Buttes for which the area is named. Realizing this would be one of our longest days, we pushed westward to try to get out of the storms. Brief stops added Virginia Rail Rallus limicola and Sora Porzana carolina to our trip list, and the mountains rising ever higher ahead of us, motivated us to continue. We drove through the outskirts of Pueblo, where Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata frolicked in people’s yards, and a lone Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus flew across the highway in front of us. Stopping at Cañon City’s tunnel drive gave us brief views of Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps, and excellent views of Rock Wrens Salpinctes obsoletus as they crawled around the boulders. A migrant Broad- tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus was kind enough to perch and let us watch it, and a lone Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus circled over the canyon’s entrance. The rest of our day was spent driving through the winding Arkansas River Canyon, and crossing over into Western Colorado. Beating the snow across the mountains, we settled into Gunnison and prepared for another great day of birding. 23 April 2014 – Gunnison to Black Canyon NP, Grand Mesa NF, and Grand Junction At dawn, we found ourselves parked at another lek; waiting.