Sunday, August 20, 1989

Algonquin Provincial Park for Spruce Grouse ~ August 11-13, 1989

August 11, 1989

I drove up across the Thousand Islands Bridge into Canada and on up to Algonquin Provincial Park. I checked into a motel in Whitney for the next two nights.


August 12, 1989
At first light, I headed up Highway 60 to the Spruce Bog Boardwalk. I searched for over an hour before I finally spotted a hen Spruce Grouse near the beginning of the boardwalk.

I headed farther west into the park and found a female moose, or cow, with her two young ones along the highway.
A Moose with her two young along Highway 60 in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.


Even farther west, I headed north on Arowhon Road, made the first right, and followed that road to its end at a gate at Wolf Howl Pond. I parked there and started walking down the Mizzy Lake Trail. I was about 50 feet from the car when the tall brush started moving just off the trail. It was a bull Moose and it was only about twenty feet away! I quickly took a photo and then slowly backed off towards the car until it moved further off into the woods.
A bull Moose near Wolf Howl Pond in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.


I once again started down the Mizzy Lake Trail and hadn't gone too far when I spotted a male Spruce Grouse walking along a bed of pine needles. It eventually flew up onto a branch about eight feet up.

A male Spruce Grouse along the Mizzy Lake Trail near Wolf Howl Pond in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.


As I was following the two dirt roads back out to the highway, the left rear suspension broke on my Nissan Pulsar, causing the wheel to lean and rub on the fender. After realizing there was nothing I could do about it, I very slowly nursed it back out the rest of the way to the highway. Luckily, directly across at the intersection was a seaplane base for Smoke Lake. I went inside and was able to call for a tow truck, which had to tow my car about 35 miles to a service station in the town of Whitney. Unfortunately, they didn't have the part to fix it and said they wouldn't be able to get it for at least a day or two. I really didn't want to have to stay for a few more days and asked if they knew of any other options. They suggested I take it to a local guy who did welding. So, the tow truck took my car to the guy's metal barn where he put it up on the lift and welded the broken part back together for me. He did his best to line everything up the best he could and did a pretty good job for what he had to work with. I didn't want to push my luck, so I didn't take any more back roads the rest of the day.


August 13, 1989

I knew I had a long drive back home and wasn't sure how aligned the wheel was, so I stayed a little under the speed limit and tried my best to avoid the bigger bumps and potholes. I was really happy to get back home and eventually get it professionally repaired. All in all, it was a pretty good, but expensive weekend.

Saturday, July 8, 1989

Colorado Trip ~ June 24, 1989

Babe and George Webster, Mark Blauer, and I left the A.B.E. Airport early Saturday morning and headed for Denver. After a short stop in Pittsburgh to change planes, we arrived in Denver around 11:30 AM. We got our rental car, which was supposed to be a 4-door but ended up being a Ford Bronco XLT. As it turned out, the high ground clearance and 4-wheel drive came in handy at several places.

We left Denver and headed up Route 85 to the Foster Reservoir. It was here that a Trumpeter Swan had been staying for about two weeks. We stopped at the reservoir with lightning flying around from the numerous thunderstorms that were in the area. Here, we saw many Western Grebes (one with young on its back) along with some Clark's Grebes mixed in. The Westerns outnumbered the Clark's at least five to one. There were also a few White Pelicans but no swan. We worked our way around to the other end of the reservoir, spotting my first Franklin's Gulls feeding in the adjacent farm fields along with Ring-billed Gulls, Brewer's, Red-winged, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and an American Kestrel. We searched the water from this end of the reservoir and found Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, and finally, the Trumpeter Swan.

We left there and headed back towards Route 85. On the way down Route 66, we all did a 'double-take' on a bird sitting on a wire. After one of my many-to-come 'U-turns', we crept up on the bird. It had an all-white body, all-white wings except for some pink, and a gray-into-black head. We all agreed that it had to be a partial-albino Red-winged Blackbird. Soon after that, it flew down into a marshy area with some other Red-winged Blackbirds and sang the same song. Continuing north on Route 85, we saw Swainson's Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Black-billed Magpie, Belted Kingfisher, Cliff and Barn Swallow, and Western Meadowlark.

Leaving Route 85, we turned onto Road 114 into the western edge of the Pawnee National Grasslands.
The Pawnee National Grasslands northeast of Nunn, Colorado.


Within the first mile of Road 114, we found Lark Bunting, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Golden Eagle, Horned Lark, Brewer's Sparrow, and McCown's Longspur.
McCown's Longspur on the Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado.


The longspurs were all in excellent breeding plumage. We also saw Pronghorn along the road. We turned north of Road 37 and stopped at the Central Plains Experimental Range. While looking unsuccessfully for a Sage Thrasher, we did find Brown Thrasher and a nearby Loggerhead Shrike. We turned off Road 37, headed east on Road 122, and then turned south on Road 45 where George spotted our only Mountain Plover.
A blurred photo of our only Mountain Plover on the Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado.


McCown's Longspurs were fairly common. Farther along Road 45, in the only tree for miles, we saw a Ferruginous Hawk on a nest with three down-covered young. We turned west onto Road 114 and returned to Route 85. Near dusk, we saw a hunting Burrowing Owl.

We stayed at the Motel 6 in Greeley after filling up at the Western Sizzlin where George had the biggest potato he'd ever seen.

Colorado Trip ~ June 25, 1989

Leaving Greeley, we headed up into the mountains on Route 14, also known as Poudre Canyon Road. A stop below Poudre Park produced Lazuli Bunting, Violet-green Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Rufous-sided Towhee, Solitary Vireo, and Virginia's Warbler. Farther up the Poudre River, while hoping for a Dipper to appear, we found a Broad-tailed Hummingbird visiting its nest with tiny, down-covered young ones inside.
The Baldwin Tunnel along Poudre Canyon Road above Poudre Park, Colorado.


At a mountain meadow, we watched brightly-colored male Mountain Bluebirds feed from the roadside wires.
A Mountain Bluebird along Poudre Canyon Road, Colorado.


At another spot, we saw Steller's Jay, Western Tanager, and Green-tailed Towhee. Near the town of Rustic, we stopped at a little general store/restaurant. While we ate, we watched a minimum of 20 Broad-taileds visiting the feeders beside our picnic table.
A Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Rustic, Colorado.


Just below Cameron Pass, we found "Gray-headed" Junco, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Warbling Vireo, and the "Audubon's" form of Yellow-rumped Warbler. It was strange to me that the Warbling Vireos were found in the evergreens of the mountains instead of near rivers in the lowlands as they are here. A stop on the west side of the pass produced "Red-shafted" Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, and a Red-naped Sapsucker, which eventually gave us a good look at its nape.

We started down into the town of Walden (if you consider 8000 feet in elevation "down"). The evergreens and Quaking Aspens gave way to sagebrush. In an oversized water puddle, we saw Wilson's Phalaropes. A stop at the home of a Division of Wildlife employee got us directions to the trailer that housed the Sage Grouse research team. The man in the trailer provided us with a map and pointed out where a group of 20 radio-tagged birds generally hung out.

On the way back to Walden, we stopped at Walden Lake, an alkaline lake loaded with birds. The lake held Eared Grebe, Canada Goose, Green-winged, Blue-winged, and Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, California Gull, and Forster's Tern.

We stayed at the Chedsey Motel in Walden.

Colorado Trip ~ June 26, 1989

We got up well before sunrise and headed for the Sage Grouse spot in the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. On the way, we flushed a few Sage Grouse off the road. After parking atop a hill above a wet meadow, we spotted a Sage Thrasher atop the sagebrush. While hiking down into the meadow, we saw Coyotes howling from the hilltop. Soon after that, we saw about 20 Sage Grouse fly down from the hillside into the meadow. Despite much searching, we never got closer looks at them, but we did find Common Snipe, Yellow Warbler, and many sparrows including Brewer's, Vesper, Savannah, Song, and White-crowned. We also found unrelenting mosquitoes there. Near the town of Rand, we spotted a dark morph Swainson's Hawk sitting on a fence post.
The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge along Route 125 near Rand, Colorado.


We crossed the Continental Divide at Willow Creek Pass and birded a campground along Route 125 where we got excellent looks at Dusky Flycatchers. At the turnoff to Cabin Creek Divide, we had great looks at Cordilleran Flycatcher (formerly the Rocky Mountain form of Western Flycatcher) and Cassin's Finch.

From there, it was up Route 34 into Rocky Mountain National Park and over the Continental Divide at Milner Pass.
Rocky Mountain National Park above Grand Lake, Colorado.


The sign at the Continental Divide at Milner Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


There were fantastic views in all directions. On the way to the top of the mountain, we stopped at various pulloffs and found Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Mountain Bluebird, and Pine Grosbeak.

Just two of the views along Route 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.


At Medicine Bow Curve, we walked out onto the tundra and found Water Pipit, got within 75 yards of Elk, and studied White-tailed Ptarmigan at five feet!
Medicine Bow Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.



White-tailed Ptrarmigan near Medicine Bow Curve in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


We then walked back to the road in a wind-driven sleetstorm. It was amazing that, after landing in Denver in 90-degree weather just three days earlier, we were now in goose down coats and getting hit with sleet! Of course, being at 12,000 feet in elevation had something to do with that. We went back down the mountains to Grand Lake and hiked up to Adams Falls looking for Dipper. We were unsuccessful, probably because of the noisy people there, but we did see Mountain Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, and Lincoln's Sparrow. We stayed overnight in Grand Lake.

Colorado Trip ~ June 27, 1989

Returning to Rocky Mountain National Park, we rose once again above timberline on Trail Ridge Road. We checked the "Lava Cliffs" for the "Brown-capped" Rosy-Finches we had failed to find the previous afternoon at Medicine Bow Curve. We found a Prairie Falcon hunting the cliffs, which is probably one of the reasons we didn't find the Rosy-Finches there. Back at Medicine Bow Curve, we walked out to the snowfields, finding a White-tailed Ptarmigan on the way. Hiking was strenuous at about the 12,000 feet level. Mark walked up to the top of the snowfield and later motioned for us to come up to him. As we got closer, we spotted the Rosy-Finches on the snow below him. Back at the road, we stopped in at the Alpine Visitor Center where White-crowned Sparrows sang.

Just past the high-point of Trail Ridge Road (at 12,183 feet), we stopped at "Rock Cut" for pictures. There were over a dozen 12,000-foot peaks visible in all directions. Glacier-fed lakes dotted the sides of the snow-capped peaks. While stopped, George and I were taking photos of the fairly tame Yellow-bellied Marmot, Gray Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, and Steller's Jays.
A Yellow-bellied Marmot along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


A Gray Jay along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


A Clark's Nutcracker along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


A Steller's Jay along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.


We descended into Estes Park and headed for the Pizza Hut. We were hungry, but we mostly wanted to find the Dipper under the bridge next to it that Ron and Karen Wagner had seen just two weeks before on the VENT tour. Again, we struck out, but we found the pizza with no problem. We re-entered the park and drove to Moraine Park Campground. Nearby, we found a pair of Cordilleran Flycatchers, Pygmy Nuthatch, House Wren, and a Cooper's Hawk. On the road to Bear Lake, Babe finally spotted her first American Dipper. Mark had decided to do a solo hike to a spot that had potential for Black Swifts but, unfortunately, he didn't find any. Meanwhile, we birded Little Horseshoe Park, hoping for Three-toed Woodpecker. Despite many Three-toed 'signs' at the base of the dead trees, none were spotted. What we did find was a flycatcher that flew closer than my binoculars could focus. Its three-part song identified it as my 'life' Hammond's Flycatcher.

We next set our sights on the Wild Basin area along Route 7. This is where Ron and Karen had seen some good birds, including their only Three-toed. Their information directed us right to the nest tree of a Williamson''s Sapsucker pair. The brightly-colored male made a few deliveries to the female inside the hole. Just up the road at their Three-toed spot, we encountered several Red-naped Sapsuckers and more Hammond's Flycatchers, but none of the woodpeckers we saw were missing toes. So, we left, passed through Boulder around dusk, and finally reached the Motel 6 in Denver well after dark.

Colorado Trip ~ June 28, 1989

Upon waking, we immediately left Denver and headed for Colorado Springs where we turned northwest towards the Woodland Park area. At the Colorado Campground of Pike National Forest, we searched in vain for Townsend's Solitaire, but we did see our first Western Bluebird for trip. Farther north at the Manitou Lake Experimental Forest area, our conversation with a Flammulated Owl researcher revealed that our timing was not good for seeing one. He told us that many of the "Flams" had young ones in the nest and were, therefore, reluctant to call much at all, even at night. We bagged the search after a brief time.

We returned to Colorado Springs and travelled south to the Colorado Springs State Wildlife Area. It was here that Mark got his Lewis's Woodpecker pretty easily. Also there were Plain Titmouse and Northern "Bullock's" Oriole. It was then off to Canon City by way of Pueblo to see the Royal Gorge. What a gorge! I'm fairly unafraid of heights, but the lack of railings at the sheer drop of over 1200 feet to the Arkansas River had even me carefully sliding my butt over to the edge for a look. White-throated Swifts and a Scrub Jay were present there.
The Royal Gorge at Canon City.


We then bounced our way along to Temple Canyon Park where, despite the pesky hordes of mosquitoes, Babe picked out my first Gray Flycatcher. On the way back out to the highway, we saw at least 100 ravens going to what I can only assume was their roosting area since it was nearing sunset. We zoomed back to Pueblo, watching the thunderstorms that surrounded us. They seemed to be around us during our entire trip but never really interrupted our birding. We stayed at the Motel 6 in Pueblo.

Colorado Trip ~ June 29, 1989

From earlier information and discussion, we decided to drive three hours west to Gunnison in hopes of seeing the female Red-backed Buzzard from South America that had been present there. This was its third year in Gunnison and, in 1988, it had mated with a Swainson's Hawk. We arrived in the town around 10:00 AM and, after some aimless searching, went to the Forest Service office in town, which told us about an area that it frequented. We spent at least three hours looking for it, but to no avail. We did see at least four Swainson's, including one on a nest with young. We also saw Black-capped Chickadee, Western Bluebird, Sage Thrasher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Green-tailed Towhee, Lark and Brewer's Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird. As luck would have it, we would later learn that the bird was seen in the same area we were looking for it about an hour before we got there. Highway birding between Pueblo and Gunnison yielded Common Snipe, Lewis's Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, and Pine Grosbeak.

Since our only chance at Flammulated Owl seemed to be at night, we though we'd give Rye Mountain Park a try. We got to the park about a half-hour before dark. As darkness prevailed, we tried the tape in a few areas. We were about to give up when a single 'hoot' broke the silence. We got excited and intently listened to try and get a fix on the call. Unfortunately, we never heard another 'hoot' out of it. We returned to our Pueblo motel having heard a "Flam" in both Arizona and Colorado but still never lucky enough to see one.

Colorado Trip ~ June 30, 1989

Our goal, today, was to drive to the Commanche National Grasslands of extreme southeastern Colorado, hitting some birding spots along the way. Soon after leaving Pueblo, we saw more Lewis's Woodpeckers and Loggerhead Shrikes. Western Kingbirds and Meadowlarks seemed to be on every other telephone pole. At Lake Cheraw, north of LaJunta, we scoped Western and Clark's Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, and my first Snowy Plovers. Behind the McDonald's in Lamar, we spotted three adult Mississippi Kites. At Springfield, we checked into the Starlite Motel where the hospitality was exceptional. It had a map to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken viewing areas sitting out on the check-in desk. After getting some information from her about the chickens, we set out for the grasslands.

After reaching the town of Campo, we turned east and followed the directions to the viewing area. We knew we wouldn't see the chickens there in the afternoon, but we wanted to give the route a 'practice run' since we would be doing it in the dark the next morning. The tricky part was finding the gate and following the "road", which was two tire tracks meandering through the grass. Over a mile from the dirt road was a tiny sign that read, "L.P.C. Viewing".
The sign for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken viewing area east of Campo, Colorado.


The Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek east of Campo, Colorado.


Almost immediately, we heard numerous Cassin's Sparrows, which eventually allowed some good looks.

We still had some daylight left, so we agreed on traveling into Kansas and Oklahoma, new states for all of us. Along the way, we saw our only pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on a wire north of Elkhart, Kansas.


Returning through the grasslands, we saw Scaled Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, Lark Sparrow, and Lark Bunting.
A Long-billed Curlew in the Commanche National Grasslands east of Campo, Colorado.


Back at our Springfield motel, we set our alarms for 'early'.

Colorado Trip ~ July 1, 1989

After prying my eyes open, we headed back out to the lek. Since it was July, our only chance of seeing a chicken was to be there at dawn and hope that a late straggler was there strutting, which was unexpected. As it became light enough to see, we found the lek was empty. We were, however, treated to a chorus of Cassin's Sparrows during sunrise.
Sunrise at the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek in the Commanche National Grasslands, Colorado.


Our visit also included a minor incident. I had set up my scope at the back of the Bronco in order to study a hawk sitting on a distant fencepost. We later walked out through the grass and when I turned around, I couldn't believe what I saw. There, at the back of the Bronco, stood three of the free-roaming cattle (a mom with two young). Mom was nestled right up against the tripod legs holding my scope. Unsure of what to do, I slowly walked towards her, although I had visions of running for my life through the lek with a protective mom hot on my heels. Finally, she retreated, but she still managed to swing around and knock over my scope. Luckily, it fell into the sandy soil of the grasslands.

We left the grasslands and picked up George back at the motel. He was the only smart one in the bunch, sleeping in while we hoped for the next-to-impossible. We marched on towards Denver. At the town of Lamar, we saw a few more Mississippi Kites. After stopping, I noticed more and more kites lifting off, so I drove over in that direction. I conservatively estimated that there were about 50 Mississippi Kites circling over the town.

Farther north on Route 287, we passed through the towns of Kit Carson and Wild Horse. These "towns" must have been put on the map in order to fill in the empty spaces between 80 miles of nothing. We weaved through Denver and stopped at the town of Idledale. Mark found two very accommodating American Dippers along the streambank.

American Dipper near Idledale, Colorado.


Above Idledale, we visited a very busy O'Fallon Park where we finally found a pair of Townsend's Solitaires for Babe.
Townsend's Solitaire at O'Fallon Park near Idledale, Colorado.


Our next stop was at Red Rocks Park. The rock forms are really interesting.

Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado.


Birds at Red Rocks included White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Scrub Jay, Canyon Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, and our only "trip" Gray Catbird.

We stayed at the Motel 6 in Denver. Since I needed Poorwill, I drove back to Red Rocks Park to try for it at dusk. I didn't hear any of them, but I did hear and see two young Great Horned Owls.

Colorado Trip ~ July 2, 1989

We had done so well at finding most of the "target birds" that we decided to try for some birds that time had not allowed for previously. Mark had already seen Three-toed Woodpecker but hadn't seen Black Swift. Babe and I had done just the opposite. So, we returned to Rocky Mountain National Park to drop off Mark at Bear Lake where he hiked to Loch Vale searching for the swifts. Babe and I went to Moraine Park where we hiked to Fern Falls looking for Three-toed. After hiking many miles, Mark realized that the swifts weren't there. Meanwhile, Babe and I were much more fortunate. Just above Fern Falls, I heard some erratic pecking. I called Babe up to where I was and she discovered the male Three-toed Woodpecker chiseling at the base of a dead pine. We got within 15 feet, close enough to easily count the three toes on each foot!

Back in Denver, we drove around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal where we saw Northern Bobwhite, California Gull, Burrowing Owl, and more Black-billed Magpies. We checked out the sunset over the Rockies before spending our last night in Colorado at the Motel 6 in Denver.

Sunset over the Rocky Mountains.


Colorado Trip ~ July 3, 1989

I called Bill Brockner the night before for a lead on a Blue Grouse spot. He volunteered to take us to his favorite spot. We met him in the town of Evergreen and followed him to Mount Falcon County Park. We had hiked around in their favored habitat for at least an hour when we decided to head back towards the parking lot. On the way out, I happened to look uphill and see a head and neck stretched out from behind a tree. I quickly called everyone over. It then flew about 15-20 feet up into the tree above us. As we studied it at leisure, the gray terminal band revealed it be one of the "Southern Rockies" form of Blue Grouse. It was a 'lifer' for Mark and Babe.

A Blue Grouse at Mount Falcon County Park near Morrison, Colorado.


Other birds found in the park included Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Dusky Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Western and Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Virginia's Warbler, Western Tanager, Green-tailed and Rufous-sided Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and the "Black-backed" form of Lesser Goldfinch. As it turned out, Bill used to live in Buffalo and visit Hawk Mountain where knew Rosalie Edge, the Brouns, and Joe Taylor personally. We thanked him for his help and headed for the airport.

During the last three days of our stay, temperatures in the Denver area were around 100 degrees but were accompanied by only 10 to 20 percent humidity. Wildfires were becoming an increasing problem. Everything considered, we had a very successful trip. We turned in the rental car with 2477 extra miles on it and flew back to Allentown by way of Pittsburgh.

I ended the trip with 19 life birds out of the 154 species. Mammals seen included Coyote, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Prairie Dog, Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk, Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Cottontail, American Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn. A few Texas Horned Toad Lizards were also seen.


Colorado Trip List

1) Western Grebe
2) Clark's Grebe
3) Eared Grebe
4) Pied-billed Grebe
5) American White Pelican
6) Double-crested Cormorant
7) Black-crowned Night-Heron
8) Great Blue Heron
9) White-faced Ibis
10) Trumpeter Swan*
11) Canada Goose
12) Mallard
13) Gadwall
14) Green-winged Teal
15) American Wigeon
16) Northern Shoveler
17) Blue-winged Teal
18) Cinnamon Teal
19) Ruddy Duck
20) Redhead
21) Lesser Scaup
22) Common Merganser
23) American Coot
24) American Avocet
25) Black-necked Stilt
26) Snowy Plover*
27) Killdeer
28) Mountain Plover*
29) Long-billed Curlew
30) Willet
31) Lesser Yellowlegs
32) Spotted Sandpiper
33) Wilson's Phalarope
34) Common Snipe
35) Franklin's Gull*
36) Ring-billed Gull
37) California Gull
38) Forster's Tern
39) Black Tern
40) Turkey Vulture
41) Golden Eagle
42) Mississippi Kite
43) Northern Harrier
44) Cooper's Hawk
45) Red-tailed Hawk
46) Swainson's Hawk
47) Ferruginous Hawk*
48) American Kestrel
49) Prairie Falcon
50) Blue Grouse ("Southern Rockies" form)
51) White-tailed Ptarmigan
52) Sage Grouse*
53) Northern Bobwhite
54) Scaled Quail
55) Ring-necked Pheasant
56) Rock Dove
57) Mourning Dove
58) Great Horned Owl
59) Flammulated Owl (heard only)
60) Burrowing Owl
61) Common Nighthawk
62) Chimney Swift
63) White-throated Swift
64) Broad-tailed Hummingbird
65) Belted Kingfisher
66) Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker
67) Lewis's Woodpecker
68) Williamson's Sapsucker
69) Red-naped Sapsucker*
70) Hairy Woodpecker
71) Three-toed Woodpecker*
72) Eastern Kingbird
73) Western Kingbird
74) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
75) Western Wood-Pewee
76) Say's Phoebe
77) Gray Flycatcher*
78) Dusky Flycatcher*
79) Hammond's Flycatcher*
80) Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher*
81) Horned Lark
82) Tree Swallow
83) Violet-green Swallow
84) Cliff Swallow
85) Barn Swallow
86) Scrub Jay
87) Steller's Jay
88) Gray Jay
89) Clark's Nutcracker
90) Black-billed Magpie
91) American Crow
92) Common Raven
93) Plain Titmouse
94) Black-capped Chickadee
95) Mountain Chickadee
96) White-breasted Nuthatch
97) Red-breasted Nuthatch
98) Pygmy Nuthatch
99) House Wren
100) Canyon Wren
101) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
102) Western Bluebird
103) Mountain Bluebird
104) Townsend's Solitaire
105) Hermit Thrush
106) American Robin
107) Loggerhead Shrike
108) Gray Catbird
109) Northern Mockingbird
110) Sage Thrasher*
111) Brown Thrasher
112) American (Water) Pipit
113) American Dipper
114) European Starling
115) Solitary Vireo
116) Warbling Vireo
117) Virginia's Warbler
118) Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler
119) Yellow Warbler
120) MacGillivray's Warbler
121) Black-headed Grosbeak
122) Indigo Bunting
123) Lazuli Bunting*
124) Green-tailed Towhee
125) Rufous-sided Towhee
126) Vesper Sparrow
127) Savannah Sparrow
128) Song Sparrow
129) Lark Sparrow
130) Cassin's Sparrow*
131) Chipping Sparrow
132) Brewer's Sparrow
133) Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco
134) White-crowned Sparrow
135) Lincoln's Sparrow
136) Chestnut-collared Longspur*
137) McCown's Longspur*
138) Lark Bunting*
139) Western Meadowlark
140) Yellow-headed Blackbird
141) Red-winged Blackbird
142) Brewer's Blackbird
143) Brown-headed Cowbird
144) Common Grackle
145) Northern "Bullock's" Oriole
146) Western Tanager
147) House Sparrow
148) Pine Siskin
149) American Goldfinch
150) Lesser "Black-backed" Goldfinch
151) Pine Grosbeak
152) "Brown-capped" Rosy-Finch
153) Cassin's Finch*
154) House Finch