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.

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