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'.
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