We were both elated since this was one bird we figured we'd have to go to the Arctic to see. We were smiling for a long time afterwards.
Tuesday, March 6, 1990
Maryland Trip for Ross's Gull ~ March 5, 1990
The big, big birding news in the East was that of a Ross's Gull that was being seen at a water treatment plant near Baltimore, Maryland. Rick Wiltraut and I drove down there and got good looks at the bird flying around and feeding in one of the water treatment tanks with some Bonaparte's Gulls.
Ross's Gull at the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant in Essex, Maryland. Note the overall pale plumage and wedge-shaped tail.
Ross's Gull at the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant in Essex, Maryland. There was a hint of blush on the breast.
We were both elated since this was one bird we figured we'd have to go to the Arctic to see. We were smiling for a long time afterwards.
We were both elated since this was one bird we figured we'd have to go to the Arctic to see. We were smiling for a long time afterwards.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
At a mountain meadow, we watched brightly-colored male Mountain Bluebirds feed from the roadside wires.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)