COLORADO: PRAIRIE CHICKENS, GROUSE, PLUS!

DATES

APRIL 10 – 19, 2008

APRIL 9 – 19, 2009

COST (PER PERSON)

DOUBLE: $2650 (2008) SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $375

DEPOSIT: $350

INCLUDES

From Colorado Springs, includes nine nights lodging, all meals, transportation, entry fees, guides, taxes, tips.

Not included: Alcohol, phone calls, laundry, other personal expenses.

PARTICIPANTS

Two vans, two leaders, max of 14.

LEADER

Forrest Davis; Wezil Walraven.

OVERVIEW

Colorado is the best place in the country for finding all the species of Prairie-chicken and Grouse. It's varied topography ranging from prairie grasslands through high plains to subalpine forests and alpine tundra supports as many as 500 species of birds. Furthermore, it's geographical location astride the Continental Divide provides a mix of eastern, western, northern, and southwestern species not easily found together anywhere else.
Our trip will take us from the eastern prairies of Colorado into the high Rocky Mountains. We will cover about 1500 miles in searching for our target species. In order to see many of these species at their leks at dawn, we'll need to be up and out by 4 or 4:30 AM. We expect to find Greater & Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Greater & Gunnison's Sage-Grouse; Sharp-tailed & Blue Grouse and, possibly, White-tailed Ptarmigan. Other species of interest include Mountain Plover; Three-toed Woodpecker & Williamson's Sapsucker; Rough-legged Hawk; Black, Brown-capped, & Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch; McCown's & Chestnut-Collared Longspur, and many others.

ITINERARY    

DAY ONE Arrive Denver Airport for pickup by 4:00 PM. Drive to Pueblo.

Overnight at Pueblo Comfort Inn.

DAY TWO Following breakfast, weÕll head towards Holly and the Lesser Prairie Chicken lek. WeÕll stop along the way at Cottonwood and Carrizo canyons where we should find Golden Eagle, Scaled Quail, Wild Turkey, Greater Roadrunner, TownsendÕs Solitaire, Ladder-backed and Lewis' Woodpeckers, Chihuahuan Raven and Canyon Towhee. WeÕll hope to see Cassin's Sparrow singing and skylarking. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Phoebe and Say's Phoebe also breed in Carrizo Canyon. Overnight at Holly.Overnight at HOLLY.

DAY THREE

We will have a pre-dawn start to be at the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek one-hour before sunrise. We’ll be viewing from the car, so as not to disturb the mating ritual of one of the rarest birds in North America. Their "dancing" and “booming” is an unforgettable sight. At Cheraw Lake we'll scan for Snowy Plover and Baird's Sandpiper just arriving from their spring migration, also American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt and Wilson's Phalarope. There are often large flocks of Western Grebes at one or two locations, and we’ll check for Clark’s Grebe among them. In a ground-squirrel colony located near our route, we'll search for Burrowing Owls. We will go in search of other birds of the Great Plains, including Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow and Northern Mockingbird. Along the way, we’ll be seeing some bird species near their westernmost limit in the U.S.A. such as Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, and Northern Cardinal. We’ll also look for Franklin's Gull, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and lots of raptors. OVERNIGHT AT WRAY

DAY FOUR

A dawn start will provide us with the chance to view Greater Prairie-Chickens with their elaborate display and "booming" sounds. We'll depart Holly for Greeley and drive through Pawnee Grasslands looking for McCown's and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, also Mountain Plover. Overnight in Evans outside of Greeley.
Overnight in EVANS

DAY FIVE

Early departure for Loveland Pass looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan and Rosy-finches. Stop at Buena Vista for Pinyon Jay, then to Monarch Pass for other high-elevation species. Overnight in Gunninson.
Overnight at GUNNISON.

DAY SIX

At dawn, we will view the Gunnison Sage-Grouse at it's lek. A dawn chorus of Sage Thrashers, Horned Larks and Mountain Bluebirds will make for a brilliant start to the day. Breakfast in Gunnison followed by a drive to Crested Butte to look for three species of Rosy-Finch and Evening Grosbeak, then a stop along the Taylor River for Williamson's Sapsucker. Curecanti National Recreation Area and other reservoirs should yield a nice assortment of shorebirds and wa-ter birds. In the late afternoon, we will visit Coal Canyon near Cameo searching for Chukar [introduced], Grey Flycatcher, Lazuli Bunting and Black-throated Hummingbird.
Overnight at GRAND JUNCTION.

DAY SEVEN

This morning we will explore the beautiful Colorado National Monument, with its spectacular sandstone formations, and canyon rim drive. Bird species are decidedly of the desert variety and possibilities include Gambel's Quail, White-throated Swift, Pinyon Jay, Grey Flycatcher, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Peregrine Falcon, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon Wren and Rock Wren. We'll also check the oak woodlands at Rifle Falls for woodland birds such as Western Scrub-Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon and Spotted Towhee. .
Overnight at CRAIG

DAY EIGHT

This day will begin with a pre-dawn outing to view Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying. Dusky Grouse is also possible in this area and Sandhill Cranes nest nearby. A drive over Rabbit Ears Pass on the Continental Divide could produce, if the snow isn't too deep, Gray Jay, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Three toed-Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Pine Grosbeak and Mountain Chickadee. If the montane species haven't already been found we will drive to Cameron Pass in the late afternoon to try and fill out the list. Overnight at WALDEN.

DAY NINE

We'll have another pre-dawn start to view the Greater Sage-Grouse on their lek. After breakfast weÕll visit the Walden Reservoir where we hope to find California Gull, American Avocet, Cinnamon Teal and Sage Thrasher.  On the drive south we will watch for Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle and any of the montane birds we might still need. There is more scenery to marvel at in this region, and we will be sure to take a minute here and there to admire it. If we haven't found it, we also return to Loveland Pass for an extensive search for the elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan. Overnight in DENVER.

DAY TEN

Flights home.

CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT

Casual, informal attire is acceptable for all restaurants.  The following items are important to have for you comfort and safety.  The trip will range between 3000 feet to 10,000+ feet. It canÕt get quite cold at higher elevation and also at the early morning leks (30 degrees or less at times). So, itÕs important to bring some warm layers.  It will get much warmer in many places during the day, up to 80 degrees.

 

v             Hat with brim/visor

v             Sunglasses

v             Sunscreen

v             Water bottle (we will carry extra water for refills)

v             Small day pack/fanny pack

v             Hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes

v             Long-sleeve shirts

v             Long pants

v             Long underwear for high elevation & early morning lek

v             Gloves and hat

v             Overcoat

v             Waterproof wind-breaker

v             Binoculars (scope is optional;  we will have one or two scopes)

v             Deet spray, though bugs shouldnÕt be bad

 

All books can be obtained from Madison Audubon Shoppe (888) 505-9056 at a 10% discount for High Lonesome BirdTours trip participants. 

FOR RESERVATIONS & REGISTRATION INFO

HIGH LONESOME BIRDTOURS

570 S. Little Bear Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

Phone (520) 458-9446 or 1-800-743-2668

Email:  hilone@hilonesome.com

Website:  www.hilonesome.com