As spring migration came to an end and summer began I decided it was time for a long awaited trip to the Western Slope. I had never been birding in this part of the state so the opportunity to add to my Colorado state list was thrilling. We spent two days in Western Colorado finding and chasing rare birds.
6/8/2020
Our first day of birding started early in Durango. Later in the day we went to Ouray and after that the town of Nucla.
Our first target of the trip was this Wood Thrush. This Thrush is normally found in Eastern North America but had been seen along the Animas River in Durango for about a week before we arrived.We easily located him by his song.After finding the Thrush we went to the nearby Huck Finn Fish Hatchery for another rarity, a Surf Scoter.Surf Scoters are diving ducks normally found along both coasts but this bird was in a small pond nowhere near the ocean.When Surf Scoters do show up in Colorado they are normally found on large reservoirs far away from the shore. Seeing this bird at short range was incredible.Another rare waterfowl was also present at the fish hatchery pond. Although this bird may look like a female Mallard it is actually a male Mexican Duck. It can be identified as a male because of its yellow bill. The uniform mottled back, light head and limited white on the tail are all Mexican Duck traits.A female Black-chinned Hummingbird.Turkey Vulture flying overhead.Cute little chipmunk.A male Lesser Goldfinch.After our stop at the fish hatchery we went to the Rafter J subdivision in Durango. This is the only location in Colorado where Acorn Woodpeckers can reliably be found. Look how many holes the woodpeckers have made in this tree!Another species of woodpecker was also around, the colorful Lewis’s Woodpecker.A baby fox.In the mountains just north of Durango we found a Hammond’s Flycatcher. These flycatchers can be identified by their long wings and short tail (for a flycatcher).After searching for this bird for several hours we finally found a singing Grace’s Warbler.Another shot of the Grace’s Warbler.What a view!A Male Cassin’s Finch.A must-visit spot on any Western Slope birding trip is Box Canyon Falls in Ouray. This is one of the only places in the world to see nesting Black Swifts.Unfortunately the birds weren’t nesting yet. Perched on top of the white rock is a nest the swifts used last year.The only bird we saw during our visit was flying below us far too quickly to allow for pictures. A herd of Elk just outside Ouray .The baby elk were so cute.It wouldn’t be Colorado without a June snowstorm…After leaving the snowy mountain pass, we headed for Nucla where this Sandhill Crane was waiting for us.Our second fox of the day.
As the sun set we headed to the Nucla water treatment plant. This is the best spot in Colorado to find Lesser Nighthawks. They are very rare in Colorado, often showing up in flocks of Common Nighthawks which look almost the same as the Lessers.
When dusk truly arrived a flock of almost 100 Common Nighthawks began circling over the ponds. Mixed in the flock was one Lesser Nighthawk. It took a while to locate the Lesser but we finally were able to see the details of the wing pattern well enough to confidently identify it. By that point it was too dark to photograph it.
6/9/2020
Our second day on the Western Slope we birded in the small town of Gateway and later in Grand Junction.
Our first stop of the morning was at Gateway Cottonwoods. This is one of the few areas of the state where Lucy’s Warbler can be reliably found. Several pairs were nesting in the area this year. Despite hearing the birds singing and calling many times they always seemed to be just ahead of us so this was the only picture I was able to get.Although the Lucy’s Warbler didn’t pose for pictures this Ash-throated Flycatcher did.He sat looking at us just feet away for over a minute.Black-throated Gray Warbler along Divide Road (between Gateway and Grand Junction), where we were looking for Purple Martins.This aspen forest should be perfect for Purple Martins which nest in the trees. Although they had been seen in the area in previous days, we could not locate any.A Singing MacGillivary’s Warbler in the woods.
Our final stop of the trip was Colorado National Monument. The habitat was unique for our weekend of Western Slope birding, providing a new mix of desert and canyon birds .
One of the signature birds of Colorado’s western desert, the Black-throated Sparrow.Rock Wren.Another Black-throated Sparrow singing from a tree top.Collard Lizard.Some of the cool terrain at the National Monument In a neighborhood near the monument we found a pair of Gambel’s Quail. The male sat on the fence in the open.Yes, this picture was taken in June! On our way home from Grand Junction we stopped for a quick look at the mountains towering high above Vail Pass
What a great weekend of birding on the Western Slope!
Every year as the days grow longer and the temperature increases a wide variety of birds migrate through Colorado. Although many migrating birds regularly travel through Colorado, the birds in this post are all rarely seen in the state. These rare birds, or rarities as birders call them, are often a cause for excitement for anyone attempting to grow their Colorado list.
As it turned out this spring an exceptional number of rare birds were reported in Colorado. Most of them were from the Eastern United States or birds from Southern States that overshot their breeding grounds. These birds are unpredictable, only showing up in Colorado a few times a year. Several of the birds were even more rare!
Thanks to the many Colorado birders who found and reported these rarities!
April Rarities
Neotropic Cormorants like this one are identified by their equally proportioned neck and tail. The common cormorant in Colorado, the Double-crested Cormorant, has a much shorter tail.Female Vermilion Flycatcher.Glossy Ibis can be differentiated from the much more common White-faced Ibis by their purple facial skin and red knees. Yellow-throated Vireo.Easily the rarest bird I saw this spring was this Louisiana Waterthrush. It was just the seventh ever reported in the state and a lifer for me.In this flock of Franklin’s Gulls is a Caspian Tern. It is slightly larger with a long orange bill.American Golden-Plover in non-breeding plumage.This Yellow-throated Warbler sang loudly the entire time we observed it making him easy to locate. White-eyed Vireo with its white eye clearly visible. Three Dunlin in breeding plumage, part of a small flock of six. Their red backs, black bellies and long down-curved bill are key field marks. Whimbrel. These incredible shorebirds migrate mostly along the coast, although very small numbers move through Colorado every year. They spend summer in northern Alaska and winter along the coast of the southern United States and Central America.Male Hooded Warbler hopping along the ground.Black-and-white Warbler is the only warbler in North America that behaves like a nuthatch, climbing up tree trunks in search of food.
May Rarities
Palm Warblers like this one can be identified by their tail pumping behavior.A Chestnut-sided Warbler showing its namesake chestnut side.A Black-throated Blue Warbler. This small eastern warbler is rare in Colorado and was a lifer for me this spring. A Broad-winged Hawk flying over. These raptors migrate though Colorado every spring and are almost always seen in flight.Male Summer Tanager. They are one of the only all red birds in Colorado.A Gray-cheeked Thrush. Although this species is very similar to Swainson’s Thrush it lacks the clear eye ring and other subtle details of the face pattern. It was confirmed by its distinctive song. This bird was special because it is one of the best rarities I have found.Rose-breasted Grosbeak foraging in the top of some tall trees.A female Northern Parula. Although this warbler is normally a regular eastern migrant in Colorado, this was the only one I saw this spring.Female Cape May Warbler moving up the tree. They can be identified by the dense gray streaking on their sides and their gray cheek patch.A female Golden-winged Warbler foraging just feet away from me. Another lifer!A roosting Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. This bird would hunt and roost on the shores of this small lake every morning but would disappear, presumably to nearby bushes during the day.
May Continued
One of the most common eastern warblers in Colorado is the Blackpoll Warbler, one of many I saw this spring.One of the rarest eastern warblers I have seen this year is the Worm-eating Warbler. A female Painted Bunting, identified by its overall greenish color.A male Pine Warbler. These birds often forage and sing from the tops of trees, but this one landed on the ground providing excellent views.A male Kentucky Warbler, another lifer. This skulky warbler never got more then three feet off the ground. It was only visible for several seconds while hopping between bushes. A Blue-winged Warbler hopping around in some dense bushes.This bright golden warbler is a Prothonotary Warbler. It is identified by its long bill and blue gray back.Female Blackburnian Warbler sitting in a tree close to me. It was by far the most cooperative Blackburnian I have ever seen. No, your eyes are not deceiving you, this bird’s tail is longer than its body! The clear pink sides and fully gray head confirm this bird is a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.A Magnolia Warbler, probably a young male, hopping around in a distant tree.My lifer Scarlet Tanager. This bird was still transitioning into breeding plumage. This is evident because of the green patch on the back. Eastern Wood-Pewee. Western and Eastern Wood-Pewees look so similar that they can only be confidently identified by hearing their song. Thankfully, this bird was singing continually from a tree right above us.
