Birding on the Western Slope Part 1: Rare Bird Bonanza

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.

Wood Thrush
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.
Wood Thrush
We easily located him by his song.
Surf Scoter
After finding the Thrush we went to the nearby Huck Finn Fish Hatchery for another rarity, a Surf Scoter.
Surf Scoter
Surf Scoters are diving ducks normally found along both coasts but this bird was in a small pond nowhere near the ocean.
Surf Scoter
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.
Mexican Duck
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.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
A female Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture flying overhead.
Chipmunk
Cute little chipmunk.
Lesser Goldfinch
A male Lesser Goldfinch.
Acorn Woodpecker
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.
Acorn Woodpecker
Look how many holes the woodpeckers have made in this tree!
Lewis's Woodpecker
Another species of woodpecker was also around, the colorful Lewis’s Woodpecker.
Baby fox
A baby fox.
Hammond's Flycatcher
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).
Grace's Warbler
After searching for this bird for several hours we finally found a singing Grace’s Warbler.
Grace's Warbler
Another shot of the Grace’s Warbler.
Mountains
What a view!
 Cassin's Finch
A Male Cassin’s Finch.
Box Canyon Falls
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.
Black Swift nest
Unfortunately the birds weren’t nesting yet. Perched on top of the white rock is a nest the swifts used last year.
Box Canyon Falls
The only bird we saw during our visit was flying below us far too quickly to allow for pictures.
Elk
A herd of Elk just outside Ouray .
Elk
The baby elk were so cute.
Snowstorm
It wouldn’t be Colorado without a June snowstorm…
Sandhill Crane
After leaving the snowy mountain pass, we headed for Nucla where this Sandhill Crane was waiting for us.
Red Fox
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.

Lucy's Warbler
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.
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Although the Lucy’s Warbler didn’t pose for pictures this Ash-throated Flycatcher did.
Ash-throated Flycatcher
He sat looking at us just feet away for over a minute.
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler along Divide Road (between Gateway and Grand Junction), where we were looking for Purple Martins.
Aspen forest
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.
MacGillivary's Warbler
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 .

Black-throated Sparrow
One of the signature birds of Colorado’s western desert, the Black-throated Sparrow.
Rock Wren
Rock Wren.
Black-throated Sparrow
Another Black-throated Sparrow singing from a tree top.
Collard Lizard.
Colorado National Monument
Some of the cool terrain at the National Monument
Gambel's Quail
In a neighborhood near the monument we found a pair of Gambel’s Quail. The male sat on the fence in the open.
Vail pass
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!