[cobirds] Friday Bird Trip to Canon City: All Birders Welcome

I have already gotten some calls from some folks south of Denver to join in on this trip.  This is the meet up plan and trip plan (in general).  All are welcome, as this is a Denver Field Ornithologist trip.  For the past five years or so, we have always had a great day birding in the Canon City area in January. 

PLEASE DO NOT RSVP, as I cannot find the time to manage all the responses. 

This is very easy.  You show up on time at one of the 3 starting points.

You must be willing to car pool and pay your gas share.  More details down below.

Look forward to seeing you all on Friday.

Best Wishes and Good Birding Always:  Charles Thornton-Kolbe

Birding Canon City Area:  Friday, January 25, 2013 

                Leader(s):  Charles Thornton-Kolbe and Others

 

Meet Ups in Denver Area and Colorado Springs and Canon City:

 1.   Denver Area:  Meet ten minutes before 6 AM (MEET AT 5:50 AM) at the Park 'n Ride off of I-25 at Yale Ave. (from I-25 from the north and heading south take the Yale Exit and turn right at Yale, then look for RTD signs and drive into the back of the parking lot).  This is 5291 East Yale Circle.   We will form carpools at the Park N Ride in the parking lot area farthest from Yale Avenue at 5:50 AM.  Please get there by 5:50 AM.  We will leave at 6 AM sharp.  

2.   El Paso County Meet Ups:

2a.  We will pick up John Drummond and any other El Paso Counties to the northern part of the county at exit 161 at the Monument RTD Park-N-Ride (across from the Conoco station).  Please be there and ready to go at 6:40.  The Denver group hopes to arrive by 6:45 and leave promptly (give or take 5 minutes).  

2b.  We will also stop at the King Soopers just off of Highway 115 at 815 Cheyenne Meadows Road between 7:10 and 7:20.  GOOGLE ALWAYS TAKES ME TO A DIFFERENT SPOT HERE, SO PLEASE CHECK ADDRESS HERE.  We will likely take a bathroom break here, but we should be off by 7:20. 

3. Canon City Birders:  Meet at Tunnel Drive parking lot between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM.

 

No need to RSVP, just plan to meet us at one of the spots!

 

 Full Trip Plan:

 

We will stop on the way to Canon City for a good spot for Lewis' Woodpecker and then continue on to Canon City.  Our first stop is usually Tunnel Drive (perhaps Rufous-crowned Sparrow, but likely a few goodies here), then to River Walk for the rest of the morning (we sometimes find a rarity here, but usually others nice birds).  After lunch, we head to some Pinyon-Juniper habitat where we usually find Juniper Titmouse, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, 1 or 2 species of Thrasher, and 2 or 3 species of Bluebird.  We finish off for a good spot for Canyon Towhee, Bewick's Wren and Scaled Quail.

 

This is always a very fun and productive winter birding day, and this is always one of my favorite DFO birding trips.  In year's past, we have found some very cool birds including Golden-crowned Sparrow (rare), Harris' Sparrow (seldom), Pine Warbler (once), White-throated Sparrow (once).    This trip has never missed a rarity (which is never guaranteed), but we always have a productive and fun day.  This will be a long day of birding this year, leaving Denver just before 6 AM and getting back after 6 PM.  This is my 49^th birthday (and I am told that 7 X 7 or 49 is a lucky year by those with a spiritual bent), and I will have a most happy birthday seeing some nice Colorado birds with a nice size group of Colorado birders.

 

Bring:  Layers of clothing and coats (including rain gear), binoculars, scope (if you have one), LUNCH, snack, beverages.  Bring breakfast if you have not eaten before leaving.  Also two way radio and cell phones can be helpful to support car-to-car communication.  Bring about $15.00 to 25.00 for your gas share from Denver. 

 

If bad weather, come to parking lot in DENVER, and we will go for it or find an alternative plans.