Barb and I recently enjoyed a few days in the Steamboat Springs area, following tips in the old 1997 ABA book A Birder's Guide to Colorado by Harold R. Holt. (NOTE: ABA has a spiffy, new edition by CFO's own Ted Floyd available here: http://www.buteobooks.com/product/ABAFGCO.html
From Boulder we headed north through Poudre canyon to Gould's Moose Visitor Center where we saw a male Williamson's Sapsucker near the parking lot. We enjoyed the Arapaho NWR driving loop and Walden Reservoir, seeing most of the birds reported recently. In Steamboat we really enjoyed their number one summer tourist attraction, Fish Creek Falls, with the usual birds of that area and a spectacular waterfall. Later we visited Steamboat's Core Bike Trail and Botanic Garden. Harold Hold recommended Strawberry Park Hot Springs north of town for good birding. After a dunking in the very hot pool, the "Goldilocks" pool, then the ice-cold pool, I was too parboiled and wobbly to see many birds, but Barb and I noticed this sign on the way out: "After sunset no one admitted under 18 years of age. Swimsuits optional." Hmmm. Sounds like fun owling!
From Steamboat we headed north to Steamboat Lake State Park, where a ranger mentioned that she hears Western-Screech-Owl from time to time near the campground. We camped at Hahns Peak Lake campground and really froze in our tent despite wearing all the clothing in our car. Missing hot springs! Next day we climbed Hahns Peak, serenaded by a series of Hermit Thrushes to timberline, but no grouse toward the top.
Yesterday we drove up to Crane Park near Wyoming where Sandhill Cranes have nested. We didn't see any but heard a couple landing at Hahns Peak Lake later that night as it grew dark.
Today we headed home through Rocky Mountain National Park. At Parshall we noticed a Lewis's Woodpecker at a feeder at 3092 and 309 streets. At Medicine Bow Curve we hiked out the path northeast and beyond to the drop off with snow bank. There we found a couple of White-tailed Ptarmigan hiding from the gale-force cold winds. Back in Boulder it was 83 degrees. Barb exclaimed, "Blessed heat!"
Good birding,
Tom Wilberding
Boulder, CO
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