Sorry for the delayed, very delayed, post.
Alec Hopping had suggested a summer trip to search for California Quail in Colorado. They occur in goodly numbers close to the CO border in Moffat. Gambel's Quail that far north are scarce in CO, so any quail in Moffat or Rio Blanco near the UT border might well be a California not a Gambel's. There have been rumors (none very recent) of Cal Quail near Irish Canyon and a recent eBird report from Deerlodge Park in Dinosaur NM of quail... the observer when contacted stated that the birds sounded like Cal Quails but he entered them as Gambel's because California Quail was not on his list of CO birds.
Additionally, Gambel's have been reported from Browns Park NWR and Rangely in the past.
We did not encounter any quail, but notes of interest are:
1- Very competent seeming ranger for Browns Park NWR saw a female quail that they ID'd as a California this May, on just one day. They specifically eliminated Gambel's and photos were taken, but neither Alec nor I have received jpgs as promised yet.
2- A Gambel's/Cal Quail male was seen at Irish Canyon by a local this May.
3- A resident of Dinosaur, Moffat County, reports having quail (1 or 2 pairs) at his feeder as recently as a couple of weeks ago. He lives ag corner of Antrodemus and Third. The males had topknots, so were Gambel's or Cals. We looked for them, but it was midday on a very hot day.
4- A resident at the RV Park in Rangely stated that their used to be a number of quail in that area, but he has not seen any in a few years. Other locals report not seeing quail.
I have little doubt that Cal Quails are present in w. Moffat and/or Rio Blanco Counties in small numbers... someone just needs to find them and document them.
Other notes
The Yampa River TNC preserve w. of Steamboat Springs is fabulous. High density of normal breeding stuff, a few Willow Flys, sometimes breeding Veery, and a reasonably chance for an oddball vagrant... such as the male CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER that we had there.
Black Mountain is awesome. I'd start the day early, about 15 minutes before sunrise, at the intersection of Forest Road 110 and F1103B, where the Yampa and Little Snake Drainages meet (signed), and then wander a mile or two in any of the three possible directions. This year's visit earned us Black-backed Woodpecker, but the area also has good numbers of many high mountain species such as Three-toed Woodpecker, Williamson's Sap, Pine Grosbeak, Gray Jay. Though I had nearly 100 Red Crossbill there last year, we had none this year. This very interesting forest looks like Great Gray Owl habitat and is the closest montane area to where that species breeds in WY. So....
We had 3 scattered SHORT-EARED OWLS about an hour before sunrise on road just south of Irish Canyon, flushed from side of road. Add that to the 6 Nick Moore and I recently had w of Nunn and the one we had near Bonny Res a couple of weeks ago and this species seems to be having a banner year in
We had LEAST FLYCATCHER in 3 places that are not really publicly accessible, two males fighting in Routt, one spot in Moffat with a pair, one spot in Moffat with a singing male
Rangely is a very very birdy town and has incredible potential for interesting migrants. The RV Park (and park surrounding it, along river) is probably best place. David Dowell had RB Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting there this spring.
Browns Park NWR seemed interesting, but revealed a modest number of breeders. The one pond with water did have a goodly variety of waterfowl including a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
North Park (Walden area) seemed to have diminished numbers of birds this year compared to my visits during the previous two summers. Highlights, both from Walden Reservoir, were an adult basic plumaged BONAPARTE'S GULL and a female type RED-BREASTED MERGNSER
At Wolford Mountain Res, towards s. end on w. side of road, we had a LONG-BILLED CURLEW... apparently a first county record for Grand. This bird may already be on southbound migration (they are very early migrants) but given the lush green pastures nearby, is it possible that one (or more) tried to set up shop for the summer here?
Good Birding
Steven Mlodinow
Longmont CO
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