[cobirds] SE Colorado Trip Notes

All:

Wife and I just got back from a three day trip to SE Colorado,  recording 50 species between Brent, Baca, Prowers and Kiowa counties. It was hot, windy, dry, dusty, and did I mention windy and dry?  Having done our first trip down there in 2003, this was the driest we have seen it.  The little pond just east of US287 where it joins US 50 east of Lamar is completely dry, as well as Two Buttes Reservoir is dry, dry, dry  We learned from the locals that main drainage gates would not completely close, so they let it drain and have replaced them.  It's not even a mud pit, it's a dust bowl.  The area below the dam (aka "The Black Hole") still has water.  Here are the highlights:

Eads/Kiowa Co: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86257969

"Found" a new spot as we were headed to Temple Grove and wanted to take the road less traveled.  Where 287 goes under the low clearance RR track, depart the highway and continue straight for about a mile.  Sometimes when you change your usual route to get from point A to B,  you can "find" a new spot.  Saw 2 female Buffleheads, a Coot, Red-Winged Blackbirds and a Say's Phoebe.

Melody Temple Grove/Bent Co. https://ebird.org/checklist/S86266948

The Ft. Lyons Canal is kinda/sort of flowing, had maybe 8-12" of water in it.  Saw 2 Wood ducks, some Green-wing teal, 4 beautiful Lark Sparrows, White-crowned sparrows, lots of doves and the real treat was a Sharp-shinned hawk having lunch in the trees just east of the memorial bench.  I've been seeing a lot of Coopers lately and was surprised to see how small it was.  Photo in the checklist.
Rounded it out with a Merlin and Western Kingbirds. No Orioles yet, ebird shows they may be 1-2 weeks out.

Lamar College https://ebird.org/checklist/S86272637

We running short of time, but stopped here around 3 pm on Sat., and it was VERY quiet.  A Spotted Towhee was one of the few birds we saw here.

Rocking 7k Ranch (private)/Prowers Co.  https://ebird.org/checklist/S86387173

We met a wonderful couple named Kathry and Lars through the Colorado Birding Trails booklet the state and Div of Wildlife published many moons ago. We've been seeing them for 12+ years now and have become (almost)family to them.  Sadly, Lars passed away last fall, so this was primarily a trip to see our dear friend Kathryn and spend some time with her.  With over 5000 acres of ranch land to visit, there are some great birds to be seen.  Highlights were a Norther Parula (pics on list), Greater Roadrunner, tons of Yellow-rumped's Shrikes aplenty and some Burrowing Owls.  TV's, Cliff Swallows, Brown Thrasher, Mockingbird and some Swainson's were quite nice to see.

Two Buttes Reservoir/Baca Co. https://ebird.org/checklist/S86386951

Was pretty "raptory" within the SWA boundary area with Burrowing Owls, Swainson's Kestrels and a Prairie Falcon all seen.  Below the dam we had 2 Red-tails, Coot, Wood ducks and 4 Great-blue Herons.  Did not see any Great-horned owls that we have seen on previous trips.  Did see a wild kingdom moment when a large bullfrog had lunch- and it looked like a smaller frog. 

Final comment:  There are multiple places along Hwy 287  where they are doing road construction, many of them single lane.  Expect delays, we sat for about 20 min on the south end of Lamar (by the golf course) waiting our turn.

Thanks for reading!

Jay Hutchins

Longmont, CO

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