July 2017 – Colorado Ptarmigan

Our hopes were high to see a White-tailed Ptarmigan on this trip after we missed it during our 2015 Big Year. We flew into Denver Colorado for our long holiday weekend of birding and travel. It was another late night but with the time change we were up early and went straight to Barr Lake State Park. The Park Ranger arrived while we were birding the parking area and we asked for suggestions since the park has over 12 miles of hiking trails. She pointed out nesting Black-billed Magpies in a nearby tree and told us where to look for Barn Owls. The owls were easy to find with all the people and their big cameras. Nesting in a tree near the owls was a family of Western Wood-Pewee. This park has a variety of habitat that was reflected in the diversity of great birds. Highlights of the 28 species include Western Grebe, Western and Eastern Kingbird, Bullock’s Oriole, and four swallow species. We were happy to learn the park offers Summer Nature Camps in conjunction with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

We spent the next few days birding in other states and arrived back in Colorado four days later. Lory State Park is a beautiful park on the Horsetooth Reservoir where we hiked the Well Gulch Trail. The trail is not too difficult (or easy) and offers both great views and great birding. Best birds included Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Tanager and both Lesser and American Goldfinch.

On July 4th, we went to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We stopped at the Sheep’s Lake Information Station and waited awhile with some others hoping the Bighorn Sheep would make their morning appearance. There was even a videographer there to document the event but the bighorns were a no show on this day.  Next stop was the Endovalley–Picnic Area just around the corner which is a great birding location especially early in the morning before the sites fill up. There is a trail that runs along a beautiful stream right off the picnic loop where we found Steller’s Jay, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, and Cassin’s Finch. The drive on Route 34 from Estes Park and onto Trail Ridge Road has some of the most amazing scenery that you will ever see! You reach elevations of over 12,000 feet with steep inclines and some hairpin curves. It is hard to keep your eyes on the road and at the same time get a glimpse of the surrounding mountains. The alpine terrain has patches of snow even in July.

Our destination was Medicine Bow Curve to search for the White-tailed Ptarmigan. As soon as we got out of the car someone said, ‘I’m looking for the same bird that you are’. I guess the bins and khaki birding uniform gave us away. On the way up the trail everyone we passed was excited about the Elk on the ridge. All the birders had one bird in mind. We came to a stream of water and thought it would be a great place for birds and there they were, two beautiful White-tailed Ptarmigan! Even though they were only about 20 feet away we had a hard time pointing them out to other birders. They are so well camouflaged. Also seen on the ridge were American Pipit, Pine Grosbeak and Dark-eyed Junco.

Next, we went for a celebratory lunch at the Baldpate Inn. Not only do they have great Vegan food, there were feeders with ten Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and a Pine Siskin. We met two couples that stayed at the Inn and will add a stay here to our must do list.

On our way back to the Denver Airport we had time for one more stop to look for Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay. We found one Jay in a neighborhood in Golden that we had visited on a previous trip to Colorado.

This five-day trip was unforgettable and it shows how important it is to research and explore new birding locations whenever you have the opportunity.

 

Trip Birds: 62  Life Birds: 2 White-tailed Ptarmigan and Evening Grosbeak.

Next up: Central Adirondack Birding