Two Buttes WA & Chico Basin Ranch - 6&7 April
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Ben Lagasse
Apr 9, 2016, 11:11:26 PM4/9/16
to Colorado Birds
Hi All,
I just recently concluded my first trip through SE Colorado, and experienced some of my first birding west of the Mississippi River. I must say, the landscape and its inhabitants were far more impressive than I had anticipated.
Anyways, personal highlights from Two Buttes included a Black-throated Sparrow (early?, seen at the parking lot to hike up the buttes. Very tame), and both 'rock' wrens were had below the dam. Having no real experience birding in these types of areas I was surprised to find Pine Siskin and Eastern Phoebe in decent numbers. One of the Phoebe showed rather bold white wing bars which was weird to me, as back east they seem to be muted at best, or buffy on hatch years. Maybe just a spring trait that has eluded me up to this point...
That evening I camped at The Point campground in the John Martin Reservoir and was treated to a fantastic sunset along with a Canyon Towhee, Scaled Quail and two Great Horned Owl. Jupiter made a strong showing, and putting it in the scope produced some of its various moons!
The next morning, highlights at Chico Basin Ranch included 5 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and a female Greater Scaup in the area of the headquarters building. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to locate any Curve-billed Thrasher. Farther north I accidentally flushed two Barn Owls which stuck around and afforded excellent views, although, I am embarrassed for causing them undue stress. Nevertheless, they seemed to settle back nicely. There were some silly pheasants around too...
ebird checklists, some w/photos-
Two Buttes, below dam - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28788413
Two Buttes, Black-throated Sparrow - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823760
John Martin Reservoir (incidental obs) - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823761
Chico Basin, headquarters area - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28822344
Chico Basin, north area - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823762
All the best,
Ben Lagasse
Littleton, CO... formerly Orleans, MA
I just recently concluded my first trip through SE Colorado, and experienced some of my first birding west of the Mississippi River. I must say, the landscape and its inhabitants were far more impressive than I had anticipated.
Anyways, personal highlights from Two Buttes included a Black-throated Sparrow (early?, seen at the parking lot to hike up the buttes. Very tame), and both 'rock' wrens were had below the dam. Having no real experience birding in these types of areas I was surprised to find Pine Siskin and Eastern Phoebe in decent numbers. One of the Phoebe showed rather bold white wing bars which was weird to me, as back east they seem to be muted at best, or buffy on hatch years. Maybe just a spring trait that has eluded me up to this point...
That evening I camped at The Point campground in the John Martin Reservoir and was treated to a fantastic sunset along with a Canyon Towhee, Scaled Quail and two Great Horned Owl. Jupiter made a strong showing, and putting it in the scope produced some of its various moons!
The next morning, highlights at Chico Basin Ranch included 5 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and a female Greater Scaup in the area of the headquarters building. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to locate any Curve-billed Thrasher. Farther north I accidentally flushed two Barn Owls which stuck around and afforded excellent views, although, I am embarrassed for causing them undue stress. Nevertheless, they seemed to settle back nicely. There were some silly pheasants around too...
ebird checklists, some w/photos-
Two Buttes, below dam - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28788413
Two Buttes, Black-throated Sparrow - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823760
John Martin Reservoir (incidental obs) - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823761
Chico Basin, headquarters area - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28822344
Chico Basin, north area - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28823762
All the best,
Ben Lagasse
Littleton, CO... formerly Orleans, MA
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