West Slope birding

[Nick Komar]

I just finished guiding a group of 7 birders through western Colorado. Some comments that may be of interest to others:
1. Chukar. We exited I70 onto Hwy 65 (Collbran exit in eastern Mesa County) and pulled over at the wide pulloff/rest area just off the interstate to the south. A Chukar was perched at the top of the cliff overlooking the pullout. This was about 2 pm on 4/22
2. Dusky Grouse. The south rim road at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park had at least 6 Dusky Grouse along the road (plus 5 Wild Turkeys) between 6:10 and 7:50 pm on 4/22. They put on a great show.
3. Gunnison Sage-Grouse. The only accessible lek, at the Watchable Wildlife Area on the road to Waunita Hot Springs in southeast Gunnison County, is flooded by early snowmelt runoff and has been abandoned for the last three days. We did manage to see several strutting males at a great distance on the hillside above the lek site at about 7 am on 4/23. Later
in the morning we explored the county roads south of the lek site, in SaguachCounty.

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[Nick Komar]

Oops- accidentally hit the send key. Here is the rest of my message.
3. Continued. In Saguache County south of Doyleyville we were thrilled to witness a Golden Eagle unsuccessfully chase a female Gunnison Sage-Grouse high over the rolling sagebrush hills, a distantly drumming American Three-toed Woodpecker, a pair of calling (type 4?) Red Crossbills acting territorial in an isolated stand of firs, and a large herd of bighorn sheep.
4. Two or three more Three-toed Woodpeckers at Monarch Pass summit on US50 east of Gunnison. One male appeared odd as it was missing the yellow feathers on the forecrown but not the rows of thin white lines. We assumed this was due to active feather molt.


Nick Komar
Fort Collins (currently in LaJunta)

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