Get to Pawnee Grasslands -- Crow Valley unusual for LOTS of water

[vorticity (Rick Taylor)]

The Pawnee is about as green as I have ever seen it.  I birded a little with Jim Sedgwick (a long-time Pawnee Grasslands expert). He said he had only seen it this green a few other times in hundreds of visits.  Crow Valley Campground is particularly interesting since it has a full stream encircling it on three sides from the ENE to the West then back to the South.  So full that from 8-10 May you could not cross it without waders.  The place is teeming with activity and it will only get better on the coming weekend (17-18 May).  Notables:  Tennessee Warbler (seen by a few, but fleeting); Oven Bird near campsites 7 and 8 along the stream; Least Flycatcher (study the unique song and call) along the stream to the West and North, but most easily seen to the South of the pavilion near the large cottonwood; Plumbeos Vireo; more Blue-Gray gnatcatchers (all along the stream) than I have ever seen. Incredible morning light gives amazing views. Common Yellowthoat were ubiquitous.  Lincoln’s Sparrow, most easily seen along the fence crossing behind campsite 7; Yellow Warbler everywhere; great mix of Myrtle’s and Audubon’s Warbler with Myrtle’s perhaps outnumbering Audubon’s. On Saturday Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright led a group from Roaring Fork.  He graciously permitted an extra half dozen slackers to join in (including me). In a 1.5 mile walk we bagged 44 species.  Keep an eye to the sky for hawk migration. We were treated to a Broad-winged flying over among some soaring Swainson’s.  Good views of 4 swallow species along the stream where it curves back to the North from West: Northern Rough-winged, Bank, Barn, Cliff.  There were about half a dozen Swainson’s Thrushes working the area.  Look at the fence posts near the equipment display on the NW of the campground.  We had a Peregrine Falcon working the open space to the West ... and a couple of Prairie Falcons in the area.  Three Brown Thrashers worked the NW beyond the gate, while 2 others seemed to stay near the campground manager’s site.  Wilson’s Warbler were plentiful with amazing views.  Most easily seen behind the pavilion along the stream near the large cottonwood.   Lark Sparrows near the stream terminus to the ENE. Keep an eye on the barbed wire on the slopes above.  Couple of Bullock’s Oriole.  Orchard Oriole is known to nest in the open woods to the NNW of the equipment display beyond the gate, but it’s just a bit too early for their arrival.  Eastern Bluebird is nesting in the boxes along the N-S fence to the South of the pavilion south of the large cottonwood nearer to CO 14.  Take the trail to the east and south of the cottonwood where it ends at the full stream.  There are boxes along the fence line. We also saw a Lazuli Bunting on the barbed wire there.    Regarding the open areas.  I managed to make it only to Murphy’s Pasture and could not scare up a single Longspur amongst about 500 Lark Buntings in full display as far as the eye could see.  Lots of Clay-Colored Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, a few Cassin’s Sparrows (stop where you see shrubs). 

Rick Taylor, Colorado Springs, El Paso County (camped 2 nights)