Post by birder1942 on Apr 27, 2009 20:13:50 GMT -8
Hi fellow birders. Last week was quite a week for me---the "chicken run" in Colorado and Kansas. We were a group of 11, including our leader/organizer. We put on about 2000 miles over the week. I got the four birds I was hoping for: Brown-capped Rosy Finch, Gunnison Sage Grouse, and both Prairie Chickens. These last three were seen in large numbers on their leks, as was the case with the Sharp-tailed Grouse. It was neat to see the males show off, do their "booming" and challenging of other males. The Sharp-tail, especially, acts like a wind-up toy! We had some 130 species in total. Other highlights: Dusky Grouse, Mountain Plover, McCown's Longspur, Chestnut-collared Longspur, "Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco, Burrowing Owl, White-faced Ibis, Chihuahuan Raven, Scaled Quail, Cassin's Sparrow and Lark Bunting.
I doubt if anyone could do all this in one week by oneself, what with leks on private property, permits and the other logistics, like finding lodging in small towns. I recommend the group leader I was with. He has done this same run nearly thirty times (usually three of four times a year). Good birding all. John Vooys.
I doubt if anyone could do all this in one week by oneself, what with leks on private property, permits and the other logistics, like finding lodging in small towns. I recommend the group leader I was with. He has done this same run nearly thirty times (usually three of four times a year). Good birding all. John Vooys.
