Dates:  April 19-25, 2025 (2 spots available)

April 2026 TBD

Day 1 – fly into Denver and take a free shuttle to the hotel. Welcome dinner and meeting at 6:00PM. [Overnight in Denver] (D)

Day 2 – Heading out east across the prairie, our three main stops are Pawnee National Grasslands, Jackson Lake State Park and Andrick Ponds State Wildlife Area. In the Pawnee NG is a stop at Crow Valley Campground which can be spectacular this time of year for migrants. It will also give us a chance to stretch our legs a bit. Finally, we’ll meet a private ranch owner before we visit his lek site the next morning. He has some fascinating stories. Target birds are Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln’s, Vesper and White-crowned Sparrows, shorebirds and early migrants. [Overnight in Wray] (B, L, D)

Day 3 – An early lek morning at a private ranch for Greater Prairie-Chicken. A late checkout from the hotel and off to breakfast to celebrate our success. As we head back through the prairie, it gives us a second chance to pick up any species we may have missed. We’ll makes stops at Loveland Pass for White-tailed Ptarmigan and American Pipit and Silverthorne neighborhood for mountain feeder species like Canada Jay, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Hairy Woodpecker, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Evening Grosbeak and Cassin’s Finch. [Overnight in Walden] (B, L, D)

Day 4 – Early start for the Greater Sage-Grouse lek where 60 birds are common. The sights and sounds from a lek area are amazing. Bring your camera! Other spots for the day include; Walden Reservoir, Arapahoe NWR boardwalk, Moose Visitors Center and Rabbit Ears Pass area. Target species include Greater Sage-Grouse, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Sandhill Crane, Sage Thrasher, 20+ species of waterfowl, shorebirds, 5 species of Grebes, Black-crowned Night-Heron, breeding American White Pelicans and California Gulls and migrants. [Overnight in Steamboat Springs] (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Another early start for Dusky Grouse and then onto Sharp-tailed Grouse lek site. A single male Dusky Grouse has territory for a display. If we’re lucky, we will hear their low booming sound while performing for a nearby female. The Sharp-tailed stomp their feet during their display and quit interesting to watch. Heading west and then south, we’ll stop at Loudy-Simpson Park, the town of Meeker for feeders and Coal Canyon near Cameo. Targets here are Chukar, White-throated Swift, Rock Wren and Black-throated Sparrow. Possible Western Screech-Owl outing after dinner. [Overnight in Clifton by Grand Junction] (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Leave Clifton for wonderful pinyon juniper habitat. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Gambel’s Quail, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Say’s Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Spotted Towhee, Pinyon Jays, Black-billed Magpie, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtits, Canyon Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Mountain and Western Bluebird are all possible be making stops along the way.  Then east to Brewster’s Ridge for Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew, Common Raven, Bewick’s Wren, Brewer’s, Lark and Sagebrush Sparrow. Fruit Growers Reservoir feeds the fruit farmers in the area and is a local hotspot.  Not only will we see waterfowl, but will look for Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, 5 species of Grebes, Marsh Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird and a possible American Bittern. If needed, head to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP south rim road for a second chance at Dusky Grouse. If it is snowing, we’ll head up to Crested Butte which often has Rosy-Finches in town. [Overnight in Gunnison] (B, L, D)

Day 7 – Our earliest start of the trip is for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse lek. These endangered grouse are seen from a far ridge and are backlit by the sun. After the lek, we will head east over Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide for high elevation species as we head for a late breakfast. Our long drive back to Denver will be broken up with stops along the way. Possible locations are Loveland Pass, Antero Reservoir, Holcomb Wetlands, Pueblo West, Valco Ponds, Canyon City Tunnel Road and Colorado Mountain Park. Priority for these stops will be specific needed birds for the trip. Targets for today include Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Red-naped Sapsucker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Steller’s Jay, American three-toed Woodpecker, Scaled Quail and Curve-billed Thrasher. [Overnight in Denver] (B, L, D)

Day 8 – departure for home via hotel shuttle and DIA. (B)

Deposit: $1000 per person, total due 90 days out