Colorado “Chicken Odyssey” – Southeastern Colorado

It is a long journey south from Wray to the closest public viewing Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek, which is now over the border, in Kansas. To get there we have to first drive along the long straight dirt roads that run through much of the Comanche Grasslands in the southeastern part of Colorado, where we are able to stop and look at herds of Pronghorn (above), Swainson’s Hawks (below), Chihuahuan Ravens, Loggerhead Shrikes, Say’s Phoebe’s and Long-billed Curlews.

A surprise was finding that Great Horned Owls had taken over a reliable Ferruginous Hawk nest that we had found several years ago. The extensive grasslands are ideal for raptors and owls and we were lucky to find a pair of roosting Barn Owls (below).

The first group got to visit a location that has a distinctively southwestern United States feel, Cottonwood Canyon. One road winds its way through pinyon-juniper habitat, cottonwood lined creeks, rocky hillsides and canyon walls. Red-tailed Hawks and Chihuahuan Ravens circled overhead and Canyon Towhee had to be coaxed from the base of junipers. The cascading sound of a Canyon Wren echoed around us. Rock Wrens showed well when they moved along the tops of boulders and Mountain Bluebirds flitted along barbed-wire fences.

At a cottonwood grove along the barely running Cottonwood Creek, a small mixed flock included Eastern Phoebe, American Goldfinch, the red-shafted race of Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker and Bewick’s Wren. Somehow we missed Ladder-backed Woodpecker!

Next stop……Kansas