Colorado Grouse - April 2025
Dates: April 3 - 13, 2025
Leader: Erik Bruhnke
E-bird
Total Species: 125 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Our long-running Colorado Grouse tour offered amazing experiences with birds, mammals, and scenery alike. Every day of this tour was chock-full of impressive views on our drives as we made our way from location to location in search of various chickens and grouse.
On the first morning of our tour, we headed out of Denver in time to avoid the rush hour traffic, with our sights set on the stunningly panoramic Loveland Pass. Snow-covered hillsides led us to the peak at just short of 12,000 feet in elevation. Horned Larks briefly greeted us near the parking lot. After a few minutes of looking around and listening, we set our sights on a dapper White-tailed Ptarmigan, often considered one of the trickiest target birds to come across on the tour, as they make their way among the vast snowy hilltops and krummholz habitat. We were delighted to see this bird and have moments to view it through the scope. We made our way to the Wildernest area afterward, enjoying views of all three species of rosy-finches (Gray-crowned, Black, and Brown-capped), including the locally uncommon Hepburn’s race of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Four beautiful varieties of Dark-eyed Juncos were appreciated, as were Mountain Chickadees, Pygmy Nuthatches, both Evening and Pine grosbeaks, and others. On the way to Gunnison, we locked our sights on two stunning Lewis’s Woodpeckers through falling graupel (a really cool form of precipitation—round, lightweight opaque ice pellets). It was a lifer form of precipitation for many of us while we talked about the weather at hand! A Steller’s Jay briefly flew by before we made our way through the mountains to Gunnison. We enjoyed beautiful, lightly falling snow en route among the higher elevations.
Early the next morning, we headed out to view the Gunnison Sage-Grouse lek. Throughout the early morning hours, we locked our scopes on eleven distant Gunnison Sage-Grouse displaying along the foothills. Later in the day, we explored various landscapes as we made our way to Montrose. It was awesome to see a brief interaction between a Prairie Falcon and a Golden Eagle high in the air. We visited a town of Gunnison Prairie Dogs (the first of three prairie dog species we saw throughout the tour). Prairie dogs are such fun to watch, and it was exciting to search for all three species. Later in the day, we explored several waterways, which brought forth views of both Common and Barrow’s goldeneyes, a Western Grebe, and much more! Throughout the afternoon, as well as the following morning, we explored Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. An early morning Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard calling across the canyon, and we were treated to great views of Clark’s Nutcrackers, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, Fox Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, and more. An adorable Mountain Cottontail was also viewed well!
We birded at a few locations on the way to Grand Junction. One of the unique highlights of the day was seeing an Osprey break branches from a large dead tree and carry them back to its nest. We enjoyed views of fourteen waterfowl species all in one reservoir, including six Cinnamon Teal and a vast raft of Ring-necked Ducks. We ended the day birding with my friend Carol at her property. We had great sightings of Gambel’s Quail running around, as well as other wonderful birds like Lesser Goldfinches, Western Bluebirds, and chatty Bushtits. It was fun to visit and reconnect with her!
A meandering visit through Colorado National Monument the next morning was awesome. We enjoyed birds like the incredibly agile White-throated Swifts zipping around the canyons, and with some patience and careful listening, we enjoyed fantastic views of Pinyon Jays at an array of locations, along with Juniper Titmice. Even before we entered, a super range-restricted Hopi Chipmunk was seen near the entrance sign! A lone Peregrine Falcon was seen perched alongside a cliff further along the drive, keeping watch for prey. Periodic Bewick’s Wrens chattered at an array of vistas where we stopped to appreciate the scenery. The scenery alone that morning was breathtaking and spectacular, as we savored the views of immense and unearthly land formations around and below us. Later in the day, we explored more vast canyons, bringing views of a highly sought-after Chukar, with a nearby Rock Wren too! White-tailed Prairie Dogs were seen well, along with Mountain Bluebirds, Say’s Phoebes, and multiple Golden Eagles as we made our way to Craig.
The next morning, we headed out early to enjoy the Sharp-tailed Grouse lek. Their wild and charismatic displays were incredible to see and hear from so close! The weather conditions were wonderful too, and it was a powerful experience to witness the wing-shaking and foot-pattering displays. Out of “nowhere,” a Golden Eagle flew in fast, low, and close to the horizon, clipping one in midair as the other Sharp-tailed Grouse scattered away. The many Sharp-tailed Grouse came back shortly after the air went silent, soon proudly resuming their lekking displays, as they have done for generations. Later in the day, we found a family of Yellow-bellied Marmots along a river, in addition to an American Dipper! En route to Walden, we enjoyed views of American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Northern Pintails, Redheads, and more.
Greater Sage-Grouse stole the show the next morning among beautiful skies and a sage-blanketed landscape. We counted fifty-one of this impressive and regal species throughout the morning. As the first hints of light appeared, more and more sage-grouse arrived at the main lekking site. The views were fantastic. As we were about to leave, several more Greater Sage-Grouse began lekking very close to the road, even closer than the already nearby show. The lighting couldn’t have been more cooperative for great views at close proximity, too. What a show! Horned Larks and a Western Meadowlark added wonderful ambience to the morning.
The next morning, we watched thirty-five incredible Lesser Prairie-Chickens come into view around twilight, just after a low-light American Barn Owl flew through. Their high-energy, wind-up-toy-like behavior was thrilling to watch! Their intermittent pops and quick-running antics brought big smiles to our faces, comical to us at times, though all done with intentionality for their survival and attraction to each other. The show put on by these displaying chickens was fantastic, and it went on for a long time. In the latter portion of the morning, a stunning Ferruginous Hawk flew in to patrol the vicinity of the lek. The Lesser Prairie-Chickens left with haste, and thankfully this happened after a lengthy viewing experience. Shortly after we left the site, we found a soon-to-depart Rough-legged Hawk and another stunning Ferruginous Hawk. The waterfowl diversity throughout the rest of the day’s commute was great, including a large flock of Snow Geese migrating through, a highlight for many. Great-tailed Grackles were seen in several roadside areas. We ended our day in Wray, looking at Burrowing Owls, a Great Horned Owl, and a brief glimpse of Greater Prairie-Chickens around the lek.
An early morning revisit to the Greater Prairie-Chicken lek took place the next day. We tallied twenty-one of this beautiful species, each male stomping, booming, and jumping with his own intensity. Females gently waltzed through, taking note of the best-displaying males in all their glory. The entire show was fabulous. The chickens didn’t appreciate the Northern Harrier that flew past later on, however. It was fun to see not one, not two, but six Burrowing Owls among the prairie-chicken lek site! We found a Loggerhead Shrike on the drive out. Later on, we explored an array of natural areas throughout the day’s commute. From Ruddy Ducks to several Cooper’s Hawks, Say’s Phoebe, an early Cliff Swallow, and achieving the scaup sweep (Greater and Lesser), it was a fun day of traveling through the open country. We ended our day birding around a park behind our hotel.
For as much of a thrilling whirlwind as this legendary tour is, with all the daily drives, the last day always arrives far too soon. And despite time flying by, we still had more landscapes to explore and more new birds to see on our last day! While commuting to our first planned birding stop of the morning, we made an impromptu stop at a Black-tailed Prairie Dog town, enjoying their social antics and beauty. By stumbling upon this prairie dog town, we achieved the prairie dog species sweep for the tour! Just a little further into the morning, we started scanning vast tilled fields, where we found not one but two highly sought-after Mountain Plovers! A visit to Pawnee National Grassland was a must. With our hawk-watching senses in high gear, we picked out a Swainson’s Hawk flying overhead. While focusing our efforts on the right varieties of grasslands, we scored great views of both Thick-billed Longspurs and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. Both of their plumages were spectacular. A simple pile of rocks was home to a chatty Rock Wren as we made our way throughout the vast birding drive. A Sage Thrasher made an appearance too. It was a treat to see a coiled and rattling Prairie Rattlesnake on the edge of the dirt road, viewed while giving this beauty its respectful space. Our last formal birding area of the trip was at Lower Latham Reservoir, where we found a large gathering of Western Grebes, briefly picked out a distant speck of a Clark’s Grebe, and got to see Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets being as awesome as ever. Rafts of Northern Shovelers covered the water. A brief visit to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was a fun tour wrap-up.
As mentioned before, the sights and sounds of this tour were truly wondrous every day, and our daily treks were filled with excitement. I need to express special thanks to the landowners Bob Bledsoe, James Millensifer, and Ken Bekkedahl for the lek-viewing experiences we had on their properties. Another big thank you goes out to VENT birder and longtime friend Carol Ortenzio for inviting us into her beautiful backyard to enjoy some pleasant birding. So many folks to be thankful for! I’m already looking forward to next year’s Colorado Grouse tour!
Below are the collective top three favorite moments shared by everyone in the group (birds and non-birds alike, as we talked about our personal highlights):
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Sharp-tailed Grouse lek
Greater Sage-Grouse lek
Thick-billed Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Western Grebe
Clark’s Grebe
Golden Eagle (at Sharp-tailed Grouse lek)
Ferruginous Hawk at Greater Prairie-Chicken lek
Lek-watching Zen
Prairie Rattlesnake
Colorado National Monument
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
El David’s Restaurant
Day-by-Day Summary
April 3 - Departed Denver and birded Loveland Pass and Wildernest. Highlights included White-tailed Ptarmigan, all three rosy-finch species, Lewis’s Woodpeckers in graupel, and beautiful snowy mountain scenery en route to Gunnison.
April 4 - Observed displaying Gunnison Sage-Grouse on their lek before traveling toward Montrose. Other highlights included Prairie Falcon and Golden Eagle interactions, Gunnison Prairie Dogs, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, and birding around Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
April 5 - Continued exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with Northern Pygmy-Owl, Clark’s Nutcrackers, and Mountain Cottontail. Traveled toward Grand Junction with excellent waterfowl diversity and enjoyed an evening birding session with Carol, featuring Gambel’s Quail and Western Bluebirds.
April 6 - Birded Colorado National Monument and surrounding canyons. Highlights included White-throated Swifts, Pinyon Jays, Hopi Chipmunk, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, and White-tailed Prairie Dogs before arriving in Craig.
April 7 - Experienced an incredible Sharp-tailed Grouse lek, complete with dramatic Golden Eagle action. Later sightings included Yellow-bellied Marmots, American Dipper, Sandhill Cranes, and various waterfowl while traveling to Walden.
April 8 - Enjoyed spectacular views of fifty-one Greater Sage-Grouse displaying on lekking grounds near Walden. Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks added to a beautiful morning on the sagebrush landscape.
April 9 - Watched thirty-five displaying Lesser Prairie-Chickens at dawn, along with an American Barn Owl and Ferruginous Hawks. Traveled east with highlights including Snow Geese, Burrowing Owls, Great Horned Owl, and a brief look at Greater Prairie-Chickens near Wray.
April 10 - Returned to the Greater Prairie-Chicken lek for excellent displays and multiple Burrowing Owl sightings. Additional highlights included Loggerhead Shrike, scaup species, Cliff Swallow, and various raptors during the day’s travels.
April 11 - Explored eastern Colorado grasslands and prairie habitats. Highlights included Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Mountain Plovers, Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Swainson’s Hawk, Sage Thrasher, and Prairie Rattlesnake.
April 12 - Birded Pawnee National Grassland and Lower Latham Reservoir. Notable sightings included Western and Clark’s grebes, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Northern Shovelers, and additional grassland specialties.
April 13 - Wrapped up the tour with a visit to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge before returning to Denver. Reflected on an unforgettable journey filled with grouse displays, stunning scenery, prairie wildlife, and memorable camaraderie throughout Colorado.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Eastern Fox Squirrel – Sciurus niger
Hopi chipmunk - Neotamias rufus
Wyoming Ground Squirrel – Spermophilus elegans
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel – Spermophilus lateralis
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel – Spermophilus tridecimlineatus
Rock Squirrel – Spermophilus variegatus
Black-tailed Prairie-Dog – Cynomys ludovicianus
White-tailed Prairie-Dog – Cynomys leucurus
Gunnison Prairie-Dog – Cynomys gunnisoni
Yellow-bellied Marmot – Marmota flaviventris
Eastern Cottontail – Sylvilagus floridanus
Mountain Cottontail – Sylvilagus nuttalli
Black-tailed Jackrabbit – Lepus californicus
White-tailed Jackrabbit – Lepus townsendii
Coyote – Canis latrans
Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes
American Badger – Taxidea taxus
Moose – Alces alces
White-tailed Deer – Odocoileus virginianus
Mule Deer – Odocoileus hemionus
Elk – Cervus elaphus
Pronghorn – Antilocapra americana
Bison – Bison bison
AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES:
Boreal Chorus Frog - Pseudacris maculata
Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta
Prairie Rattlesnake - Crotalus viridis
BUTTERFLIES:
Cabbage White - Pieris rapae