April 16, 2016 Gambel's Quail, Black Throated Sparrow, Broad-tailed Hummingbird

April 16

Today we drove to Colorado National Monument to bird in the Devil's Kitchen Trail.  Here we saw the beautiful Black-throated Sparrow.   This bird also gave us a great looks.  In the canyon we could also hear and see Rock Wren.  From this low area we went right to the top of the canyon for the Rim Drive.  Here we stopped along the lookouts and trails (Cold Shivers Point) for birds.  Yes it was cold here all day with a fierce wind.  This is a long drive around the Rim of the Canyon.  In many places there are great looks down, with no shoulders or guardrails.  The scenery is stunning.  We were on the Rim when Jeff spotted a bird on a cliff top above the road and reversed down the narrow road.  We then also reversed and up there was the Chukar.  We saw the detailed stripey sides of this bird, it is beautiful.From here we went down the canyon and stopped at a park location accessed through a residential street.  We did the trail here looking for the Gambel's Quail.  Some of us were slower and took our time on the trail and saw 6 of these.  The Quail walk so quickly; similar to the slow moving steps of a traditional Japanese actors moving on stage but with little movement.  The Quail are curious and quite comfortable in urban neighbourhoods.  Also just off this trail, in the scrub a Broad-tailed Hummingbird was seen.  This is the first hummingbird for the trip.  It was cold today and the hummingbird sat for a long time. 

It has been great having Jeff with us and his Dad and Jeff's son Alexander and Richard's friend Neil. They all have great spotting abilities!

After lunch the weatherman got it right.  We had rain in Grand Junction but as we started north on highway 13, it started to snow hard.  The wind was very strong on the open road and we took it easy through the mountain passes.  Along the way we saw two Bald Eagles on a rock by the river up close, many ducks, an Osprey and groups of Juncos.  As for mammals we had Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope and a Coyote.  We arrived in Craig, a mountain community of 10,000 people which is supported by the local coal mine and power generating station.  We went out for supper at the local Italian restaurant and the snow started here and it looked like it was coming down and not melting. 

So a good day.  We had some good exercise today on the trails, saw some great birds and I hope we will go to sleep quickly as we have to get up at 4 am tomorrow for the Sharp-tailed Lek. 

I should get to bed, it is 10:30 already and 4 am comes very quickly!

Jane and Connie are still up and doing stuff also as it has turned out to be a longer evening with chores even on the road.  Our rental vehicle is pretty dirty from the clay roads and then the snow slush drive.  We are really glad we have four wheel drive SUV for Colorado (and it is a gas guzzler)!  Here is a photo of one of my favourite birds 

 

Yellow-headed Blackbird