April 17
Today we worked hard for the Sharp-tailed Grouse and Alexander with his keen eyes spotted several first. This was at the second location, as the first one did not work out. We left the motel at 5 am and drove west of Maybell. It was snowy and dark and so cold. We looked for at least an hour and then went on to a second location that Jeff had found out about.
We looked for quite a while and then Alexander had them. We all walked slowly down the field and the two Sharp-tailed did not fly. We had excellent looks at them and then another male flew in. We could see the lovely purple neck sacs. They were making some calls but we did not see the females. We stayed here pretty well for the rest of the morning, the sun was coming out but it was still cold but not too windy here.
We looked for quite a while and then Alexander had them. We all walked slowly down the field and the two Sharp-tailed did not fly. We had excellent looks at them and then another male flew in. We could see the lovely purple neck sacs. They were making some calls but we did not see the females. We stayed here pretty well for the rest of the morning, the sun was coming out but it was still cold but not too windy here.
We then went on to a Sagebrush ranch area east of Craig to look for the Sagebrush Sparrow. The sun came out, the roads got greasy and the wind went crazy. We did not have good looks at too much except raptors: Golden Eagles, mature and immature, Bald Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Swainson's Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawks were all seen several times. It was a good ID exercise for us. It was too windy for smaller birds and so we only had a brief look at a maybe Sagebrush Sparrow. It was so windy at 6,400 feet, that when we went to switch drivers, the door would either not open or slam shut before one could get in or out. You should see our vehicle, it looks like the mudmobile!! I think we will have to clean off the lights so we can drive it tonight and we will have it washed after tomorrow's outing.
We left this place and went to ponds nearby Craig where we had a wonderful selection of Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, and Ruddy Ducks to name a few.
We are now going to supper but we have done some chores as we have to leave the motel packed up at 4 am tomorrow, so it will be an early bedtime for us tonight. We are going to try for the Greater Sage Grouse tomorrow at a lek nearby.
As for the new grandbaby, any day now. Tomorrow is the long-awaited due date for a baby girl for J & Ashley, so I am so excited to hear the news. Godspeed baby girl!
We are now going to supper but we have done some chores as we have to leave the motel packed up at 4 am tomorrow, so it will be an early bedtime for us tonight. We are going to try for the Greater Sage Grouse tomorrow at a lek nearby.
As for the new grandbaby, any day now. Tomorrow is the long-awaited due date for a baby girl for J & Ashley, so I am so excited to hear the news. Godspeed baby girl!
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