I spent my time in North West Moffat County camping in the beautiful Gates
of Lodore campground. My campground had two cottonwoods in which two
bullock’s orioles might be nesting. For two mornings I got to wake up to
their chatter. There was also two Robins that might have been nesting. The
second day I witnessed them drive away one of the many magpies and they
were not satisfied in driving it across the road, the two robins drove the
magpie to the ground and pecked at for a few seconds before the magpie made
its escape. Might have been trying to raid their nest. Along the science
Lordore Trail there was *Black-throated Gray Warblers. *Nocturnal viewing
proved successful, I found *Common Poor-wills* to be common here and got to
go to sleep listing to them. The wind was blowing the first night so I
think that was the reason for not seeing or hearing *Common Nighthawks*.
They were also present and heard the second night in addition to the
Poor-Wills. Ebird flagged my count of five Nighthawks but I think it might
be under reported, they seemed common and I found them in the fields behind
my campground (north) and heard more across the Green River. Nothing like
glowing eyes flying by you in the dark! My second night was filled with
listing to the poor-wills and nighthawks in my tent, truly a great night.
Brown’s Park National Wildlife Refuge proved a good way to
spend the morning of my full day in the area, I found nesting Osprey, many
American Coots and a brief glimpse of a Sage Sparrow. The swinging bridge
is out of commission for driving but you can walk across it.
I also explored Irish Canyon and discovered it was not to be
missed for birding. Black-throated Gray Warblers were present or heard
about everywhere I stopped. At the Rock Art sit at the south end of the
canyon was one Ash Throated Flycatcher and Pinyon Jays just past the
campground, which was my last Colorado corvid that needed to be seen. I
briefly stopped at the Sand Wash Basin to look for Wild Horses on my way
back to Craig but the roads proved to rough to try but I found one
Loggerhead Shrike.
One travel advisory I will give to any one looking to take a
trip up to the Brown’s Park area, bring a can of gas. I did and did not
regret it. Dutch John, Utah is 30 miles away but that is by a very rough
county road. Craig is about 40 miles from Gates of Lodore. There are no
services less then thirty miles away, so come prepared. Irish Canyon,
Brown’s Park and Gates of Lodore will not disappoint! Listing to Poor Wills
and Nighthawks proved the best tent experience for me yet. Certainly better
then lighting flashing ten miles away, which happened in the Florida
Everglades.
Brian Johnson,
Englewood CO
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