Winagami to Charlie Lake PP, May 31

Woke up to a beautiful, sunny morning and the morning chorus was in full swing.  The White-throated Sparrows were everywhere singing their hearts out.  I could also hear the hard clack of several Ovenbirds in the area surrounding understory.  After my morning coffee sitting in the zero gravity chair and listening to God’s chorus all about me, I got busy, prepared the trailer for travel and headed out.  I was on the road by 8:15 heading to Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaska Highway officially.  The drive was very nice as I headed west with bright sun and a slight southwesterly wind giving me some assistance instead of the previous times bucking a northwest wind.  The area for the most part is very flat prairie and the predominated crop seems to be wheat, although I’m told they grow barley and hops as well.  The massive fields of canola have not been planted as yet, but on my return trip the fields should be covered in beautiful, yellow blooms.

Unfortunately, there was no Tim Hortons along the way, at least that I saw.  I passed through many small towns, all with massive silos for storing their crops and eventually I began to see the evidence of oilfield activity.  By the time I got to Dawson Creek it was near noon, but since I crossed into British Columbia time reverted to PDT so I gained an hour.  After a short stop to give Dulce a chance to walk around and find where other dogs have been and a short visit in the Visitor Center we headed on to Ft. Saint John.  There I did find a Tim Hortons and had my lunch, and a donut of course, before heading on out to Charlie Lake PP a short 6 miles north of town.  Speaking of town, Ft. Saint John, has made a massive change in the 19 years since I first passed through this area on my way to Alaska the first time.  In 1998, there was only a quick stop for fuel and a few items found in 7 elevens.  Then in 2003, there were a few business as the oil play in the area had begun.  Then when I arrived in 2007 there were several hotels, grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants, but it still quite small.  This time I was blown away.  The traffic was ferocious, there was a Super Walmart, several Tim Hortons, restaurants and hotels all along the highway and it appears a fairly large community that is very busy. 

Made it on to Charlie Lake got my trailer set up, took Dulce for a walk and was amazed at the park.  The last time I was here there was maybe 12 sites (53 today) roughly developed, no facilities such as water and about the only item was a picnic table.  Now there are pit toilets everywhere in the park, many water supply stations and someone here fulltime to collect the fees.  This afternoon I took a three and a half hike through the massive balsam poplar and mixed aspen groves to the lake and back.  Along the way I heard the resident White-throated Sparrows singing their endless song, a greater number of Yellow Warbles make their presence known and I saw a single Swainson’s Thrush who posed for a picture.  I could also her the occasional Ovenbird clacking in the understory and a few American Robins played along the trail and one let me approach within 5 feet before flying.  Back at camp I took a short nap, shower and shave before writing the blog and getting ready to head back to Tim Hortons to scam off their internet and have a cup of coffee.

Marten Campground to Winagami PP—May 30

I have not written an entry for yesterday because it was a total wash out as it rained all day.  The one event of note was seeing a badger in the middle of the highway on my return from the Boreal Center.  I tried to flush him but he refused and was very lucky that a fast moving log hauling truck passed over him without hitting him.  So that it for May 29.

Today I travelled to Winagami PP near High Prairie, AB.  The drive was pleasant through boreal forest that went form rolling hills the first half of the trip to much flatter prairie the last half.  I had a little difficulty finding the park because there are several parts to it.  I went down a wrong road initially and was able to turn around and finally found the entrance.  Winagami is a big park with may sites and as with Marten there is no one here.  Of course it is the beginning of the week so there are no weekend campers.  There are a couple of fisherman.  As you can see from pan aroma on Jim Hailey Nature Photography this is a very large lake (the panorama only covers half the lake).  Once at the water I had many birds as you can see from the pictures on my Facebook page.  In total I had 36 species, and nearly every duck species I can think of short of Alaska.  The is one bird here that is driving me crazy.  He calls and calls and I just can’t find him.  He is somewhere in the very top of massive poplars, but he must be small because I can’t get my bins on him.  I will spend the night here and head toward the Dawson Creek and the Alaska Highway tomorrow morning.  I plan to make it as far as Charlie Lake PP north of Ft. St. John, BC before camping for the night.

Marten River—May 28

Today was an excellent day here at Lesser Slave Lake.  At 6:30 I arrived at the Boreal Center for the birding festival.  After a pancake breakfast there was a bird walk let by a woman name Margo who is with the Alberta Parks system and a very knowledgeable birder.  She was particularly good in birding by ear and I learned a great deal form here.  Our bird list for the morning totaled 44 species of which 11 were warblers.  I was a bit hesitant because it had rained all night and was still raining when I left the campground, but by the time I reached the center the rain had turned to a fine mist.  The walk was about 2.5 kilometers to the banding station and was a very pleasant experience. Along the way we had many singing species the most common of which was the Ovenbird.  We had nice looks at American Redstarts, a very cooperative Cape May Warbler, many Yellow Warblers, several Tennessee Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, one Magnolia Warbler and, of course, Yellow-romped Warblers.  At the banding station we were able to observe close up Swainson’s Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, and a Canada Warbler.  In addition, there was a Hermit Thrush and the ever present Chipping-sparrow.  As I write this there are several Yellow-rumps singing near the campsite.  On our return to the Center they had hamburgers prepared and some very good coffee.  This was followed by a celebration of the 10^th birthday of the Center complete with a cake and singing happy birthday.  Then we were treated to a great presentation by Chris Fisher, one of the authors of Birds of Alberta and who is a trip leader for expeditions to Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and other locations around the world.  He was excellent and I have recruited him to be a speaker in the future at the Laredo Birding Festival.  The day has actually turned out to be nice once again in the afternoon with the sun breaking through and hopefully it the rain will cease.  They have been very dry up here until the last week when they have had abundant rain.  Unfortunately, Fort Morgan where wildfires have displaced 80,000 people and destroyed their homes did not receive the rainfall here.  Fort Morgan is northeast of here and hopefully the rain is moving there to help get the wildfires under control.  I will be here tomorrow and will return to the banding station with my camera.  Sadly, the weather was too iffy to take it along on the hike this morning.

Marten River – May 27

Well the rain returned yesterday evening and continued overnight and continued off and on most of the day.  However, about 5 this afternoon the sun broke through for about an hour.  Taking advantage of this break in rain, I took a walk on along the beach.  There were very large numbers of Franklin and a few Ring-billed Gulls moving about.  In addition, there were several Spotted Sandpiper running along the water edge and a single male Common Merganser sitting on the sand.  When he saw my approach he headed for the water and was soon safely off shore.  Meanwhile, I notice a Red-tailed Hawk patrolling the edge of the forest and I’m sure checking the beach area as well in hopes of an opportunity for a nice supper.  In addition, there were many American Crows on the beach and Common Raven sitting high atop a fir tree keeping watch.  Upon returning to the forested area I could hear numerous Yellow-rumped Warbles singing and a lone White-throated Sparrow foraging on the ground.  It appears that this short break brought out the birds.  I heard a couple of Ovenbirds singing in the bush and saw my first American Redstart for this trip.  All in all, it was a nice walk in the sun after a very cloudy, rainy day.

Earlier I received a call from my friend Barry Noret.  He informed me that one of the administrators of our Birds of Texas Facebook Page had taken over the page and removed him as an administrator and several other of the administrator as well.  Since I was the originator of the page I could not be removed and so I went and removed all of the remaining co-administrators to regain control of this page.  The page now has over 22,500 members and is a page many people enjoy.  So, in response, I set Barry back up as a co-administrator.  Barry has been involved since nearly since the page’s inception.  Since I am traveling and have intermittent access to the internet I have asked Barry to take over and carefully choose who we make as other administrators.  Hopefully this will solve the problem and things on the page will return to normal.

Tomorrow the Festival here at Slave Lake begins with a pancake dinner at 6:30 followed by some bird walks and later some programs with a hamburger cook out at noon.  Sunday there is also an abbreviated schedule.  I will be leaving here on Monday.

Marten River Campground

My first full day in Slave Lake.  The morning was cool but plenty of sun as I headed for the banding station.  When I arrived I was warmly greeted by the staff.  Today was not a very active day for them and while I was there we only banded a Mourning Warbler, Chipping and Clay-colored Sparrow but I did get some good shots of Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes out in the lake.  I have posted pictures taken today on my photography web site.  I left there about 10:30 to return to camp.  As I came up the road toward the park entrance I got to see a Cougar cross the road in front of me.  That’s a first for me.  I have seen large cats at the ranch which were called black panthers but this was my first for Canada.  After lunch I headed to Slave Lake to see if my credit card had arrived and to my surprise it was there waiting for me.  Chase does and outstanding job.  Then I did my washing, first I have done since leaving Texas.  I also went to the local Walmart for a few groceries and to pick up some fuses for the trailer.  For some reason I blew a fuse on the water pump this morning while the generator was running, so I picked up some in case this happens again.  After filling up in town I headed back to fix dinner, check on Dulce and put up my clothes.  This evening I wrote three blogs and worked on pictures to post sitting in front of the fire.  As I finish writing this it is raining again, but at least it is not cold.  I will now head to the Boreal Center to get Wifi and post these blogs and pictures.

Edmonton to Slave Lake

Another early start as I was on the road before 7.  This was a very easy drive of 150 miles over generally flat to moderately rolling farmland mostly planted in wheat at this time of the year.  There were occasional patches of range land but I saw few cattle.  As I neared Slave Lake the habitat suddenly changed to massive poplar and pine.  It was also the first time I encountered large trucks hauling timber.  Slave Lake is also an oil town and, much like Texas, its economy has taken a nose dive.  I headed out to Marten River campground in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.  The site is nice (see picture at Jim Hailey Nature Photography) but was a bit difficult to get into with only myself to do the guiding.  However,  I made it, got set up, had lunch and was ready to check things out by 1:30.  I came to Slave Lake because I had visited this place on my first trip to Alaska in 1998 and had helped do some bird banding here.  They now have a Boreal Birding Center and they are having a birding festival on Saturday and Sunday.  I found out where and when to go to the banding station in the morning.  Then I went to Marten Mountain, a place they recommended for the view (see the panorama picture on JHailey Nature Photography).  It was a very pretty vista and while there I met a couple of lady birders from Edmonton.  There we had Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco and a calling Red-eyed Vireo.  I then headed back to camp for a little R&R and to check on Dulce who was very happy to see me.  As I sat in my chair enjoying a nice fire I heard and observed many Yellow-romped Warblers, American Crows, a singing Philadelphia Vireo, squirrel running about and late in the evening gulls flying over as well as Red-necked Grebes calling form the lake which a short distance away (see pictures on my website of the lake and beach).  So ended another beautiful, warm, sunny day. 

Edmonton, AB—May 24

Edmonton is a large city where I have stopped on every trip up the Alcan Highway.   First on the agenda was to contact Chase about my lost credit card and request it be cancelled and one sent to me.  We made arrangements for it to be sent to Slave Lake UPS where I would pick it up later in the week. Today was also getting prepared for the rest of the trip to Alaska.  I began the morning by heading to a local Walmart to have the Ford serviced and to pick up a few grocery items which I needed.  While waiting on my vehicle I visited a nearby Tim Hortons for coffee and donuts, something I really enjoy.  After that I stopped by a local hardware store to pick up a file and some other items, then to gas up the Ford and get a propane bottle filled.  I had also searched for local firewood suppliers and found one nearby where I got a pickup load of birch for $38 US dollars.  This is a much better method than paying $8 CAD for a small bundle which usually doesn’t last a full day.  Back to the trailer to install the propane bottle and check on Dulce then I headed to the massive West Edmonton Mall.  While in this mall I walked over 3 miles.  I went in search of some waterproof boots and rain gear as my old boots are leaking and my rain gear needs replacement.  I also picked up an additional comforter for company I will have later in this trip.  Back to the campsite and dinner then a bit of reading about LBJ, a book I’ve been reading along this trip.  Then sleep because I leave for Slave Lake tomorrow.  Weather was sunny and in the low 70s today, a nice change.

Cypress Hills to Edmonton-May 23

I was on the road by 6:45 this morning trying to escape the cold rain that began yesterday at noon and continued all night.  By the time I left this morning all but about 3 campsites were still in use, all the weekenders had left because of the terrible weather.  As I headed out I faced a strong northwest wind which continued to my trip not very enjoyable.  The wind continued unabated for 250 of the 400 miles of the trip today, bring my gas mileage down to about 9.3 mpg.  So far for most of the trip I have averaged over 11.5 mpg, so you can see what a drag the wind was on this leg.  What began as basically a flat prairie and eventually turned into rolling hills and as I got past Drumheller, AB popular groves began to appear.  It wasn’t until I was very near Edmonton that I began to see pines appear.  I made it to my campsite near Spruce Grove about 5 and by the time I checked in, got set up it was near 6.  This was a very tiring day of travel so I made some soup and then got ready for bed.  The most interesting scenery of this day was the black canyon that you pass thru as you enter Drumheller.  That area reminds me of the Badlands of North Dakota.  Glad to be in Edmonton for two days.

Cypress Hills PP—May 21

Today’s journal will not be long or difficult to write.  I awoke during the night to some very loud thunder and very hard rain.  The rain continued all night and all through the day.  When it was raining it was very foggy with visibility less than a quarter of a mile.  In addition, it was cold, never getting out of the low to mid 40s during the day.  I did try and do a little birding, visited Elkwater Lake.  At the lake I observed the usual ducks and a nice pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.  I also saw a mother Canada Goose with about 10 goslings the size of a chicken along the shore.  There was also present many Eastern and Western Kingbirds and Mountain Bluebirds along the shore.  This is a very pretty lake and I will post some pictures later on Jim Hailey Nature Photography of the area.  The rain continued so I spent much of the day catching up on my blog, working on pictures and taking a long winters nap (with Dulce of course). At this juncture in my travels I have driven 2000 miles to get to this point.  There are a lot more to go.  I only hope the weather improves.  I feel very sorry for many of the local campers here in tents and blue tarp covering their picnic table.  I’m very fortunate to have my warm, comfortable trailer into which I can retreat and my nice awning which is over the fire pit so I am able to enjoy my campfire and remain dry.  Dulce, I must say, even in her sweater is cold and spends most of her time under a blanket in her bed.  Well, hopefully, tomorrow the weather will improve.  The Calgary radio station is predicting a light snowfall for their area and we are higher than them so it may snow tonight.

Havre to Cypress Hills PP

The overnight rain had ceased by the time I woke at 5:30 but the temperature had definitely changed.  It was much colder, in the mid-40s.  I had my coffee and made final preparations for entering Canada.  I stopped to fill up as fuel is more expensive in Canada and I was on the road by 7:30 AM.  The Wild Horse customs crossing doesn’t open until 8:00 AM so there was no hurry.  The drive was through more of the same prairie lands as I had traversed for the past several days.  The road was a narrow two lanes with sharp edges but there was little in the way of traffic.  As I hurried on my way I did observe a couple of Swanson’s Hawks, lots of unidentified sparrows and a Black-billed Magpie here and there.  I arrived at the customs office at precisely 8:00 and I was greeted by a pleasant young female agent.  After the usual questions—where are you going, how long will you be in Canada, do you have more than $10,000 Canadian in you possession and do you have firearms—I responded that I had a rifle and the requisite paper work.  She then asked if I had any pistols to which I responded no.  Soon a young male officer appeared and they asked to see the weapon.  While the young male officer checked the serial number and examined the piece she took me inside to complete the paperwork.  She had observed Dulce and said there was no necessary paperwork for her except her rabies papers which I produced to her satisfaction.  So by 8:30 I was hurdling down Highway 41 on my way to Elkwater, AB and Cypress Hills PP. 

Once at the park I stopped by the Visitors Center where a young woman gave me information about the park and how and where to get a camping spot.  She noted it was Victoria Day, a Canadian Holiday Weekend, and the camp would be nearly full.  So I headed to the registration office where another very pleasant young woman processed my request for a campsite.  I paid for one un-serviced (in Canada this means they don’t have hookups) at a rate of $23 a day (about $17.50 US), received my assigned space and headed up steep Ferguson Hill to the campground near the top.  Without incident I backed into to the campsite and finished the setup rather quickly.  While in the visitors center I inquired about Medicine Hat, the nearest town on any size as I wanted to get some Canadian currency and find a Tim Hortons.  I was told I would have no problem finding a Tim Hortons and it was about 45 minute drive there.  So I headed out and noted many duck along the drive in small ponds adjacent to the highway—Bufflehead, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Shouvler—and some others birds of note—Black-billed Magpie, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Canada Goose, lots of American Robins, Tree Swallows, Morning Dove, Killdeer, American Crow, more Swainson’s Hawks—and on my way up Ferguson Hill I had a Sharp-shinned Hawk fly ahead of my vehicle.

Once in Medicine Hat I quickly found a bank to get cash and a Tim Hortons to have lunch.  At Tim Hortons the lunch meal included a sandwich, bowl of soup, coffee and a donut, that’s the best part a donut.  Tim Hortons began as a donut shop owned by a famous Canadian hockey player.  It has since been bought by an American company, I think Dunkin Donut.  At any rate I accomplished my mission, stopped at a Kroger’s for a few items, filled up with fuel and returned to camp.  By the time I arrived the campground was starting to fill up.

I am camped in grove of Lodgepole Pines which dominate most of the area.  Cypress Hill has a hill that is the highest point from here back to the east coast of Canada.  The hills are a phenomena of the last ice age.  At that time this small area was not covered by the glaciers and when they receded these hills remained while the surrounding area became the flat plains characteristic of both eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan.  In 1998 I spend 5 days at the Cypress Hills PP in Saskatchewan doing birding surveys for the park.  I have always want to return.  The other trees found in this highland ecotone are aspen and other poplar varieties and White Spruce along with various shrub understories.  

Sheridan to Havre, Montana

I awoke to a beautiful day, clear, no wind and 49 degrees.  It would be a good day to drive across Montana.  Along the way I saw many Black-billed Magpies, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, lots of Lark Buntings, two Norther Goshawks (both flew within 50 feet of my windshield, many Prong Horn Antelopes (and I forgot to mention seeing similar numbers in Wyoming) and prairie dogs.  This was the shortest days drive, 381 miles and I ended the day in Havre, Montana.  I camped at the local Fairgrounds campsites.  By the time I arrived the weather had changed and it began to rain again.  It was also much cooler than the nice 79 degrees I had experienced on the drive up.  While having lunch I did observe a pair of male Say’s Phoebes apparently having a dispute about whose territory this area belonged to.  This evening I made preparations to cross into Canada in the morning.  Since I am carrying a Remington 3030 I made sure that all my paper work was in order, got my passport and Dulce’s papers ready to present at the border and went to bed early.  Tomorrow I guess I will begin singing Oh Canada, the national anthem of Canada.  So off to bed and get an early start to cross early and get to Cypress Hills Provincial Park early to get a camping spot.  This weekend is Victoria Day, a Canadian national holiday and the first of the camping season.  Canadians after there long winter are always eager to go camping on this holiday weekend, so I expect the campgrounds to be full, even with the rain and cold weather that is predicted for the weekend.

Crow Valley to Sheridan, WY

This morning when I woke up the weather was very pleasant.  The temperature was 45 degrees but with no wind it felt quite mild as I took Dulce out for her morning walk.  It was overcast but no rain and it was not long until the clouds were burned off and there was bright sunshine.  I birded around the campground for about an hour.  Last night before I went in I heard a Boreal Owl calling not too far out from where I was camped.  I tried to entice him closer by playing a tape but I was not successful.  In the campground the morning chorus was very loud.  I noticed Cassin’s Kingbirds calling, saw both a Spotted and Green-tailed Towhee, Swainson’s Thrushes, Brown Thrasher, American Robins everywhere, a Dusky Flycatcher, many grackles and blackbirds and a surprising Bullock’s Oriole.  All of these before I left for a drive through the grasslands. By 8 I was on my way.  The road we traveled on the TOS Chicken Run tour was very muddy from the recent rains.  I followed a grader for a short distance but soon passed him.  This road surprisingly is heavily traveled by large oilfield trucks carrying out oil and water from the many production sites along the road.  I was treated to a never ending supply of male Lark Buntings displaying everywhere and they are beautiful (check Jim Hailey Nature Photography for pictures) as well as an unbelievable number of Horned Larks.  What I failed to find this time was the longspurs we had seen just 3 weeks ago.  They must already be nesting and not displaying.  It was 50 miles round trip and I was back in camp and ready to pull out by 10:00.  It is but a short drive from here to Wyoming and I stopped in Cheyenne to fill up with fuel.  Wyoming is a great example of the short grass prairies of the Great Plains with long rolling hills some mesas and after the community of Wheatland you can see the Rockies that are between Highway 25 and Yellowstone in the distance.  Around noon I pulled into the Ghugwater Rest Area for lunch.  In the small number of pine trees planted here I observed a mixed flock of American Goldfinch, Pine Siskins, and Chipping Sparrow all of whom were feed on dandelions that had gone to seed.  No doubt that the breeding plumage male American Goldfinch is a very handsome bird (see pictures at Jim Hailey Nature Photography).  While looking at these birds I met another birder from Victoria, BC who was on her way south to a Wyoming campground.  We exchanged information.  Today the drive was 386 miles and I reached Sheridan, WY where I camped in a local park provide for people in transit.  After setting up I headed to Rib & Chop House, a steak house I had eaten at several years before.  This time I was disappointed in the meal.  I remembered it as one of the best steak houses I had ever eaten at, but this time it didn’t impress.  Then back to the campground and a good night’s rest for the journey tomorrow.

Dumas to Crow Valley

Woke up around 6:30 had my coffee and by 7:30 I was at the Coffey Tire Company to get a new tire for the trailer.  By 8:00 I was back on the road again with a destination the other end of Colorado at Crow Valley campground in the Pawnee Grasslands.  The weather had changed overnight.  This morning there was a stiff north wind, the temperature was 46 degrees and there was a light rain falling.  I forgot to mention that yesterday when I was broken down on the highway there was a tornado warning for the area and it continued into the early evening.  Fortunately, the bad weather moved northwest of Dumas and all I experienced was some rain overnight.  It finally stopped raining at Limon, Co.  Along this drive I saw many Swainson’s Hawks, Horned Larks, Lark Buntings (beautiful males), and the usual Mallards in small ponds.  The terrain was rolling and semi-arid grasses, with lots of alfalfa growing.  As I went farther north, above Limon, there was much more agriculture with evidence of lots of corn production.  I also encountered some very large wind farms along the way.  After yesterday’s 529 miles I only made 430 today.  I reached the campground only to find it flooded except for the group camping area but the attendant let me camp there in one of the group sites overnight.  I did a little birding but not much as it was getting late and I needed to fix dinner.  I got to sleep easily once again as I was tired from the 9 hour drive.

Georgetown to Dumas, TX

The trip began at 6:30 as Dulce and I headed out in a steady rain which continued until well past Lampasas.  When it finally did stop a light mist continued until I reached Brownwood where it finally totally stopped.  Along the way Texas wildflowers lined the road—gaillardias, primrose, blooming prickly pear, some form of tobacco plant added blue and of course there were ample DYF’s (damn yellow flowers).  At one point a flagger had me stopped for a period of time and I watched as a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers went through their mating display and I had a small group of Lark Sparrows.  After passing Winter, Texas the terrain changed from what had been rolling hills with nice oak trees that was largely ranching county to a flat part of the short grass Great Plains and the noticeable presence of oil production appeared.  Then about 30 miles out of Sweetwater I encountered a massive wind farm that continued nearly to Lubbock.  Just out of town a large rattle snake crossed the highway in front of me.  I also added a Mississippi Kite to my year’s list—number 354 –and the sun finally broke through the clouds.   Around noon I stopped at a roadside south of Lubbock.  The area between the railroad tracks and the highway held a small pond in which I observed Pie-billed Grebes with chicks, Cliff Swallows that have utilized a picnic cover for their nest, and several White-faced Ibis who appeared to be nesting there as well.  From here the flat plains of west Texas and the Panhandle stretched before me.  I made it to Amarillo without incident by 5 o’clock but on the way to Dumas my luck changed.  About 20 miles south of Dumas a passing pickup got my attention to let me know one of my trailer tires going flat.  I was able to stop and get part way off the pavement but an adjacent ditch kept me from getting off very far.  After checking with Good Sam with whom I thought I had roadside assistance (and I didn’t) they suggested I call 911.  I did and they dispatched a deputy sheriff to come to my assistance and contacted a local towing company to come change my tire.  Once the deputy arrived and put on his flashing lights I felt more at ease. Highway 87 is a major truck route and they were coming by full bore.  The deputy was extremely helpful and a young man arrive and swapped the tire for my spare and I was once again on my way.  By now it was 7:30, I was hungry and tired and I made it to Dumas in time to grab some supper (a very poor chicken fried steak).  Very tired I went to the Walmart parking lot and camped for the night.  By this time it was after 9:30 and the end of a very long day.  Dulce and I were ready for bed.

 Colorado Chicken Run

I have recently returned from a birding trip to Colorado where our goal was to observe prairie chickens and grouse on their leks.  What exactly is a lek you might legitimately inquire?  A lek is defined as “an aggregation of males that gather to engage in competitive displays that may entice visiting females who are surveying prospective partners for copulation.”  This is an annual mating ritual for these birds and they return to the same lek grounds each spring and have done so for many generations.   To see these activities one must rise early and head out to the lek at 4:30 AM.  Once there you must remain in a blind of some sort and be very quiet so as not to frighten them off or disturb their activities.  These birds do a dance of foot stopping, inflate various air sacs on their necks or breast and offer various vocalizations to entice the nearby females.  They frequently indulge in confronting another male in the lek and attempt to drive him off by intimidation, such as, getting down low and meeting the other face to face which is generally followed by some form of leaping into the air much as you would see in a more familiar domestic rooster fight.  Fortunate for us we were able to visit five active leks and see all preform their ritual--the five include Lesser and Greater Prairie Chicken, Greater and Gunnison Sage Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and a very cooperative Dusky Grouse all of which I have provided pictures of for this article (except the Gunnison Sage-Grouse much too far away).

In addition to the above game birds, we were also fortunate to observe four others—Ring-necked Pheasant, White-tailed Ptarmigan, Rio Grande Turkey and Chucker.  Of these four the White-tailed Ptarmigan is a very difficult species to add to one’s life list, primarily because it resides at high elevations.  We were fortunate to observe four of them at Loveland Pass near Dillon.  The four were foraging on a grass outcropping from the deep snow found there even at this late date.  The bird is all white at this stage of the year but will soon molt into its summer plumage which features a mottled dark brown coloration.  I was not able to get pictures of sufficient quality of the White-tailed Ptarmigan to i in include in this article.  However, the Chucker was very cooperative and posed for his photo.  This bird is generally found at lower altitudes.  We located our bird at Coal Canon near Cameo, CO.  This species is an introduced resident of the Great Basin.  It prefers arid rocky slopes and cliffs near water.  It is found in desert shrub, pinyon-juniper and montane brush habitats.  Its call begins with a slow Chuka, Chucka and ends with a strong ChuKARA , thus sounding as if it is calling it name.

I will conclude by saying that this was a very successful trip even though we experienced snow ever day but our first and last day on this eleven day outing.  In all we drove over 2000 miles to accomplish our mission.  In addition, our bird list totaled over 160 species which included many other target birds.  In fact, we only missed one of our target species for this trip—Williamson’s Sapsucker.

Finally, on May 16^th I off to drive and spend the summer in Alaska.  I will have the opportunity to re-visit many places I have been on fourteen previous trips to this amazing state and will spend some time exploring regions in Canada I have not previously visited.  I plan to write a blog of my travels and experiences along the way and will be contributing articles to the Sun about those adventures. If you would like to follow me on my blog simply go to www.irasciblej-alongthetrail.blogspot.com and join and you will automatically receive each blog as it is posted.  There may be times when the internet is not available and I will not be able to post them, so please be patient.  I hope you all have a very cool and wet summer back here in Texas, I know I will enjoy cool and beautiful Alaska.

Jim—irasciblej@gmail.com

Chucker

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Dusky Grouse

Lesser Prairie Grouse

Greater Prairie Chicken

Greater Sage-Grouse