Blanca and Fort Garland
Aliases: Fort Garland
Birding in the small towns of Blanca and Fort Garland may be worth some small effort, especially if you can find some feeders. Outside these towns, roadside birding along US 160, the main route through the county, can be surprisingly productive. If you are driving the road in the evening or early morning, look for Great Horned Owl; Northern Shrike is seen surprisingly often in the winter. You’re likely to see pronghorns and mule deer along the way, and the views of Blanca Peak are extraordinary. Blanca has sewage lagoons on the west side of the road to Smith Reservoir, a quarter mile south of US 160.
Restrictions: Respect private property - bird from the road
County: Costilla
Directions: Blanca and Fort Garland are four miles apart on US 160 between Walsenburg and Alamosa.
Alternate Directions: Blanca is along US160, 20 miles east of Alamosa, and 5 miles east of Ft. Garland. Ft. Garland is 47 miles west of Walsenburg.
Habitat: Urban/Suburban
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Any
Ownership: Private/Municipal
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Roadside
Lodging: Hotels in Blanca and Fort Garland
Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Some viewing from car
Delorme: 91 A6-A7
ROC: 135 F4, 136 A4
Latitude: 37.4288973
Longitude: -105.4338999