This 265-acre park is named for the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers. Extensive walking trails lead through the riparian forest, where you might find Bewick’s Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Screech-Owls, and Gambel’s Quail. The lake is also quite productive, and could attract just about any type of waterbird. Great-tailed Grackles seem to be a permanent fixture in the parking area. Mammals include muskrats and beavers.
Fruitgrowers
A Well-kept Secret
Colorado peaches are a well-kept secret-as lush and flavorful as their Georgia cousins, but less of a household name. Likewise, this part of Colorado makes few headlines, but is rich with things to do. This trail takes its name from Fruitgrowers Reservoir, the best place on the West Slope of Colorado to see waterbirds, from huge flocks of Sandhill Cranes to squadrons of shorebirds and flotillas of ducks. In turn, the reservoir takes its name from those who tend the orchards scattered across the adjacent valley floor. Where there’s no orchard, there may be sagebrush flats, or soaring canyon walls echoing with the calls of Chukars, or riverbottom cottonwood gallery forest, or spruce woods home to porcupines and American Three-toed Woodpeckers. This trail isn’t far off the beaten path, but you’d never know it by visiting-the secret remains well kept
Escalante State Wildlife Area (Hamilton and Lower Roubideau Tracts)
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Escalante State Wildlife Area (Cap Smith Tract)
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Private
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: Free
Ownership: US Bureau of Reclamation and Orchard Mesa Irrigation District
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Escalante State Wildlife Area (Hamilton and Lower Roubideau Tracts)
The highlight at this large state wildlife area is a good-sized pond, where you could see a variety of ducks, shorebirds when the water levels are right, and Sandhill Crane. The Lower Roubideau Tract contains large and extensive cottonwood gallery forest, though it is closed from March 15 to July 31 to protect nesting waterfowl. When it is accessible, look for species such as Western Screech-Owl, migrating warblers and sparrows. There is a heron rookery near the confluence of the Gunnison River and Roubideau Creek. Road access is possible year-round, and birds possible from the road include Gambel’s Quail, Wild Turkey, and Western Bluebird, among others.
Escalante State Wildlife Area (Cap Smith Tract)
In addition to the birds, spectacular canyon scenery, historical cabins, and mammals (including rock squirrels, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes) make this a place worth visiting. Highlights for birders include Chukars, which are usually found early in the morning, and can be found on the cliffs or feeding in the agricultural fields. Black Phoebe has been found nesting at various points a few miles south of US 50. The hillsides may also produce Canyon Wren, Pinyon Jay, Western Bluebird, Bushtit and others. The creek bottom is fairly narrow agricultural land, mostly fenced and private, and Wild Turkeys could be found. Good riparian forest is accessible from the road in a few locations.
Sweitzer Lake State Park
This small, reed-edged reservoir can be good for waterfowl of all types, including grebes and the occasional loon. The shrubby habitat on the periphery of the lake contains Gambel’s Quail, and can be good for sparrows, including Sage, during migration. The trees around the entrance station should be checked for migrants. For the dragonfly enthusiast this is an excellent place to check out the local species, which include the impressive eight-spotted skimmer.
Fruitgrowers Reservoir
This is the best waterbirding spot on Colorado’s West Slope. When the water levels are low, exposing extensive mudflats, look for a large variety of shorebirds and waterfowl. This is one of the few nesting areas for Willet in Colorado, and American Bittern can usually be found in the summer in the marsh on the north side of the dike road. Sandhill Cranes come through in large numbers in the early spring and roost for the night in Hart’s Basin to the north of the reservoir; during the fall they come through in smaller numbers, and a few even spend the winter. The southwest corner of the reservoir plays host to a small Great Blue Heron colony. The riparian areas on the south end of the reservoir are a good place to look for sparrows, migrant passerines, and a variety of raptors. This is a good location to see a wide variety of wildlife, including muskrats, cottontails, jackrabbits, and coyotes. The nearby community of Eckert hosts a Sandhill Crane festival in March.
Grand Mesa (south)
This is the largest table mountain in the world, topped by excellent spruce-fir forest and aspen groves complete with an extensive trail system. Look for species such as American Three-toed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Pine Grosbeak and Red Crossbill, and just about the entire suite of high-elevation birds. During calm spring nights, the owling here can be excellent, with Boreal, Northern Saw-whet, and, if you are lucky, Northern Pygmy-Owls possible. Mammals also abound, with coyote, elk, pine marten, porcupine, and snowshoe hare. The lower slopes, just above Cedaredge, are covered with montane shrubland, with the requisite towhees, Virginia’s Warblers, and such.
Peach Valley (CR 24.50)
This is a reliable spot to find breeding Sage Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Brewer’s Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, prairie dogs, badgers, kit fox (please report to BLM if seen) and coyotes. For being so close to the beaten path, this road provides a remote experience.
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
A small area of riparian and dense thickets at the Gunnison River here could be good for sparrows and migrant passerines. Sightings might include: Golden and Bald Eagles, osprey, ferruginous Hawk, Great Blue Heron, river otter, and big horn sheep. There are also saltbush flats here. The concessionaire nearby runs a lodge and campground, with rafting, fishing, and cabins. Those with a high-clearance vehicle may wish to explore the south side of the river, where a myriad of roads provides more access points to the river, and sparse pinyon-juniper covered hills that could contain Gray Vireo, Chukar, Pinyon Jay, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Juniper Titmouse.
Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery
The river, the thin riparian areas along it, and the cliffs can provide some interesting birding, including Great Blue Heron, ducks, eagles, dippers, swifts, and wrens. The wet cliffs along the entrance could harbor interesting winter species, such as Winter Wren and Hermit Thrush. The trout in the hatchery are also an interesting attraction.
Crawford State Park
This small reservoir ringed by pinyon-juniper covered hills can be a reasonable location to look for waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes in migration. The pinyon-juniper habitat can be good for Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and others.
Gould Reservoir
A small reservoir very similar to Crawford Reservoir, this lake can produce the same suite of birds, but without the amenities.
Zephyros Farm
Set among the irrigated agricultural fields of the North Fork of the Gunnison River Zepyhros Farm is a small family run operation that has been featured in the New York Times and GQ magazine for their outstanding produce and fresh cut flowers. The property features an orchard and Russian olive grove that surely host migrants during the spring and fall. Topographical features of the farm include several gulleys that offer some shrub cover on the banks and cattails in the bottom and would make for interesting exploration. Also on the property are several small ponds which provide safe harbor for waterfowl and waterbirds such as Great Blue Herons.
Raincrow Farm
Raincrow Farm – named for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo – is located near Paonia in the beautiful North Fork of the Gunnison River valley. Some of the peaks of the West Elk Mountains are visible from the farm (especially Mount Lamborn and Mount Gunnison). The farm grows vegetables, herbs, and flowers without the use of chemicals or petroleum-based fertilizers. 154 bird species have been seen or heard on the farm since April 2005 including the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Rain Crow). Owner is an avid birder and knows his stuff!
Paonia State Park
The namesake reservoir here, while scenic, is rarely attractive to waterbirds. The riparian habitat, on the other hand, is of much higher quality. Look for species like Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, MacGillivray’s and Virginia’s Warblers, Mountain Bluebird, and Cordilleran Flycatcher. The scrubby hillsides along the access road to the lake are good for Spotted and Green-tailed Towhees, as well as other mountain shrubland birds. Look at the cliffs just upstream from the campground for swifts, swallows, and wrens. Other attractions include Colorado hairstreak, elk, and deer.