Designated as an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society, this is one of the best birding locations in the area. Huge numbers of geese often stage here in late fall, including thousands of Cackling Geese, with some Snow, Ross’s, and Greater White-fronted Geese usually mixed in. Sometimes the geese even stay all winter! Ducks, Grebes, Loons, and Gulls can also be seen here between fall and spring, along with Bald Eagles. The cottonwoods around the lake attract breeding Orioles, and the Prairie-dog towns attract raptors, occasionally including Ferruginous Hawk and Golden Eagle. A Bald Eagle nest located on the opposite side of the lake can be viewed from the gazebo east of the Visitor Center. Please note pets are not allowed at this property. A nearby adjacent site 3/4 of a mile west from the Natural Area entrance is a small pond on the south side of the road that often has many water birds on it. Be careful, as there is heavy traffic and no pull-off except a small space on the west side of the pond.
Longs Peak
The Mountains’ Greatest Hits
Rocky Mountain National Park is the showcase of the southern Rockies, home to the nation’s highest continuous paved road and some of the best alpine scenery in North America. To follow this trail is to see the mountains’ highlight reel—snowcapped peaks, sheer-sided canyons, jagged ridges, and idyllic reservoirs. And this tremendous scenery has birds to match: Mountain Bluebirds, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Violet-green Swallows, Steller’s Jays, and Green-tailed Towhees. In winter, birders visit the upper reaches of this trail to find flocks of rosy-finches at feeders, and then descend to the lakes to watch huge flocks of gulls come to roost for the evening. This is the Colorado on your postcards.
Admission: State Parks Pass. Additional fee for camping .
Ownership: CPW
Lon Hagler State Wildlife Area
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
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP -Larimer section)
Admission: Daily, weekly and annual entrance fee
Ownership: National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Rocky Mountain National Park – Wild Basin
Admission: Daily, weekly, annual entrance fee
Ownership: National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Donath Lake
This small lake can be scanned from one safe pullout on the east side of the road. The water here can attract Western Grebes, ducks, and sometimes gulls, mostly between late fall and spring when the water is not completely frozen. One of the most unexpected birds ever to be found in Colorado, a Kelp Gull from South America, was once spotted here.
Boyd Lake State Park
In warmer months, Boyd Lake is a hotspot for boating, yet you can still see spring and summer birds of interest, including Bald Eagle, White-faced Ibis, Chimney Swift, Red-headed Woodpecker, and many interesting shorebirds, such as Black-necked Stilt and Willets. Once it starts to get chilly, Boyd Lake becomes a great place to look for Gulls, Loons, Terns, and Scoters, with possibly a rare species or two among the more common. Rarities spotted here have included Yellow-billed Loon, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Great Black-backed Gull. The park boasts over 300 species of birds on their bird list, so be on the lookout when visiting here! A State Parks pass is required for entry. Hunting occurs on this property, so be sure to check for seasonal restrictions before visiting.
Lake Loveland
This medium-sized lake is right in the middle of the city of Loveland, and several city parks provide excellent access. The lake can attract various water birds, especially in the colder months, as long as there is some open water. The northwest inlet can be very good for wading birds when water levels are right. The highlight is usually the gulls, which sometimes gather here in large numbers. Rare gulls such as Glaucous, Thayer’s, and Lesser Black-backed can be regularly found in these flocks.
River’s Edge Natural Area
River’s Edge Natural Area has a number of ponds that attract dabbling and diving ducks in winter, and Western Grebes and Ospreys in summer. The adjacent section of the Loveland Recreation Trail allows biking, walking, and wildlife viewing along a beautiful stretch of the Big Thompson River. The tall cottonwoods along the water attract birds such as Bullock’s Oriole in summer, and occasionally Brown Thrasher. The woods are also home to a surprising number of other urban wildlife, from coyotes to raccoons to skunks.
De France Reservoir (and nearby ponds)
De France Reservoir and the other nearby private lakes are easy to scan from the road. These waters sometimes host good numbers of waterbirds, such as ducks, geese, and pelicans, as well as hold potential for shorebirds. Check the trees around the lake for roosting Great Horned Owls and other birds.
Carter Lake County Park
Popular with boaters and cyclists, Carter Lake is a terrifically scenic county park nestled between the Ponderosa forests of the foothills and the rocky Dakota Hogback ridge. It’s a good place to find birds of the foothills such as Mountain Bluebird; in summer, Rock Wrens and Cliff Swallows can be found at the dam. In winter, watch for ducks, loons, and gulls on the water before it freezes. Along the trails, be sure to look for the tassel-eared Abert’s Squirrel. You can also visit Flatiron and Pinewood Reservoirs (northwest of Carter) for more viewing opportunities, but be aware entry fees apply.
Lon Hagler State Wildlife Area
Lon Hagler SWA in Loveland is a bird magnet, especially in late fall and early spring. The reservoir attracts ducks, loons, grebes, gulls, and sometimes shorebirds when water levels are right. Occasionally, a few Trumpeter or Tundra Swans spend much of the winter on the lakes in this area. Hunting occurs on this property, so be sure to check for seasonal restrictions before visiting.
Devil’s Backbone
This open space features a 5-mile, one-way trail that runs along the scenic Dakota Hogback Ridge. The area around the southern trailhead is terrific for birding, especially on spring and summer mornings. Bullock’s Orioles, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Rock and Canyon Wrens can be seen, along with chipmunks and ground squirrels. Prairie Falcons have nested along the hogback for many years. The short Morrison Trail provides interpretive signage about the unique geology of the ridge.
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
This remarkable place, best visited in spring and summer, has miles of hiking trails that can be very popular, especially during weekends. The cliffs near the parking lot are the summer home of a colony of White-throated Swifts, Lazuli Buntings and Yellow-breasted Chats can be seen in the nearby trees. The trails lead across grassy meadows, with meadowlarks and Vesper Sparrows, up to the ponderosa forest. Keep an eye out for Mountain Bluebirds and the occasional Lewis’s Woodpecker. For several winters, an American Woodcock has been a regular visitor to the site. A short interpretive trail describes the history of the homesteaders who lived on this property from the 1880s to the 1950s. On the trails, also watch for mule deer, elk, and if you’re very lucky, the area’s namesake cat. Please note pets are not allowed on this property.
Estes Park
The gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, the town of Estes Park is a world-class tourist destination. Violet-green Swallows flit overhead in summer, and American Dippers bounce along the Big Thompson River in town. Lake Estes can attract Mergansers, Goldeneyes, and other ducks in the colder months. The Matthew-Reeser Bird Sanctuary, on the west end of the Lake, attracts a large variety of migrant Warblers in spring and fall. Herds of elk are almost always in town, often on the golf course; though they seem tolerant of people, they can be dangerous. Please observe elk and other wildlife from a safe distance.
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP -Larimer section)
RMNP is one of the crown jewels of the National Park system and is a terrific place to see elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and other animals, as well as almost any type of montane bird species. Different elevations in the park support very different wildlife communities.
The lowest parts of the park are covered with wide mountain meadows (called ‘parks’) and forests of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir. Upper Beaver Meadows is one of the best low-elevation birding spots. Nesting birds in summer include Red-naped and Williamson’s Sapsucker, Dusky and Hammond’s Flycatcher, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, Mountain and Western Bluebirds, and Green-tailed Towhee.
Higher up, at roadside pullouts below treeline, it is hard to miss Steller’s Jay, Gray Jay, and Clark’s Nutcracker. Trail Ridge Road rises above 12,000 feet, leaving the trees far below and giving unique access to the fragile habitat of the alpine tundra, where many specialized plants and animals can be found. Where the trees grow gnarled and stunted, White-crowned Sparrow is an abundant breeder. Above treeline, you are likely to see Yellow-bellied Marmots and Pikas; Brown-capped Rosy-finches are occasionally seen on the snowfields below the Lava Cliffs. American Pipits and Common Ravens are usually the most common birds above treeline, but if you’re lucky, you might find a White-tailed Ptarmigan; the best spots are just below the Alpine Visitor Center, in the Grand County section of the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park – Wild Basin
Here in the southeastern corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, the birding can be excellent, especially in summer. Along the first stretch of road, look for ponderosa pine birds like Williamson’s Sapsucker and Western Tanager. On the main Wild Basin Trail, keep an eye out for Dusky Grouse and American Three-toed Woodpecker. At the scenic Calypso Cascades, about 2 miles up the trail, Pacific/Winter Wrens have set up territories during a few summers, though they are not to be expected. If you’re feeling up to it, continue hiking another 2 miles up to Ouzel Falls, a nesting site for the elusive Black Swift. It is difficult to see the swifts on their nests near the waterfall, but sometimes they can be viewed soaring over the valley, even over the parking lot and the entrance station, especially on summer days with low, threatening cloud cover.
Allenspark
A tiny mountain hamlet, Allenspark is best known for its bird feeders. Take a walk around town – both chickadees and all three nuthatches visit feeders year round. In winter, finches like Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, and all three Rosy-finch species sometimes drop by, especially in inclement weather. In the summer, you can often pick out Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds from among the throngs of Broad-taileds. A set of feeders along Ski Road sometimes attracts Band-tailed Pigeons in summer. Keep in mind Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends following bear aware principles when feeding birds in bear country – see the CPW website for more information.