Lower Latham Reservoir itself is private and very difficult to see from the road. However, the extensive marshes along the south side of the reservoir are an excellent birding destination. Even though you must stay on the county road, you can still get up close and personal with the likes of Yellow-headed Blackbird, Western Marsh Wren, Savannah Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle, Sora, Virginia Rail, and Black-necked Stilt. American Bitterns nest here but are hard to see; White Pelicans also nest here. Keep an eye out for other marsh-dwelling creatures such as muskrats. Be sure to respect private property and pull off as far as possible on the gravel road.
Pawnee
The Way Things Used to Be
The legendary Pawnee National Grassland is one of the only places near Denver where you can stand in native prairie, with gayfeather and pasqueflower tickling your feet, watching McCown’s Longspurs and Lark Buntings skylark against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks, in one of the very few areas in the country that has changed very little in the past 200 years. A stronghold of the increasingly threatened grassland ecosystem, this lush prairie is home to Kit Foxes, Long-billed Curlews, Mountain Plovers, and Burrowing Owls. Here, too, are seasonal wetlands, dramatic buttes, and some of the most famous spots in Colorado to find migrant birds in spring and fall, such as Crow Valley Campground. This is rightly one of the most popular wildlife watching destinations in the state, not to be missed by true lovers of nature.
Greeley
In this Great Plains City, the best place to bird is Glenmere Park. The pond in the park attracts ducks and geese, and Snowy Egret and Black-crowned Night-Heron have nested on the island in the pond. Mississippi Kite have sometimes been seen in and around the park in late summer and early fall, and migrants can be attracted to the mature trees. Sanborn Park is another lake-based park that has a cove on the SW side that can have wood ducks, etc. There is a separate listing for the Cache LaPoudre Trail on the north side of the City.
Poudre River Trail and Greeley Gravel Pits
A paved bicycle and walking trail follows the Cache la Poudre River through the northern part of Greeley and westward all the way to Windsor. Some stretches of the river are lined with tall trees; be sure to scan them for nesting Bald Eagles, especially west of town. The trail also runs past many gravel pit ponds that can attract many water birds: ducks, geese, grebes, gulls, terns, and sometimes loons. Access to the best birding is usually at 35th Avenue parking (dirt) area and 71st Avenue parking at Signature Bluffs Natural Area. The Natural area has a very nice boardwalk and soft surface trail that leads into the cottonwoods along the River. If you stay on the paved Poudre Trail about 1/2 mile to the west, you can overlook some ponds to the north that can be quite birdy. There are also a few feeders in private yards along the irrigation canal that the trail follows just across the canal along the way.
The Poudre River Trail is a 21-mile paved pathway extending from Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley to River Bluff Open Space in northwest Windsor, so there are many miles to explore (on foot or bike) for birds and more!
The Poudre Learning Center
The Poudre Learning Center (PLC) is a premier facility for interdisciplinary learning focusing on the importance of history, science, economics, stewardship and aesthetics of the Cache la Poudre River and Northeastern Colorado. With 65 acres open for the public to explore, the PLC offers easy hiking trails adjacent to the Poudre River, which provides the perfect habitat to attract a diversity of birds and other wildlife. The PLC also offers a variety of nature-based programs and activities for schools and people of all ages! Look for Bald Eagles in the large trees along the river, as well as the usual suite of breeding species during the summer, and migrant sparrows and warblers during the spring and fall. Two smaller ponds can occasionally host small numbers of waterfowl. The Poudre River Trail can also be accessed from the parking lot.
Windsor Lake/Boardwalk Community Park
Often confused with Windsor Reservoir, which is three miles north, Windsor Lake is right in the town of Windsor. At times it attracts huge numbers of ducks, gulls, and grebes. The lake is easy to view from the west dedicated parking area along North 7th St. (Hwy 257) or from Boardwalk Community Park, and a nice walking/biking trail runs all the way around it. There is also a small parking area on the southeast corner of the lake.
Windsor Reservoir
Often confused with Windsor Lake, which is three miles south in the town of Windsor, Windsor Reservoir is larger and often attracts more birds. It is a particularly good place to find diving ducks and flocks of gulls. However, it is a private lake relatively far from the road, so it can be difficult to view; a scope is required. The best spot to scan from is the end of the dam, near the busy intersection of CR 74 and CR 19. Be cautious of traffic when parking and walking.
Black Hollow Reservoir
This large reservoir is rather far from the road, so a scope is required for good viewing of birds. Between late fall and spring, the main attraction here is usually the large flock of gulls resting from their feeding forays from the nearby Weld County Landfill. Rare gulls like Lesser Black-backed and Thayer’s are regularly part of the flock. In recent years, a pair of Bald Eagles has nested at the reservoir on the north side.
Drake Lake
A small lake with great marsh edges and a few trees, this area can be very attractive to ducks, geese, and especially gulls between fall and spring, as long as it is not frozen. The gulls gather here when they are not feeding in the nearby Weld County Landfill. In April and May, shorebirds can visit in good numbers.
Raptor Alley
The Raptor Alley tour route was designed by “The Nunn Guy” to see most of the raptor species that can be found during the winter in Colorado. The trail originates from the Town of Nunn, perhaps one of the best places to see most common birds of prey and where some 23 species of raptors have been recorded. The tour encompasses many prairie dog towns and high-standing perches for raptors. This area also features Lapland Longspurs mixed in with flocks of Horned Larks in winter months. When driving on county roads, please watch for traffic and only pull over to look for birds in visible, safe locations. Also, be careful pulling onto the shoulder of roads, as many are soft and you could get stuck.
Crom Lake
Crom Lake is a small pond near the town of Pierce and is a reliable place to see ducks, pelicans, and herons; sometimes it hosts impressive numbers of geese or shorebirds in spring migration. The lake is on both sides of the road, and good birds can be seen on either side. The lake tends to freeze in colder months and during summer hosts fewer birds, but prairie species such as Burrowing Owl and McCown’s Longspur can sometimes be found in the surrounding area.
Clark Lake
This small lake is just southeast of the town of Ault and can attract good numbers of geese in winter, along with various ducks. In spring and summer, look for Bullock’s Oriole in the cottonwoods around the lake, and Yellow-headed Blackbird in the cattails.
Crow Valley Campground
This Forest Service campground is one of the only places on the Pawnee National Grassland with water and trees, which makes it a prime destination for migrant birds in spring and fall. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, and flycatchers can sometimes be numerous in the campground, with good chances for vagrants from the east. Eastern Screech-Owls nest here, and in winter, Long-eared Owls sometimes roost in the evergreens. The areas on the south edge and north edge of the campground are usually better areas and have trails. The trail to the north starts at the group campground at the northwest corner of the campground and birders are allowed through the gate (be sure to close it) on the trail and onto the land north, but please leave nothing behind when you leave. During spring, there can be White-faced Ibis and other wading and water birds in that area to the north. The campground is very popular with visitors on spring and summer weekends, and please note that hunting occurs here in season. The campground is closed from November to April, but you can still park outside the gate and walk in.
Pawnee National Grasslands (western section)
The Pawnee National Grassland is one of the premier patches of shortgrass prairie remaining on the Great Plains, a haven for a suite of prairie birds increasingly scarce elsewhere: Ferruginous Hawk, Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspur, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Colorado’s striking state bird, the Lark Bunting. In some years, Cassin’s Sparrows are numerous. Pronghorn and black-tailed prairie-dog are hard to miss, and coyotes are sometimes seen, along with the occasional swift fox. The National Grassland is a complex and remote patchwork of federal, private, and leased lands; a good map is essential for navigating the area.
For a self-guided birding tour: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5318485.pdf
Pawnee National Grasslands (East Section) & Pawnee Buttes
One of the most beautiful spots on Colorado’s eastern plains, the Pawnee Buttes are featured on many a wall calendar and postcard. Their dramatic bluffs provide nesting places for Rock Wrens and Prairie Falcons. Pronghorn and Black-tailed Prairie-Dogs are easy to see in this area; lucky observers may even spot a jackrabbit, a Swift Fox, or a Golden Eagle. Mountain Plovers nest in a few of the surrounding prairies and pastures. For a longer, scenic adventure, travel the Pawnee Pioneer Trails, a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway.
For a self-guided birding tour: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5318485.pdf
West Pawnee Ranch
Located north of the west section of the Pawnee National Grassland, the Ranch features a variety of habitats including grasslands, riparian, juniper-laden rocky ridges and a wetland/pond complex. Wild Turkeys are common. Golden Eagles have nested on the property and the site is an oasis for many a migrant songbird. In the fall and spring, many surprises could abound. Porcupines and swift foxes can also be seen here.