The Leininger Ranch is private property that lies 10 miles south of La Junta and offers thousands of unexplored acres of shortgrass prairie, cedar-lined bluffs and canyons, and numerous stock ponds and arroyos. Birds of the Leininger Ranch include shortgrass specialists such as Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, and Scaled Quail. The ranch also has Greater Roadrunner and has in the past had Vermilion Flycatcher. A short drive from Highway 50 and the town of La Junta makes the Leininger Ranch the ideal place to spend the day exploring close to the creature comforts of town. Please make reservations in advance of visiting by contacting Zane and Barb Leininger at (719) 384-9634 or Barzl1@hughes.net.
Prairie Canyons
I Thought Eastern Colorado was supposed to be Flat
“That’s funny,” first-time visitors often say when they venture south of La Junta. “I thought Eastern Colorado was supposed to be flat.” Flat it’s not, south of the Arkansas River, where the land folds in upon itself and twists into a maze of rimrock canyons filled with juniper and pinyon pine. In this arid forest is found wildlife more typical of the desert Southwest, like horned lizards, Cassin’s Kingbirds, roadrunners, rattlesnakes and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. The geography here is harsh and spectacular, and the people are far-flung but friendly. Of all the wonderful places hidden in Southeast Colorado, this trail might just run right past the most surprises.
Setchfield State Wildlife Area
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license required for everyone 18 or older to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Vogel Canyon
This scenic out-of-the-way spot features picnic sites, interpretive signs and rock art. For birds, the main attraction of this medium sized canyon are the two permanent springs at the bottom of the canyon about a mile from the parking area. The riparian habitat here could attract migrants in season. Almost every regular southeast dryland species occurs here, including Eastern Phoebe by the water, nesting Great Horned Owl, and Common Poorwill. The habitat here includes, in addition to the springs, pinyon-juniper, rimrock and cliffs and extensive cholla grasslands with pronghorn, jackrabbits, coyotes and box turtles. Four hiking trails provide access to all the habitats.
Higbee Cemetery
A small cemetery set amid cholla and pinyon-juniper covered hills and mesas. A few cottonwood trees and some agricultural fields add to the mix. Greater Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, Scaled Quail, and Rufous-crowned Sparrows are some of the possibilities. Vermilion Flycatcher nested here for a couple of years. The canyons and rimrock in the area contain some spectacular mammals, and even scorpions and tarantulas.
Setchfield State Wildlife Area
This remote site may well be the least visited of all SWAs. It is filled with juniper woodland and rimrock, and and is a good place to see things like Canyon Towhee, Rock Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, not to mention rattlesnakes and several species of lizard. A small riparian area can be found below the burst dam, and should be checked for migrants in season. Pronghorn and mule deer can be seen in the area.
Wilson Ranch
Approximately 20 miles south of the town of Las Animas, the Wilson Ranch hosts vast areas of shortgrass prairie and numerous canyons for exploration. The prairie is home to many species including Burrowing Owl, Cassin’s Sparrow and Long-billed Curlew and is known to have high concentrations of Mountain Plover in mid to late summer. The scenic canyons are an added bonus to the ranch that take most visitors by surprise, as the drive south from Las Animas does not hint at the changing topography. The juniper-lined canyons are a great place to explore and look for cliff-dwelling raptors such as Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl and American Kestrel. The intermittent streams running through the canyons support pools of water and willow/cottonwood groves that make great stopover areas for migrants. The ranch also offers a number of old homesteads and rock houses to explore. The Wilson Ranch is managed for healthy range and riparian areas and the abundance of wildlife present is a result of the family’s commitment to conservation. It is a working ranch that offers guided and self-guided tours, horseback riding, hiking and biking as well as lodging and meals upon prior arrangement. For more information and directions to the ranch, call Max and Vanessa Wilson at (719) 456-1051 or email maxgwilson@gmail.com.
Walter Ranch
This working private farm/ranch contains several thousand acres of beautiful scenery in the canyon country of the Comanche grasslands. It is recommended to obtain permission to access this ranch prior to driving or hiking on this property. Hike through barely explored areas that host a diverse array of both grassland and shrubland birds. The canyonlands are home to many nesting raptors, including Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon. This area is rich with Native American and Wild West lore, and the owners enjoy talking with visitors about that history.
Picket Wire Canyon
You can access Picket Wire Canyon through Withers Canyon Trailhead on the Comanche National Grasslands. Foot and bike access are allowed, and this wide canyon has permanent water. The hillsides here are dominated by pinyon-juniper, the valley bottoms by saltbush, and the riverside by sparse but large cottonwoods. From the parking lot, it is a mile to the river down a steep, rough, road. From there, it is a mile and a half south to the Las Animas County line, and five miles to the dinosaur tracks that many people come here to see. Ornithologically, Picket Wire Canyon is good for such SE specialties as Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Cassin’s Kingbird, among many other possibilities. Mammals here include elk and deer. There is also mountain lion, bear and bobcat, although your chances of encountering any of these is very slim. Be aware summer experiences extreme heat in this area, so be prepared.
Otero CR E
The small area of saltbush and sagebrush flats here support one of the only SE populations of Black-throated Sparrow. Both Brewer’s and Cassin’s Sparrows could also be seen, along with coyotes and jackrabbits. Checking the small riparian corridor from the bridge over the Purgatoire River may also be productive.
Bader Ranch
This ranch in NE Las Animas County not only offers excellent pinyon-juniper woodland and cholla grassland, it also includes unbelievable beautiful canyons more in place in SE Arizona than SE Colorado. Look for Cassin’s Kingbird, Pinyon Jay, Rock and Canyon Wren, and Curve-billed Thrashers. The Baders have had a Vermilion Flycatcher nesting at their ranch the past couple of years. A herd of elk can sometimes be seen in the area, and keep an eye out for cool snakes in the canyons.
Kim
This town is the epitome of a remote plains village. A fun informal restaurant at the only gas station in the area makes this a good stop while driving through. Eurasian Collared-Doves, Great-tailed Grackles and occasionally Cassin’s Kingbirds can be seen in town, and in season, Black-chinned Hummingbirds are common at local feeders. Keep an eye out for Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks.
Mayfield Ranch
This ranch, owned and operated by Mary and Gary Mayfield, is just a few miles upstream from Cottonwood Canyon along West Carrizo Creek, and nestled against the northern flank of the Black Mesa. The real draw here for birders is more than a mile of riparian deciduous growth along a permanent stream. The cottonwoods, boxelders and hackberries along the creek shade dense willow thickets and other underbrush. Pinyon-juniper forest flanks the shallow rimrock canyon. Along the creek, look for things like Eastern Phoebe, Bewick’s Wren and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and in migration for eastern vagrants galore. The pinyon-juniper and rimrock could produce Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Greater Roadrunner, while hummingbird feeders at the Mayfield’s house are a magnet for Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Wild Turkeys often hang around the homestead in large numbers, and deer are frequently seen. The Mayfields also have a couple of very nice options for birders looking for accommodations, including a furnished trailer house and a cute adobe bungalow. They ask $25 per night per bed.