The town of Lamar, one of the largest towns in Southeast Colorado, is also famous as one of the best birding destinations in the state. From this base you are less than an hour away from such excellent locations as the Indian Reservoirs, John Martin Reservoir, and Two Buttes State Wildlife Area. However, you don’t need to leave town to see great birds. Willow Creek Park has breeding Mississippi Kites in summer. The woods behind the Lamar Community College and the woods behind the high school are legendary migrant traps, as is Fairmount Cemetery. Sometimes the Community College woods will host eastern birds such as Northern Cardinal or Red-bellied Woodpecker, and mammals including muskrat and skunk. Inca Doves have recently begun to colonize the town, although their numbers are quite low and you will be lucky to find one. Every February, Lamar hosts a Snow Goose Festival which is one of the largest birding festivals in the state.
Two Buttes
A Wonderful Trail To See Migrants
Among Colorado birders, this area of Prowers and northern Baca Counties is nearly synonymous with migration. Isolated from each other by miles of high prairie, the city parks and cemeteries of Lamar, Granada and Holly, the woodlots and stream corridors of the private ranches in the area, and the magical canyon at Two Buttes State Wildlife Area are magnets for tired birds passing through in spring and fall. Add to this the prairie-chicken leks, the huge seasonal concentrations of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, the pronghorns and the deer, and the subtle prairie scenery, and you’ve got a top-flight destination for naturalists of all kinds.
Mike Higbee 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
Two Buttes Reservoir 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
Turk’s Pond 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
Mike Higbee State Wildlife Area
This small State Wildlife Area doesn’t look like much, but the hedgerows around the maintenance buildings can attract large flocks of sparrows, and the reeds along the creek support Virginia Rail, Sora, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher and Common Yellowthroat. You might also see Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole and Northern Bobwhite, in addition to muskrat and thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Look for amphibians in the wet areas, and for mule and white-tailed deer, red fox, rabbits and coyotes in the brush.
Granada
Granada has some large shade trees that can attract good flocks of migrant landbirds in spring and fall; pronghorns and prairie-dogs can be seen in the surrounding countryside. Just southwest of town is the site of the Amache Japanese Internment Camp, which has many small trees but is worth visiting not so much for its wildlife potential as for its sobering historical significance.
Holly area
Holly is a charming town that provides good habitat for birds. Gateway Park, on the north side of Highway 50 in town, has many mature deciduous shade trees that can attract migrating warblers and other landbirds. The Holly cemetery northeast of town can also be good for migrants, and sometimes Great Horned Owls can be seen. Three miles east of town is a little rest area along the highway that has a nice combination of trees and brush, where any kind of bird could show up.
Taylor Ranch
This working ranch boasts a suite of attractions for travelers. The unique landscape hosts many of our native prairie birds such as Mountain Plover, Scaled Quail and Cassin’s Kingbird. The ranch also boasts a high concentration of raptors including Northern Harrier, Swainson’s Hawk, as well as nesting Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawk. Migrants have included Sandhill Cranes, Lark Buntings and Mountain Bluebirds. Arroyos, natural springs, and frontage along North Butte Creek make this a beautiful site to hike. A variety of reptiles such as collared lizards, blackcap snake, three species of horned lizards, possible leopard frogs and hog nosed snakes have been seen on the property. The owners can impart a great deal of the area’s lore, including knowledge of a site on the property where a hanging took place and are willing to give guided tours. Pronghorn, white tailed and mule deer, a variety of foxes and coyote frequent the ranch. The ranch’s livestock include rare British White cattle and Haflingers horses.
Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area
This reservoir and state wildlife area just east of Highway 385 and south of the Prowers county line is among the crown jewels of Southeast Colorado birding spots. Above the dam is a middle-sized reservoir lined with cottonwoods and rimrock, which can be good for ducks and grebes when high and for shorebirds when low. Below the dam is a veritable wonderland of habitats, including extensive tangles of underbrush, tall trees, marshy ponds and grassy areas. This area can be excellent any time of year, but especially during migration; it is probably the best public area in Colorado to find roadrunners. Check for roosting Barn and Great Horned Owls along the cliffs. The vagrant list for this area is truly impressive. Look along the entrance road to the north for Mountain Plovers in season, and prairie longspurs in migration. In the prairie dog towns you will find Burrowing Owls and perhaps a Swift Fox. Various species of reptiles and amphibians live here, including prairie rattlesnake, plains spadefoot and red-spotted toads, painted and ornate box turtles, and fence lizards. Pronghorn, raccoons and coyotes can be seen as well. Insect repellent can be a good idea during the warmer months.
Turk’s Pond State Wildlife Area
Check this small pond for ducks during the fall and spring, and shorebirds if the water is low. The few small trees around the lake could contain migrants in season, and sparrows during the winter. The small pond across from the entrance road often has as many ducks as Turk’s Pond does. Other wildlife here can include white-tailed deer, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, reptiles and amphibians. Please note this SWA is closed from the start of goose season to the end of season.