Colorado 2017 - Final Explorations : Day 5 - Dec. 29th, 2017

     On our final day in Colorado our flight home didn't leave until the late afternoon, so we had some time for some final explorations. As soon as we checked out of our lodge, we headed out of Estes Park and towards the Denver airport. We wanted to get to the airport area sooner rather than later just in case there were issues with traffic along the way. Luckily, our drive was uneventful, and we arrived at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR with plenty of time for some slow, relaxed wildlife watching.

Last stop for the trip!

     This NWR, which is located within 15 minutes of the Denver airport, did not disappoint! We saw Fox Squirrels, Mule Deer, lots of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Bison, and of course....birds! One of these birds was a Northern Harrier who we watched hunt, kill, and eat a small rodent! We also saw a Red-tailed Hawk and our lifer Ferruginous Hawk hunting the prairie dogs. The Red-tailed Hawk actually ended up catching one, but couldn't seem to kill it, so the bird let it go. 

Squirrel "drinking" by licking up snow like a snowcone!

HAYYYYYYY

Northern Harrier eating the rodent she just caught

Gotta line the burrow with more insulation!

Snuggles!

Horned Lark

Couldn't get enough of the Black-tailed Prairie Dogs

Bison herd

Mule Deer buck

Some Bison came closer

Frozen lake with a few gulls and ducks in the unfrozen part. Rockies in the background.

American Tree Sparrow

The scenery is unbeatable!

     In just a few days we managed to see/hear 51 species of birds, and hiked many miles. Yes, the Rockies might be nice in the summer, but winter holds its own. Plus, the tourist towns are empty and much less stressful. We are definitely visiting again as soon as possible!

Complete list of birds below:

Species		Location	Date
1	Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii	Lake Estes	25 Dec 2017
2	Canada Goose - Branta canadensis	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
3	Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
4	Gadwall - Mareca strepera	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
5	American Wigeon - Mareca americana	7147-7325 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colorado, US (40.203, -105.184)	28 Dec 2017
6	Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
7	Northern Pintail - Anas acuta	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
8	Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
9	Canvasback - Aythya valisineria	7147-7325 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colorado, US (40.203, -105.184)	28 Dec 2017
10	Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris	7147-7325 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colorado, US (40.203, -105.184)	28 Dec 2017
11	Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
12	Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
13	Common Merganser - Mergus merganser	Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary	25 Dec 2017
14	Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
15	Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
16	Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias	4305-4409 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colorado, US (40.215, -105.254)	28 Dec 2017
17	Northern Harrier - Circus hudsonius	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
18	Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
19	Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
20	Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus	1101-1199 Devils Gulch Road, Estes Park, Colorado, US (40.392, -105.516)	26 Dec 2017
21	Ferruginous Hawk - Buteo regalis	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
22	American Coot - Fulica americana	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
23	Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
24	Rock Pigeon - Columba livia	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
25	Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
26	Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon	Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary	25 Dec 2017
27	Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
28	Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
29	American Kestrel - Falco sparverius	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
30	Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri	Rocky Mountain NP--Endovalley--Alluvial Fan/Fan Lake area	26 Dec 2017
31	Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
32	Black-billed Magpie - Pica hudsonia	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
33	American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos	Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary	27 Dec 2017
34	Common Raven - Corvus corax	Lake Estes	25 Dec 2017
35	Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris	Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR	29 Dec 2017
36	Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
37	Mountain Chickadee - Poecile gambeli	Rocky Mountain NP--Endovalley--Alluvial Fan/Fan Lake area	26 Dec 2017
38	Pygmy Nuthatch - Sitta pygmaea	Rocky Mountain NP--Lumpy Ridge Trail	27 Dec 2017
39	Brown Creeper - Certhia americana	Rocky Mountain NP--Endovalley--Alluvial Fan/Fan Lake area	26 Dec 2017
40	Townsend's Solitaire - Myadestes townsendi	Rocky Mountain NP--Lumpy Ridge Trail	27 Dec 2017
41	American Robin - Turdus migratorius	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
42	European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
43	American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
44	Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
45	White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
46	Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
47	Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
48	Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
49	House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017
50	Common Redpoll - Acanthis flammea	Cub Lake Trail, Estes Park, Colorado, US (40.356, -105.616)	27 Dec 2017
51	House Sparrow - Passer domesticus	Barr Lake State Park	25 Dec 2017