I just returned from vacation in Colorado. My last day we drove from Craig, CO to Dinosaur National Monument to take my son to see the fossils and petroglyphs. The drive out included typical roadside birds: a red tail hawk, magpies, ravens. I spotted what I think was a nighthawk. The body was similar, but I’m not sure if I saw white stripes or spots under the wings.
At the Canyon Visitor Center we saw a pinyon jay, swallows, and a hummingbird.
As we entered DNM the Green River was filled with hundreds of Canadian Geese. We stopped when we saw what we thought were eagles in a stand of dead cottonwoods. We pulled over and confirmed two bald eagles and several large ravens. I studied one large bird having a hard time believing what I was seeing. At first I thought the bald head was a vulture, then the head and body moved and I thought it was a turkey in the tree with the eagle. I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be the beard. I told my mom and she didn’t believe me until we heard the unmistakable gobble.
At the park entrance I glasses the alfalfa fields and found maybe 100 sandhill cranes scattered about the few deer. I think this was the largest group of cranes I’ve seen. After visiting the quarry we spotted a large herd of about 100 elk a couple miles out in the alfalfa fields
The trip wasn’t intended for birding, but turned out to be a productive day.
At the Canyon Visitor Center we saw a pinyon jay, swallows, and a hummingbird.
As we entered DNM the Green River was filled with hundreds of Canadian Geese. We stopped when we saw what we thought were eagles in a stand of dead cottonwoods. We pulled over and confirmed two bald eagles and several large ravens. I studied one large bird having a hard time believing what I was seeing. At first I thought the bald head was a vulture, then the head and body moved and I thought it was a turkey in the tree with the eagle. I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be the beard. I told my mom and she didn’t believe me until we heard the unmistakable gobble.
At the park entrance I glasses the alfalfa fields and found maybe 100 sandhill cranes scattered about the few deer. I think this was the largest group of cranes I’ve seen. After visiting the quarry we spotted a large herd of about 100 elk a couple miles out in the alfalfa fields
The trip wasn’t intended for birding, but turned out to be a productive day.
