We returned to
the same desert canyon as yesterday just after daybreak and found more birds
than on our previous visit. A Green-tailed
Towhee showed well, as did Mountain
Bluebird, a recently arrived Ash-throated
Flycatcher, Black-chinned
Hummingbird, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
and a Chukar for Keith.
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| Black-chinned Hummingbird |
Leaving here
we headed up into the mountains. With snow all around we notched up a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers, Slate-coloured Fox Sparrow, Grey Jay, female Pine Grosbeak, and a Red-breasted
Nuthatch. And the views were to die for!
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| Nice View.... |
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| Grey Jay |
Dropping lower we
found a pair of stunning Lewis’s
Woodpeckers in the warm sunshine before calling into Subway for lunch.
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| Lewis's Woodpecker |
A
short drive took us to our motel in Montrose where we had a siesta before
heading out to the Black Canyon of Gunnison and our date with Sooty Grouse. After a bit of a search
we found one bird skulking in the shadows but were totally underprepared for
the displaying male we encountered nearby. He was really bold and stared at us
before displaying just a few metres away, right in front of us. It was a
totally amazing performance and another major tour highlight that will live long
in our memories.
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