Enjoy Colorado’s stunning scenery – lots of traveling between sites and lots of birds to see! Bask at the possibility of seeing five iconic grouse species (Gunnison Sage-, Greater Sage-, Sharp-tailed, Dusky and White-tailed Ptarmigan), three species of Rosy-Finch (Brown-capped, Black, and Gray-crowned) along with many sparrows, woodpeckers, ducks, and raptors. Enjoy the opportunity to encounter both Greater and Lesser Prairie-Chickens on a single itinerary—two highly sought-after species for birders. Experience the thrill of watching male grouse perform elaborate dances on leks at dawn, an essential part of their breeding ritual. Explore expansive grassland habitats for Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Longspurs, and Burrowing Owl. Observe montane specialties including American Dipper, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin’s Finch, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Williamson’s Sapsucker.

The tour package includes: Expert guiding service Ground transportation during the tour Entrance fees to parks and preserves Accommodations as stated in the itinerary It does not include meals, travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature. About Meals:  Although this tour does not include meals in the tour package; all the hotels on this tour, except for the hotel in Walden, include complimentary breakfasts. Depending on the day’s route, lunches will be combination of quick “grab and-go” fast food or sit-down at a casual cafe with dinners at a local restaurant. Evenings are left open so you can choose from the restaurants near our lodging or explore local dining on your own. You are always welcome to join us for dinner. Joining the group is completely optional; your tour leader will share where they’re heading for dinner so you can join if you’d like. We will carry light snacks and water daily.

TROY HIBBITTS

This tour is best described as moderate, with a steady but flexible pace designed to maximize birding opportunities while keeping guests comfortable. Expect to walk up to 2–3 miles per day on uneven terrain, including sagebrush flats, mud, snow patches, forest trails, and high-elevation paths. Some birding locations are between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, where thinner air can make short walks feel more demanding. Hight elevation may affect individuals differently; guests should stay hydrated and pace themselves accordingly. Weather can change quickly in the Rockies, guests should be prepared for variable weather: cold mornings, strong sun, wind, and occasional light to heavy precipitation. No technical hiking experience is required, but good balance and a reasonable level of fitness will make the tour more enjoyable. Pre-dawn starts are necessary especially on lek mornings. Early mornings can be very cold, especially at higher elevations – therefore appropriate layering is essential for safety and comfort. Some birding sessions, particularly at grouse leks, may involve standing or sitting quietly for extended periods in low light and cold conditions. Expect moderate drives between locations, typically ranging from 1-4 hours, with frequent stops to bird productive habitats, scenic viewpoints, and roadside opportunities along the way.   We build in rest stops, warm-up breaks, and time for photography throughout the itinerary. Your guide will adjust the pace and itinerary as needed based on weather, road conditions, and bird activity to ensure a balanced and rewarding experience for all participants.

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is likely during this tour. Greater-Sage Grouse Gunnison Sage-Grouse Dusky Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse White-tailed Ptarmigan Greater Prairie-Chicken Lesser Prairie-Chicken Horned Lark Golden Eagle Prairie Falcon Peregrine Falcon Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Burrowing Owl Ferruginous Hawk Mountain Bluebird American Three-toed Woodpecker Black-billed Magpie Steller’s Jay Pinyon Jay Clark’s Nutcracker Lewis’s Woodpecker Lark Bunting Canyon, Rock and Bewick’s Wren Juniper Titmouse Mountain Plover Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay Rosy Finches (Brown-capped, Black, Gray-crowned) Thick-billed Longspur Chestnut-collared Longspur Evening Grosbeak Pine Grosbeak Williamson's Sapsucker And many more!

ITINERARY   Day 1: Arrive at Denver International Airport (DEN) by no later than 2 pm. Participants will take complimentary shuttle to the hotel. We will meet everyone at the hotel lobby by 5 pm for a brief introduction and orientation session before dinner. Overnight: Homewood Suites Airport, Denver.    Day 2: Loveland Pass and Silverthorne to Gunnison. We depart Denver and drive toward Gunnison, making several stops along the way. Loveland Pass, about one hour west of Denver, is primarily known for its sweeping views of the Continental Divide and mountain peaks - a popular destination for scenic drives. Loveland Pass offers rare access to alpine tundra habitat without a strenuous hike, making it a top spot for high-mountain species. In early April, snow may still blanket the landscape, concentrating birds in visible areas and offering a chance to see species that are otherwise elusive in the summer. This is a reliable place to find White-tailed Ptarmigan – the crown jewel of Loveland Pass birding. These cryptic, snow-white birds blend into the tundra but can often be spotted near the trail west of the summit parking lot or in the southeastern bowl. Silverthorne, also along I-70, is a great place for birding. April brings a mix of lingering winter species and the first wave of spring migrants, offering a dynamic birding experience. Notable species found in these areas include Rosy-Finches (Brown-capped, Gray-crowned, and Black), Horned Lark, Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, Pygmy Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Cassin’s Finch, Band-tailed Pigeon, and Steller’s Jay. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Gunnison.   Day 3: Gunnison to Montrose.  Our goal this morning is to look for the endemic Gunnison Sage-Grouse display on its lek. This bird is one of North America’s rarest and most localized bird species, found almost exclusively in the Gunnison Basin.  Beyond the lek, Gunnison offers diverse habitats from sagebrush flats to montane forests and canyonlands. After the morning lekking display we will have an opportunity for additional birding throughout the day as we drive west toward Montrose visiting several locations and waterways along the way. Other potential sightings in this area include American Dipper, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Black-billed Magpie, Rosy-Finches, Evening Grosbeak, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, and Rough-legged Hawk - among many others. Overnight: Hampton Inn, Montrose.   Day 4: Gunnison Basin and Black Canyon to Grand Junction. Montrose offers exceptional birding, with access to riparian corridors, wetlands, and canyon habitats. It is a strategic base for continuing to explore the Gunnison Basin and Black Canyon. Today we visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park where Dusky Grouse is possible. Black Canyon’s steep cliffs, pinyon-juniper woodlands, Gambel oak uplands, and riparian zones along the Gunnison River create a mosaic of habitats that support a wide range of birds. In April, the park comes alive with breeding activity, early migrants, and resident species. Other notable species found here include White-throated Swift, American Dipper, Canyon Wren, Steller’s Jay, Slate-colored Fox Sparrow, Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Spotted Towhee, Clark’s Nutcracker, Townsend’s Solitaire, Violet-green Swallow, Peregrine Falcon, Hairy Woodpecker, Plumbeous Vireo, Western Tanager, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Grand Junction.   Day 5: Grand Junction to Craig. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, Grand Junction sits at the ecological crossroads of high desert, riverine woodland, and mesa country. April brings a surge of activity: wintering birds linger, early migrants arrive, and breeding residents become vocal and visible. In the morning, we will explore the canyonlands of Colorado National Monument searching for Pinyon Jay, Gambel’s Quail, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Gary Vireo, and Black-throated Sparrow. The predominant pinyon-juniper woodland throughout this region offers critical habitat for a diverse array of bird species. This region also encompasses the habitat where the Chukar, an introduced species from Eurasia, can be found. Other notable species found in this area include Western Bluebird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lesser Goldfinch, Red-tailed Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Say’s Phoebe, Canyon, Rock and Bewick’s Wrens, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay among many others. Overnight: Best Western Plus Deer Park Hotel & Suites, Craig.   Day 6: Craig to Walden. Located in Moffat County in northwestern Colorado, Craig sits at the heart of sagebrush steppe, cottonwood river bottoms, and canyon country, making it one of the best places in the state to observe Sharp-tailed Grouse during their peak lekking season. These areas host active leks where males perform their spectacular breeding displays at dawn.  Along the way to Walden, we will search a few spruce forest areas for American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Clark’s Nutcracker before continuing towards Walden. After crossing Rabbit Ears Pass, we’ll descend into North Park - here we may find Sage Thrasher, Mountain Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Common Merganser, Mallard, and raptors such as Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Rough-legged and Swainson’s Hawks, and Prairie Falcon. Overnight: North Park Inn and Suites, Walden.   Day 7: Walden to Loveland. Located in North Park, a high-elevation basin surrounded by mountains, Walden sits at the heart of Colorado’s sagebrush steppe and wetland ecosystems and one of the best places to find Greater Sage-Grouse in Colorado. We continue driving to Loveland after watching the Greater Sage-Grouse on their lek – exploring several locations along the way. We will stop at Walden Reservoir, where there is a possibility of seeing fifteen species of ducks.  We’ll also search for other species in the foothills, including Sandhill Crane, Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees, Vesper Sparrow, and various raptors. Cameron Pass will provide a final opportunity to observe any remaining boreal forest bird species, including Pine Grosbeak, Cassin’s Finch, Canada Jay, and American Three-toed Woodpecker – and if we are lucky, Boreal Owl. As we proceed toward Loveland, the route features impressive landscapes along the Poudre River, where American Dipper can be found and Common Merganser are known to nest. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Loveland.   Day 8: Loveland to Wray. Fort Collins offers excellent Front Range foothill birding with diverse habitats from riparian corridors to ponderosa pine foothills. Pineridge Natural Area, Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, Arapahoe Bend Natural Area, and Pawnee National Grasslands are noted as some of the best locations for birding in the area. Notable species include Townsend’s Solitaire, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Canyon Towhee, Rock Wren, and Sage Thrasher. We then start heading east to the Pawnee National Grasslands, where we will be looking for Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks among the fields, along with Mountain Plover, Chestnut-collared and Thick-billed Longspurs. Overnight: Cobblestone Inn and Suites, Wray.   Day 9: Wray to Scott City, Kansas. Wray is one of the best places in the state to see Greater Prairie-Chickens. The city sits in the heart of Colorado’s eastern plains, surrounded by Sandsage prairie and mixed-grass habitat – the preferred breeding grounds of the Greater Prairie-Chicken. We will most likely hear the Greater Prairie-Chickens before we can see them. Each spring, males gather at dawn on leks to perform booming displays, inflating bright orange neck sacs, stomping their feet, and raising feather plumes in a ritual that has captivated birders for generations. Other notable species in the area include Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mississippi Kite, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, and Lark Bunting to name a few. We will then drive southeast, birding our way into Kansas in search of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.  Overnight: Best Western El Quartelejo Inn and Suites, Scott City, Kansas.   Day 10: Scott City, Kansas to Pueblo, Colorado. Early morning will find us on a Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek. Located in western Kansas, Scott City sits at the intersection of shortgrass prairie, playa lakes, and canyon country, making it a diverse and rewarding birding location. April is peak season for Lesser Prairie-Chicken lekking, and nearby reservoirs and state parks host a mix of migrants and breeding residents. In the afternoon, we start making our way to Pueblo, searching along the way for any missing prairie birds like Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, and Longspurs. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Pueblo North.   Day 11: Tour Conclusion & Departures. On our final morning, we explore Pueblo Reservoir. The reservoir’s location where mountains meet plains creates habitat diversity supporting both groups’ species. The Arkansas River flowing into the reservoir provides riparian habitat attracting migrants and breeding birds. Surrounding grasslands and rock outcrops add additional habitat types. The reservoir excels during migration when waterfowl and shorebirds concentrate on mudflats and open water. Rarities also appear regularly, making Pueblo Reservoir a favorite among Colorado’s birders. Airport drop-off by no later than 12 p.m. Participants may make arrangements to depart Denver after 2 p.m. today.