Colorado Lek Trek Photo Workshop

Greater Sage-Grouse male on lek. Photo by Rick Bowers on 2018 Colorado Chicken Run ©.

Dates: April 18 – 1 May, 2020

Colorado is one of the most diverse states in the Union. It holds deserts, high and cool—or low and warm—prairies, deciduous, pine and stunted tree-line forests, 14,000 foot peaks with alpine tundra and every habitat in between. With such marvelous variety of habitats, Colorado has something to capture everyone’s attention.

Late April is an exceptional time to visit Colorado. Winter and Spring co-mingle with breathtaking results. Winter still reigns atop striking snow-capped mountains providing a magnificent backdrop to Spring’s first blossoms appearing along river banks and prairies. Like the landscape, avifaunas are also mingled. Winter residents linger across the brightening landscape and thawing lakes harbor new Spring migrants and more Summer residents arrive anew each day. This is also the best time to view grouse gathering at their communal leks.

Four species are found on these leks (traditional display or ‘dancing’ arenas) in full display! An extraordinary set of histrionics—tail-raising, wing-fanning, foot-stomping, air-sac inflating, moaning, groaning, cackling, hooting, pacing, spinning and jumping—that has to be seen to be believed. Greater Sage-Grouse, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Sharp-tailed Grouse will be our main goals at leks. Not to be outdone, we’ll also search scrubby woodlands for retiring Dusky Grouse and snow-covered tundra peaks for charming White-tailed Ptarmigan (still garbed in elegant white). Our Colorado ‘Lek Trek’ Photo Workshop offers participants the opportunity to photograph these highly sought, charismatic and often hard to find grouse and prairie-chickens while enjoying early Spring migration across Colorado’s plains, peaks and deserts.

Dusky Grouse are spectacular during their display season in April !

In addition to those wonderful ‘chickens,’ we’ll search for some of Colorado’s special birds: American Three-toed Woodpecker, Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks, Lark Bunting, Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs on the prairies; Lewis’s Woodpecker in oak woodlands.

Interesting mammals are plentiful: prairie landscapes bustle with captivating Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and scurrying ground-squirrels. Elsewhere we should encounter a nice assortment of larger mammals with Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Mule and White-tailed Deer, Moose, Coyote, Red and Swift Fox being found on previous tours. With a bit of good fortune something rare, like Bobcat or Mountain Lion, may be spotted.

Itinerary

PLEASE NOTE: PARTICIPANTS SHOULD PLAN THEIR ARRIVAL IN DENVER PRIOR TO 1:00 PM ON APRIL 18th. LIKEWISE, YOU SHOULD PLAN YOUR DEPARTURE FROM DENVER FOR AFTER 2:00 PM ON MAY 1st.

Day 1: Arrival at Denver International Airport (DEN) departing westward once everyone has arrived. Depending upon the group’s arrival times and weather at the pass, we hope to make our first attempt for White-tailed Ptarmigan this afternoon.

During dinner, our first as a group, we’ll make introductions, discuss tour details so participants know what to expect during the tour (pace, conditions, daily routine, etc.), illustrate our planned route and hand out checklists. Night Dillon.

White-tailed Ptarmigan, Male in winter plumage showing his big “snowshoes”. 2018 Colorado Chicken Run. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Day 2: After breakfast, we’ll journey uphill to the majestic Loveland Pass in pursuit of White-tailed Ptarmigan again. Still attired in angelic white even this late in the Spring, these dapper “chickens” are permanent residents in the higher reaches of Loveland Basin.

In the afternoon, we’ll backtrack through Denver and head for Scott City, KS to be in position for our first morning at the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek. Night: Scott, KS

Day 3: A very early morning will find us in our blinds on the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek listening to the odd moaning and cackling of the birds. As the sun rises, we will have point-blank views of these wonderful chickens displaying and fighting. The shutters will get a workout this morning!

We will take a midday break and in the late afternoon search the prairie for Eastern Meadowlarks and Grasshopper Sparrows to photograph. Night Scott City, KS

Day 4: We will return to the Lesser Prairie-Chickens, a vanishing symbols of America’s Great Plains for another session of photography. We will visit all the leks at least twice to give us another chance if the weather is not ideal or to work on more action shots of fighting birds.

After breakfast we will pack up and head to Wray, CO and our first evening shoot for Greater Prairie-Chickens. A ranch near Wray has one of the most accessible Greater Prairie-Chicken leks in Colorado. Evening session usually have more subdued displays and action but you never know what will happen! Night: Wray, CO

Day 5: Today we will be up very early to be in our blinds before dawn. For the next several hours we will photograph Greater Prairie-Chickens to our hearts content! Their wonderful displays and antics, fights, and threat displays make for a never ending variety of still and video imagery. After a mid-day break we will return to the lek for our third session with the Chickens. Night Wray.

Greater Prairie-Chicken male displaying. Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen ©.

Day 6: A final session with the Greater Prairie-Chickens and we will be off to to Pawnee National Grassland to shoot some of the beautiful Longspurs and Lark Bunting. Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs plus Lark Buntings are setting up territories and giving their unique song flights. With luck we will find a cooperative male of each of these species this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Night Eaton, CO.

Day 7: We will rise early today and return to the Pawnee to work on more images of grassland species. As the light gets too high to shoot we will drive toward Walden. We will have four sessions with the Greater Sage-Grouse to allow us the capture portraits, action, video and whatever else you desire. Having four sessions allows us to have backup time with these amazing birds in case of any bad weather moves through or a raptor flushes the birds off the lek.

Late afternoon finds us climbing through foothills to reach the charming North Park village of Walden. As we ascend, our surroundings quickly change as do our birds. Night: Walden, CO

Lark Bunting adult male doing display flight. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Day 8: Following our now well established pattern of rising before sunrise, we’ll return to our Greater Sage-Grouse lek to enjoy the manic sunrise activities of these giant prairie grouse.

Only the pre-dawn darkness greets us as we arrive atop a sage covered hilltop that Greater Sage-Grouse have declared perfect for their lek. Weather cooperating, we should be treated to an amazing show by these large, somewhat odd looking birds. While their displays aren’t as manic as the closely related Gunnison Sage-Grouse, they remain a riveting spectacle.

After breakfast we’ll tour the North Park area visiting several lakes & ponds that my be bustling with a surge of newly arrived Spring migrants. If there is sufficient open water, we may see Cinnamon Teal performing their first courtships of the Spring. We will spend some time photographing ducks and grebes before lunch and a break.

After our nap we will return to the lek or if activity is low we may work on shooting Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow or Mountain Bluebird. This part of North Park is also the best area in Colorado to view Moose. With luck we may see several of these decidedly odd creatures before our day ends. Night Walden, CO

Day 9: One final intimate experience with the Greater Sage-Grouse, and we will be off to Craig in search of newly arrived migrants setting up territories. What we find will be determined by weather and local conditions as this time of year in Colorado is very unpredictable! It should make for an exciting surprise. Night Craig, CO

Day 10: Pre-dawn departure for our Sharp-tailed Grouse lek. Much like Greater Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse are frantic, energetic and vocal during their displays—even more so! Everyone witnessing their antics enjoys the show. It should make for another morning workout for our shutters! Night: Craig, CO

Sharp-tailed Grouse – Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen ©

Day 11: Another pre-dawn morning with the Sharp-tailed Grouse and we are off to Montrose.

We’ll travel over the scenic Blue Mesa with a chance to find several montane species of interest—Clark’s Nutcracker, Williamson’s Sapsucker and Pygmy Nuthatch among others. As we travel off of the mesa, we’ll be greeted by fabulous views of the Gunnison Basin and one of Colorado’s most reliable locations for Lewis’s Woodpeckers. Hopefully the Lewis’s will cooperate for some images. We continue to Montrose, Colorado, gateway to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park where we’ll have a late afternoon visit to search for Dusky Grouse. Night Montrose

Day 12: After breakfast, we’ll travel back to the impressive Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The canyon scenery, particularly from overlooks suspended above the canyon, is spectacular beyond belief and there are few places where it’s easier to find Dusky Grouse—the Rocky Mountain split from Blue Grouse—Pinyon Jay and Juniper Titmouse from established paths and roadways.

After our customary midday break we return to Black Canyon of the Gunnison for more time and photo ops with the Dusky Grouse.

Dusky Grouse displaying by Kim & Cindy Risen ©

Day 13: After breakfast, we will return to Black Canyon of the Gunnison for some final time with Dusky Grouse or other birds depending on how well we have done so far. Then we will leave for Dillon and along the way we’ll stop at Monarch Pass for montane birds like American Three-toed Woodpecker, Clark ’s Nutcracker, Pine Grosbeak. Our journey to Dillon will be broken by birding, a lunch break and to check on an American Dipper nest for possible photo ops. Night Dillon

Day 14: This morning after breakfast we’ll search for White-tailed Ptarmigan again at Loveland Basin if previous visits resulted in no sightings or photos. With the unpredictable weather this time of year in Colorado this gives us a second chance at the Ptarmigan if weather or snow keep us from getting there early in the trip.

The Tour concludes at Denver’s airport about 12:00 noon with plenty of time before your departing flights.

White-tailed Ptarmigan in its dapper winter plumage.

Leader: Rick Bowers

TOUR PRICING AND INFORMATION

THIS TRIP IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE PARTICIPANTS WITH ONE LEADER.

All amounts are quoted in United States dollars and are based upon double occupancy.

TOUR COST: $3395, Single Supplement is $575.

COST: The cost of this trip, based on a minimum group size of THREE is $3395.00 from Denver, Colorado. If the final group is smaller than three participants, a small group supplement may be charged.

EXTRA LOGISTICAL SERVICES: Should you wish NatureScape Tours to put arrangements in place for an early arrival prior to the tour’s start or extend your stay after the tour’s conclusion, please contact our office prior to your tour’s scheduled departure date as far in advance as possible. Such arrangements could range from nights at our first hotel of the tour to an extended stay of a week or more. Our staff can easily make seamless arrangements for you that could include transfers, hotel rooms, transportation and excursions. We can often provide these services at our contracted group rates — as long as we receive your request far enough in advance.

REGISTRATION: THIS TRIP IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE PARTICIPANTS WITH ONE LEADER! A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 and completed registration form are required to confirm space. Without these, no one is considered registered. Registrations are taken on a first-come first-served basis with priority based on the postmark date.

COST INCLUDES: Accommodations based on two persons sharing a two bedded room. We select good hotels convenient to our birding destinations. For single rooms a single supplement will be charged. We try to supply roommates when possible, but we can’t always find one. If we cannot find you a roommate, you will be charged the added cost of single accommodations. Expert guide service. All transportation, including internal segments described in the itinerary. Transportation may be by private or chartered car, station wagon, van or bus, and by canoe, boat or ferry. Taxes & Local Fees. All group admissions, park entry fees and access fees are included in the tour price.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Not included are transportation to or from Denver, Colorado, excursions not included in the itinerary, meals away from breakfast at some hotels, tips for restaurant wait staff, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, juices, mineral waters and other beverages away from included meals, room service charges, souvenirs, insurance of any kind, telephone calls and use of TV not included in the room rate and overweight baggage fees.

MEAL COSTS: Only meals indicated in the itinerary are included in the cost of this tour (included hotel breakfasts). Because a person can eat quite well for as little as $25 per day or they can choose to spend three or four times that amount for a single day, depending upon your choices, we do not include meals where we cannot control the costs. NatureScape Tours has a policy of NOT overcharging one person to cover another’s POTENTIAL meal choices—which we would have to do if all meals were budgeted into the cost of this tour.

TIPS: All expected gratuities encountered during your tour (luggage porters, bus drivers and local guides) is included in the cost of your tour. However, if you feel your NatureScape leader, local guide or lodge personnel have given you exceptional service, it is perfectly suitable for you to bestow any gratuity you elect. We strongly stress that such tips are completely optional and solely at your discretion.

UNANTICIPATED COSTS: Rarely we have had unexpected costs. Cancellation of a flight or train has required staying in a hotel an extra night, hiring vehicles for extra excursions and other services. At times schedule changes or route changes have been necessary. If such changes are proposed and accepted by participants, it is with the understanding that they accept the obligation to pay any extra unanticipated costs.

On all of our tours, participants are responsible for any extra expenses incurred from deviations to our scheduled tour itinerary which result from events out of our control (additional hotel nights, transfers and transportation by air, water or ground). During Spring in the western mountains this could be a rare weather related event (heavy snows are possible into July!), or could be a result of flight or rail cancellations, labor strikes, acts of God and the like.

DATE OF COST QUOTATION: May 15, 2019

We can only quote current costs. Tour planning begins more than a year before the tour runs. While we try to arrive at our best estimates, we can’t predict fluctuation of currency exchange rates, increases in hotel or vehicle rates outside of our negotiated contracts, etc. Therefore, we reserve the right to increase the tour cost when there are justifiable reasons. However, we make a sincere effort to arrive at the closest possible estimate and have even absorbed small increases at times to avoid raising tour costs to participants. Many of our suppliers have gone to surcharges in their contracts with NatureScape Tours as a means to offset the uncertainties inherent in such long distance planning. The two most prevalent are:

FUEL: In today’s volatile oil market, it’s difficult, nay, impossible, to accurately project fuel costs into the distant future. Prices for our tours are based upon fuel rates reasonably expected at the time of your tour’s start. While NatureScape Tours does everything possible to maintain the quoted price of your tour, with a dramatic shift in fuel prices, it may be necessary to charge a fuel surcharge. If such a surcharge is levied, every effort will be made to minimize the cost passed along to you. In almost all cases, these are additional charges being assessed NatureScape Tours by our service suppliers and vendors who have exercised their right, under their contracts with NatureScape Tours, to increase prices caused by substantial changes in their cost of fuel.

EXCHANGE RATES: As with oil, it’s impossible, to accurately project foreign currency exchange rates into the distant future. Prices for our tours are based upon the rate of exchange reasonably expected at the time of your tour’s start. While NatureScape Tours does everything possible to maintain the quoted price of your tour, with a dramatic shift in exchange rates, it may be necessary to charge a surcharge. If such a surcharge is levied, every effort will be made to minimize the cost passed along to you. In almost all cases, these are additional charges being assessed NatureScape Tours by our service suppliers and vendors who have exercised their right, under their contracts with NatureScape Tours, to increase prices caused by substantial changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

PLEASE NOTE: In more than 30 years of running tours, we’ve NEVER had to assess an additional charge or surcharge to a client. We feel strongly that our staff’s careful planning and negotiation will continue our unblemished record.

TOUR CANCELLATION: Our cancellation policy is generous. We negotiate with each of our service providers and have contracted payment dates directly with them. Accordingly, all payments received by us, less your non-refundable deposit of $500.00, will be returned to you in full if we are notified in writing at least 121 days prior to tour departure date.

Due to contractual obligations with our hotels, trains, bus and van rentals, boat charters and other costs where we have contracted payment dates there are no refunds for cancellations within 120 days prior to tour departure.

Payments made on your behalf to purchase nonrefundable but changeable tickets may result in the loss of that cost should you decide to cancel. In some cases, if you can find a replacement to take your spot on your tour, we can change the name on such tickets at a lower cost than purchasing a new ticket. In these cases, the difference could be refunded to you provided enough notice has been given.

Some participants have lost substantial sums when illness or other circumstances prevented them from taking a tour or forced them to depart a tour early. We can’t offer refunds for unused portions of a tour unless agreed to before the tour. Trip cancellation insurance may reimburse you for your losses if you must leave a tour early for illness or other valid reason.

Therefore, we strongly advise you to buy trip cancellation insurance which may reimburse you the entire unrecovered amount if it becomes necessary for you to cancel, shorten or change your participation on your tour.

UNUSED PORTIONS OF A TOUR: We can’t offer refunds for unused portions of a tour unless agreed to before the tour. If you fail to show up to meet the tour or leave the tour early, regardless of the reason, we are under no obligation to provide any refund. Trip cancellation insurance may reimburse losses if you must cancel or leave a tour early for illness or other valid reason.

COMPLETION OF PAYMENT: Foreign travel agents, hotels, tour and boat operators, etc. require advance payment. We can offer better rates on our tours because of contracted payment dates and your cooperation helps avoid problems with your arrangements. For this tour we require final payment to be received in our office by January 15, 2020.

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Birdlist

Registration