Four Corners
Oct. 13-21, 2007 - Bird/Species Trip List
Peg Abbott, guide, and 8 participants

Note: The primary purpose of this trip was sightseeing and exploring the realm of Ancient Puebloan culture, but en route we had some nice wildlife species to observe as well…

Great Blue Heron Pond near Cortez
Canada Goose Pond near Cortez, several individuals, Many Farms Lake
Mallard Small pond in La Plata River drainage, route into Ute Mtn. Tribal Park, pond near Cortez, Many Farms Lake, pond near Hubbell Trading Post (HTP)
Ring-necked Duck Pond near Cortez, Many Farms Lake
Northern Shoveler Pond near Cortez, Many Farms Lake, pond near HTP
Ruddy Duck One male in pond near Cortez, severral at pond near HTP
Common Merganser One individual at the pond near Cortez
Osprey Quite a surprise flying over the parking lot at Hubbell Trading Post
Golden Eagle Kathy spotted an adult soaring over the dramatic entrance to Mesa Verde. We then saw a pair in Monument Valley, soaring close to their nest cliff
Red-tailed Hawk The only raptor seen regularly, almost daily, many very light individuals. One perched on a stump in Monument Valley, backlit, was memorable, as were the two Leigh spotted going into Ute Mtn. Tribal Park.
Cooper’s Hawk One large female seen on road along McElmo Creek
American Kestrel One seen on wires of road along McElmo Creek
Merlin Many Farms Lake
American Coot Pond near Cortez, Many Farms Lake
Wild Turkey La Plata River drainage en route to Mesa Verde
Killdeer Pond near Cortez, spotted by Julie
Long-billed Dowitcher Pond near Cortez, group of eight at Many Farms Lake
Franklin’s Gull Many Farms Lake, several
Mourning Dove Seen on several days, often along roadsides
Eurasian Collared Dove Bluff, Ganado
Northern Flicker Seen daily in good number
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker One individual checked carefully in Mesa Verde
Red-naped Sapsucker One individual seen by Kathy in Farmington, another at a pond in the La Plata River drainage
Downy Woodpecker Mesa Verde, in with mixed flock
Hairy Woodpecker Ute Mtn. Tribal Park, Mesa Verde, pair at Cottonwood grove near
Many Farms Lake
Western Scrub Jay Great views at Mesa Verde, then each day following
Steller’s Jay Ute Mtn. Tribal Park, Mesa Verde, Navajo NM
Pinyon Jay Flock of forty or more birds driving into Navajo NM, harvesting
nuts
Clark’s Nutcracker Great views of an individual that came to scope us out at a viewpoint in Ute Mtn. Tribal Park
Black-billed Magpie Seen on most days, highest numbers at Mesa Verde
American Crow Common near agricultural areas, towns
Common Raven Signature bird of the trip, seen daily in good number. Memorable moment in Monument Valley when four birds chasing created perfect shadows on high red rock cliffs, instantly morphing into eight!
Horned Lark Seen driving into Chaco Canyon, at Hovenweap, Monument Valley, though mainly seen in flight, crossing the road near Ganado
American Pipit Road into Chaco Canyon, flying high, then at Many Farms Lake
Barn Swallow Pond at Cortez, Many Farms Lake
Juniper Titmouse Ute Mtn. Tribal Park lunch spot, Mesa Verde, Navajo NM
Black-capped Chickadee Farmington and one at Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelly
Mountain Chickadee One of our more regular species seen, in woodland higher elevation areas
Brown Creeper Kathy spotted on near our lodgings at Mesa Verde
White-breasted Nuthatch Mesa Verde, McElmo Creek, several other locations
Red-breasted Nuthatch Flock along the trail in Mesa Verde
Canyon Wren Great looks at a pair on the trail in Mesa Verde, HO Canyon de Chelly
Rock Wren Perched up on a red rock monolith in Monument Valley
Ruby-crowned Kinglet One of our more regularly seen songbirds, daily
Golden-crowned Kinglet Great views on the trail at Mesa Verde
Western Bluebird Woodlands of Mesa Verde, outside Visitor’s Center at Navajo NM
Mountain Bluebird Seen on several days, often in groups in open shrublands and scattered juniper woodlands
Townsend’s Solitaire One perched quite close on the Petroglyph Trail, Mesa Verde
American Robin Seen on several days, large migrant flock at pond near Cortez
Loggerhead Shrike Monument Valley
Cedar Waxwing HO at Farmington while loading luggage
Starling Towns and agricultural areas
Yellow-rumped Warbler Farmington, Mesa Verde, Kayenta, Canyon de Chelly
Townsend’s Warbler One individual in large pine with Yellow-rumped Warblers at Farmington
Spotted Towhee Mesa Verde, Hovenweap, Chinle
Canyon Towhee Great looks at Chaco Canyon, Many Farms Lake
Vesper Sparrow Ute Mtn. Tribal Park, Chaco Canyon, Chinle
Lark Sparrow One individual on wire going into Ute Mtn.
Black-throated Sparrow Chaco Canyon, perched up for our inspection
Song Sparrow Seen and heard singing at pond near Cortez, Chinle
White-crowned Sparrow Our most numerous sparrow, seen daily
Dark-eyed Junco By far the most abundant small songbird, we saw clouds of Juncos daily in a variety of habitat!
Western Meadowlark Two seen on road into Ute Mtn. Tribal Park
Brewer’s Blackbird Agricultural areas along La Plata River, farms near Cortez
Red-winged Blackbird Pond near Cortez
Pine Siskin Chaco Canyon, Farmington, Aztec Ruins, Mesa Verde
Cassin’s Finch Good looks at Chaco Canyon, also Mesa Verde,
House Finch Farmington, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Chinle
House Sparrow Towns, Monument Valley

Mammals
Little Brown Bat Flying in Canyon de Chelly, likely disturbed from its day roost by a large passing jeep!
Cottontail Mesa Verde, Hovenweap, Monument Valley
Antelope Ground Squirrel Hovenweap, Monument Valley, also two begging at Chaco Canyon
Colorado Chipmunk Mesa Verde near the museum
Mule Deer Mesa Verde
Pronghorn First day along road to Farmington, later Don and Leigh spotted some driving towards Ute Mtn. Tribal Park

Reptiles and Amphibians
Gopher (Bull) Snake One on trail at Chaco Canyon, a small one
Striped Whipsnake Viewpoint at Ute Mtn. Tribal Park, basking in the sun having just shed its skin!

Butterflies / Other Insects & Invertebrates of note
Cabbage White Several locations
Tarantula Ute Mtn. Tribal Park viewpoint, Mesa Verde Cliff Palace
A fascinating red and black beetle in Mesa Verde, to be advised!
Velvet Ant Chaco Canyon trail

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