Jefferson County
Author(s): Nathan Pieplow, Andrew Spencer
County Seat: Golden
County Size: 768 square miles
Low Elevation: 5,243 ft. - Clear Creek on the Adams border
High Elevation : 11,589 ft. - Buffalo Peak
Best Birds : Thick-billed Kingbird (1992), Red-faced Warbler (1993), Bronzed Cowbird (1990)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: This westernmost urban metro county, affectionately known by locals as "Jeffco", contains lots of people, but luckily also lots of National Forest and Open Space. It does not extend far enough west to get into the very high country, but it does boast many fine foothill and low montane birding spots, some tightly packed urban and semi-urban migrant traps, and many excellent bodies of water ranging from the small to the very large.
Birding Locations
Chatfield State Park
Aliases - Massey Draw, Kingfisher Bridge, Catfish Flats, Plum Creek Delta, Waterton Parking Lot, Discovery Pavilion
Description - (Submitted by Andrew Spencer): Chatfield is a place of many distinctions. It has the largest bird list of any single location in Colorado, and a larger list than a couple of states. It has the most reliable breeding locations for Least Flycatcher and American Redstart anywhere in Colorado. Not only have multiple state firsts been seen here, but this is the only location that can claim two species of murrelet and one of the few that can claim all three jaegers. The county line situation can be somewhat complicated, especially on the lake. Generally, the county line is far closer to the east side of the lake than one would expect. Everything west of Kingfisher Bridge and the South Platte River is in Jefferson County, while the rest of the park and the reservoir is in Douglas.Thoroughly scanning the lake requires checking it from multiple viewpoints, though scanning from three or four spots on the west side will usually do the job. In the NW corner of the lake is the North Marina, which is the best place from which to scan that corner of the lake. Midway along the west side, the Swim Beach is the classic spot from which to scan that portion of the lake, and provides a decent view of most of the reservoir.
Kingfisher Pond, at the southern end of the lake, can produce not only its namesake, but also a multitude of gulls and ducks. By walking north along the eastern edge of the pond you can reach the Platte River Delta, one of the two good shorebird areas in Chatfield.
On the east side of the lake, the southernmost spot from which to scan is the New Heron Overlook, which provides a great view of the entire southern third of the lake. The next viewpoint for the lake is the Old Heron Overlook, which provides a good vantage for the middle third of the lake.
The Sand Spit, just north of the marina, is arguably the best location in the park. When the water is high on other parts of the reservoir, covering the mudflats, this may be the only location where shorebirds can be found. The trees on the spit are surprisingly productive, and tend to concentrate migrants more than anywhere else in the park. When the water is low there are often large flocks of gulls and even terns on the exposed sandbars. This can also be a good area from which to scan the lake, with almost the entire northern third of the lake in view.
The other contender for best location in the park is the nearby Plum Creek Delta. The main reason to come here in most birders' minds is the extensive mudflats that often form here in fall. Large flocks of shorebirds often gather here, and a dozen or more species can sometimes be found, with the occasional rarity. To view them well you may need to walk out onto the flats, acquainting yourself with the famous carnivorous mud of Plum Creek (a couple of Colorado birders were almost lost to this terrible menace). Usually if you don't go too far out onto the flats you will be okay.
The riparian habitat that surrounds the delta makes up one of the best migrant traps on the Front Range. The majority of the riparian corridor can be reached from the Plum Creek Nature Area parking lot. There are a multitude of trails here, one of which even crosses Plum Creek and follows the railroad tracks for a long ways.
When it comes to riparian habitat in Chatfield, the area along the South Platte River, on both sides, is unbeatable (well, maybe Plum Creek compares). This is area is usually referred to as "Upstream from Kingfisher Bridge," with the east side being in Douglas County, and the west in Jefferson County. Starting with the east side, follow the paved trail through the first patch of large trees (which usually has little else other than starlings) to where a small dirt trail continues south. It is here that the birding gets better, with migrant flocks in the spring or fall producing many a warbler species including the occasional rarity (Kentucky, Worm-eating, and Mourning have been seen, among other species).
The west side usually gets more coverage from the admiring birding public. A paved trail goes south for a little ways, and then a multitude of dirt trails continues on. This area is probably the best in the park for the local American Redstarts and Least Flycatchers, with at least one pair of each hanging out along the paved trail, and further down. If you continue south you will eventually come to a large cattail marsh, which has Marsh Wren and rails in season.
Probably the most neglected area in the park is below the dam, which has extensive riparian habitat as well as some ponds.
While you are at Chatfield, be sure to check out the Waterton Parking Lot area. The area around that parking lot provides little access to areas in Chatfield (though that is where you park to hike up Waterton Canyon), but the nearby Discovery Pavilion parking lot is the trailhead for trails heading downstream along the Platte River. It is here that the trail starting at the Kingfisher Bridge comes out. This area is often underestimated, but as the first state record of Prairie Warbler, or the second state record of Scott's Oriole, or the first park record of Fox Sparrow can attest, it can be quite productive. There is often a nesting American Dipper under the Waterton Bridge, though they also move upstream later in the summer.
Finally, just by driving the roads in and around Chatfield, you can often find Ferruginous, Swainson's, and Red-tailed Hawks, Golden Eagle, and Prairie Falcon in the summer, and in the winter all of these minus Swainson's but plus Rough-legged and Harlan's Hawks.
URL - Chatfield State Park
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Stream, Grassland/Prairie, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Marsh
Directions - From C-470 in southwest Denver, take Wadsworth Boulevard (CO 121) south to the main (Deer Creek) entrance, which is on the left (east) about a mile south of C-470. To get to the east (Plum Creek) entrance, from C-470 take Santa Fe Boulevard (US 85) south about four miles and turn right (east) on Titan Road/Parkway. Go about two miles and turn right (north) on Roxborough Park Road (CR 3) to the entrance.
Delorme - 40 D2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C3
Bear Creek Lake Park
Description - (Submitted by Mike Henwood) Lakewood's BCLP ($4 daily fee or annual pass) includes numerous trails along wooded riparian habitat (Bear Creek and Turkey Creek), across flat short grass prairie dotted with prairie dog colonies, among hilly short grass prairie interspersed with wetland drainages, and a trail around Bear Creek Reservoir (144 surface acres). A multiple use Trail Map and a Bird Checklist (over 150 species) are available at the entrance or at the Park Visitor Center.
Spring/Fall Migration – Park in the southeast corner of the parking lot above Pelican Point. Walk the east and north side of the parking lot to the pavilion and beginning of the Fitness Trail. Bird the trees and bushes around this area and then take the Cottonwood Trail around the lake and west along Bear Creek to the end of the Fitness Trail, where you can make a circle and take the Fitness Trail back to #1 and your starting point. During migration periods you can turn up several new songbird species daily. Some of the more unusual sightings have been Bobolink, Eastern Phoebe, Cassin's and Clay-colored Sparrows, and MacGillivray's, Nashville, and Worm-eating Warblers. This loop will turn up interesting breeding birds in late May/early June such as Lazuli Bunting, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird and Yellow-breasted Chat. The area south of the parking lot and north of Turkey Creek can also be productive.
Bear Creek Reservoir – Bird from Pelican Point, paying close attention to the inlets and coves along the west side of the lake. Some of the more interesting water birds have included an Ancient Murrelet, Horned Grebe, Barrow's Goldeneye, White-faced Ibis, and White Pelicans. The Reservoir can also be birded by parking at Mountain View and walking along the paved path on the east side. This is advisable in winter when much of the lake is frozen. There is usually a good variety of ducks in the spring and fall, and Black-crowned Night Herons are possible breeders in the area.
Bear Creek and Turkey Creek riparian woodlands – There are trails along both sides of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek which provide good birding any time of year. The park supports 3-4 pairs of Great Horned Owls and several pairs of Red-tailed Hawks which nest along the drainages as well as Kestrels and in some years Cooper's Hawks. A pair of Swainson's Hawks nested in the park in 2004.
Mountain View and Coyote Gulch – These open grassland areas provide good birding for open country migrants such as falcons, bluebirds, kingbirds, shrikes, Sage Thrashers, Say's Phoebe, and sparrows in March/April and August/early Sept. Check the light pole at the end of the road adjacent to the Fox Hollow Golf Course for Peregrine and Prairie Falcons as well as Kestrels. The marsh up Coyote Gulch has both Virginia and Sora rails. Soras wintered there during the winter of 2004-05.
Auto Loop and Bad Weather Birding – Driving the roads can be a productive way to bird the park after a snowstorm. Many of the birds will be close to the edge of the plowed roadway after a snowstorm. Spring snowstorms will especially yield some early migrants such as Mountain and Western Bluebirds, Shrikes and Say's Phoebe.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Grassland/Prairie, Marsh
Directions - From C-470 and Morrison Road (CO 8), go east on Morrison Road approximately 0.25 miles to the Bear Creek Lake Park entrance.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Wheat Ridge Greenbelt
Aliases - West Lake, Bass Lake, Tabor Lake, Prospect Park/Pond
Description - A deservedly famous metro-area migrant trap. Among other lesser claims to fame, this is the site of the first state record of Red-faced Warbler. Some local birders say that Wheat Ridge has not been as productive in recent years as it was previously, but this may be due to reduced coverage, as the habitat is still some of the very best in urban Denver. The greenbelt protects a nice wide swath of mature riparian cottonwood forest along Clear Creek that stretches more than a mile between Youngfield and Kipling streets, encompassing four good-sized ponds and quite a bit of brushy marsh and swampy second growth.
The west parking lot accesses the broadest section of the Greenbelt and is closest to the ponds. West Lake, a deep gravel pit visible from the parking lot, is the largest and most productive for waterfowl. Directly east of it is Bass Lake, a smaller and marshier place worth checking for puddle ducks, herons and rails. South of these two ponds, a series of swampy trails explores all manner of dense brush and wet draws, where you could find yourself swimming in sparrows and snipe--or, if you're not careful, stagnant water. Just to the north across the river is Tabor Lake, accessible by footbridge, whose tiny island is home to a small but tightly packed breeding colony of Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants.
The east parking lot is closer to the dense woods where the best migrants are often found, and Eastern Screech-Owl is semi-regular near the parking lot, in the first lone tree on the left that partially overhangs the main trail west. Look in and around the hole about ten feet up. If you don't see a roosting owl there, check nearby trees.
In between these parking lots, the greenbelt can be accessed from Prospect Park on the north side of the creek, which has a lake of its own, Prospect Pond, worth checking for waterfowl in season.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Marsh, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Stream
Directions - To get to the west parking lot: From I-70, take exit 266 and follow signs for West 44th Avenue. Turn west on 44th Avenue and then south on Youngfield Street. The parking lot is on the left (east) side of Youngfield just after the Clear Creek bridge. To get to the east parking lot: From I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about three quarters of a mile and turn right (west) on 41st Avenue. Follow 41st as it winds around the water treatment plant and look for signs to the greenbelt parking lot. To get to Prospect Park: Follow directions as to the east parking lot, but turn right (west) on 44th Avenue and go one mile west. Look for the entrance to Prospect Park on your left (south).
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Standley Lake
Description - The largest body of water in the county, this could be considered one of the Great Lakes of Denver, up there with Barr, Cherry Creek and Chatfield. It has terrific potential for waterbirds, attracting huge numbers of ducks, grebes, gulls, and occasionally shorebirds when the lake is low. Red-throated Loon, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, Little Gull and Arctic Tern are just a few of the rarities that have shown up at Standley. When the lake dries up substantially, the vegetation in the exposed basin can be good for sparrows.A pair of Bald Eagles breeds along the northwest shore of the lake, which is off-limits for this reason. However, the park maintains an eagle viewing blind a short distance west of the Visitor Center on the north side of the lake.
The lake can be effectively scanned from its southeast corner, from a pullout on the north side of 86th Parkway. Alternatively, you can drive in to the parking lot farther west along 86th, and walk a few hundred yards to scan the reservoir from the south. The main park entrance is on the north side, along 100th Avenue at Simms Street. There is a fee to drive into the park, but no fee for walk-in access.
URL - Standley Lake
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Prairie/Grassland
Directions - To get to the south side of the lake, take CO 121 (Wadsworth Blvd/Pkwy) north from I-70 (exit 269) or south from US 36 to 88th Avenue. Turn west onto 88th and drive west about one mile to the southeast corner of the lake, or about two miles to the parking lot on the south side. To get to the north side (main entrance), from CO 121 (Wadsworth) take 100th Avenue west to Simms; the park entrance is on the south side of the intersection.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 56 C4
Crown Hill Park/Lake/Cemetery
Aliases - Arvada Cemetery, Maple Grove Reservoir, Kestrel Pond
Description - Crown Hill Lake, in the park of the same name, is a good place to look for geese and for diving ducks, including Red-breasted Mergansers, in winter. Mew Gull has shown up also. On the north side of the park are a couple of groves worth birding. One is the fenced Wildlife Preserve around Kestrel Pond in the northwest corner of the property, which is closed to protect nesting birds from March to June. During the closure, the only access to this area is during guided nature walks scheduled by Jefferson County Open Space. Several blocks east of here is a shelterbelt of mature cottonwoods and underbrush, best accessed from a small roadside pullout on the south side of 32nd Avenue near Estes. This shelterbelt should be checked in spring and fall for migrant landbirds.East of the park and the lake is the massive Crown Hill Cemetery. Bird the evergreens in winter hoping for irruptive species like crossbills, Carduelis finches, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, and Bohemian Waxwing. Warblers may come through in spring and fall.
Another cemetery to check when you are in the area is the Arvada Cemetery about two miles north. Smaller, more secluded and (ironically) much "hillier" than Crown Hill, the Arvada Cemetery has an okay number of evergreens of varying sizes.
If waterbirds are your goal, a side trip to the medium-sized, steep-sided Maple Grove Reservoir may be of minor interest. 26th Street west of Crown Hill Lake will take you over the Maple Grove dam in 1.5 miles. The reservoir can be scanned from a couple of residential side streets, but the best option may be to park in Chester Portsmouth Park below the dam and walk back over it to scan.
URL - Crown Hill Park/Lake/Cemetery
Habitat - Park/Cemetery, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt
Directions - The park and the cemetery together take up a third of a section of land, stretching from Kipling in the west to Wadsworth on the east between 26th and 32nd Avenues in Wheat Ridge, two miles south of the Kipling and Wadsworth exits off I-70. Access to the lake is from 26th; there are two parking lots just east of Kipling. Access to the cemetery is from Wadsworth. Access to the northwest corner of the park, where Kestrel Pond is located, is via roadside parking on the south side of 32nd just east of Kipling. To get to the Arvada Cemetery, take Kipling north about three miles from Crown Hill (that is, a mile north of I-70 exit 267) to 58th Avenue. Turn right (east) on 58th and right (south) on Independence. The entrance to the cemetery is on the right (west) at the top of the hill.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch
Description - This, the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado, is probably the best place in the entire nation to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged Hawk. Even so, the hawkwatch only logs a few each spring. Hawkwatchers who hang around long enough should see the resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcon and Ferruginous Hawk are uncommon; Northern Goshawk is rare but regular. Volunteers also often see Rock Wren, and sometimes Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome. The hawkwatch is staffed by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory generally from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the first week of May.
Habitat - Foothill Shrub
Directions - From I-70 exit 259 (the Morrison exit), head south a short distance on CO 26 and turn left (east) into a Park-'n'-Ride parking lot (the "Stegosaurus" lot). Follow the steep and sometimes muddy trail through a gate and switchbacks up to the top of the ridge. At the top of the ridge turn left and go through the gate.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Genessee Mountain Park
Description - Genesee Mountain's high altitude (8284 feet) in Genesee Mountain Park provides excellent foothills Ponderosa Pine habitat for ponderosa species. It boasts several nesting pairs of Williamson's Sapsuckers. On a 2007 DFO field trip, nesting pairs were seen and heard between the Picnic Shelter and the mountain peak. Other nesting species include all three Nuthatches, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Western Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, Gray-headed Junco, Mountain Chickadee, and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Warblers are rare, except for Yellow-rumped. Red-Crossbill and Cassin's Finch are common in the winter. The lower slopes of Genesee Mountain to the west can be birded by driving from the Shelter back a short distance to a sharp near-180-degree right turn, onto Genesee Avenue. A Dusky Grouse was seen more than 20 years ago near here. Stop at Elk Pasture, with good habitat for nesting Mountain Bluebird, and an excellent view for raptors. The road extends to the Bison Pasture and the Chief Hosa entrance to I-70.
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Mountain Meadow, Foothill Shrub
Directions - From I-70 take Genesee Exit 254 only 20 miles west of Denver, turn left (south) at the stop sign, cross over I-70, turn right on the road marked Genesee Park. In about a mile you come to a parking lot on the right; you can walk up the hill from here or stay on the road, keeping always to the right, to a large parking lot for the reservations-only large stone Picnic Shelter. Small picnic tables, parking places, and the Protected Historic Nesting Tree are on the left side. The road continues up to the dead end parking lot at the Genesee Mountain peak, marked by the historic 1911 Daughters of the American Revolution Flagpole. The Genesee Mountain Park developed for picnic, birding, and recreational use is only a small part of the 2400-acre Genesee Park purchased by the City of Denver in 1912, whose boundaries are shown on the Evergreen topographic quadrangle map (1997 USGS Evergreen Quadrangle, Colorado-Jefferson County 7.5 Minute Topographic Map Series). It is mostly north of I-70, extends three miles to Clear Creek, and is mostly closed to the public except for named trails; the north part has no birding records.
Delorme - 39 C7, 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Red Rocks Park
Aliases - Morrison Park, Matthews/Winters Park
Description - This is an excellent site for scenery as well as birds. The magnificent red cliffs here provide the perfect backdrop for newcomers to the west to spot their first Prairie Falcon, White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Western Scrub-Jay, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Virginia's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Spotted Towhee, or Lazuli Bunting. All these birds are regular in the park. Look for the falcon and the wren on the cliffs, the swifts soaring around rock faces or zooming down the gully behind the Visitor's Center, the phoebe and the bluebird in open areas, and the other birds in the riparian tangles along the base of the cliffs or along the stream. Bushtit and Western Bluebird are rare but regular. Rosy-finches used to roost on the cliffs in the winter, but they are no longer likely here. Northern Pygmy-Owl has been seen in winter in the cottonwoods along the highway bordering the east side of the park.
Morrison Park, just across Highway 8 from Red Rocks Park, is a classic spot for American Dipper. They breed under the bridge at the west end of the parking lot and can usually be found here at any time of year. Western Scrub-Jay, Spotted Towhee and (in summer) Lesser Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak can also be seen in the parking lot.
Adjacent to Red Rocks Park on the north and just across the street from the Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch is Matthews/Winters Park. A pretty impressive mature riparian stringer, in the "I can't believe it's not birded!" category, runs right past the parking lot. Easily combined with a trip to Red Rocks, Matthews/Winters should be checked for landbirds at any season and for pygmy-owls in winter. This is a popular park and parking may be scarce on weekends and weekday afternoons.
Habitat - Cliff Face, Lowland Riparian, Foothill Shrub
Directions - From I-70 exit 259, take CO 26 south 1.5 miles to the Red Rocks Park entrance. Alternatively, take C-470 to the Morrison exit and take Morrison Road west into its namesake town. Follow signs to get to either Red Rocks (north of Morrison Road) or Morrison Park (south of it).
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Description - The evergreens have the same potential for winter finches as the nearby Crown Hill Cemetery. In addition, Mount Olivet has several ponds which may have wild waterfowl mixed in with the many feral birds. Look especially for winter flocks of geese.
Habitat - Park/Cemetery
Directions - From I-70, take exit 266 and follow signs for West 44th Avenue. Follow 44th West past the interstate; the cemetery and its entrance will be on the right (north).
Delorme - 40 B1-B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Lower Church Lake
Description - This small lake can be empty or full, and this description applies both to the water level and the number of birds. Check for ducks, gulls, or shorebirds depending on water level and season. Sometimes the density of birds is truly impressive.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - From US 36, take the 104th Avenue/Church Ranch Boulevard exit. Follow 104th/Church Ranch south and west about half a mile to Wadsworth Boulevard (not to be confused with Wadsworth Parkway). Turn right (north) on Wadsworth Blvd to the lake on the right in about three quarters of a mile.
Delorme - 40 A2
Roads of Colorado - 56 C4
Golden Gate Canyon
Aliases - Mount Galbraith Park
Description - A narrow, shallow, scenic canyon. The first good parking area is at Mount Galbraith Park, on the south side of the road a few miles west of CO 93. There is lots of foothill scrub here, and at least downstream, a decent patch of riparian cottonwoods. This area is good for buntings of various stripes (Indigo, Lazuli, and everything in between), in addition to normal foothills birds such as Virginia's Warbler, Rock Wren and both towhees. Listen for Canyon Wren at the cliffy canyon mouth. The main road continues up to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is covered under Gilpin County. Northern Pygmy-Owl is possible especially in winter. It has bred in the adjacent Crawford Gulch, not far from the west entrance to White Ranch Open Space (q.v.).
Habitat - Cliff Face, Stream, Lowland Riparian, Foothill Shrub, Ponderosa Forest, Mountain Meadow
Directions - From the intersection of CO 93 and CO 6 in Golden, travel north approximately two miles to the intersection with Golden Gate Canyon Road. The parking lot for Mount Galbraith Park is on the left (south) side of Golden Gate Canyon Road about two miles from CO 93. The turnoff to Crawford Gulch Road is on the right in about another 6 miles.
Delorme - 39 B7, 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 A1-B1
Belmar Historic Park
Aliases - Kountze Lake
Description - This park has had far more rarities than its share of habitat would suggest, probably because it is birded more regularly than other similar sites. The area around Kountze Lake, especially on the west side, has some excellent swampy and brushy habitat. It is a good spot for Black-crowned Night-Heron, and Yellow-crowned has been seen. Good numbers of ducks, regularly including Hooded Merganser, usually winter here, as do some sparrows. A few vagrant eastern warblers are found every spring.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Park/Cemetery
Directions - From I-70 exit 269, head south on Wadsworth approximately 5.5 miles. About a quarter mile south of Alameda, turn right (west) on Ohio Avenue and go straight about two blocks to the Irongate parking lot. The lake is just to the west of this lot.
Delorme - 40 C2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Clear Creek Greenbelt
Aliases - Anderson Park
Description - Don't let the fancy name fool you--this is just the downstream extension of the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, and it is separated from that venerable birding spot only by Kipling Street. However, no through trail connects the two greenbelts. The stretch of Clear Creek from Kipling about three quarters of a mile east to Anderson Park has some very respectable riparian habitat that is worth birding especially in migration. Access is either from a parking lot on the northeast side of Kipling and Clear Creek, or from Anderson Park.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Stream, Lowland Riparian
Directions - To get to the west end: from I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about half a mile and turn left into the parking lot right before Clear Creek. To get to Anderson Park: from I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about half a mile to 44th and turn left (east). The entrance to Anderson Park is on the right (south) in about five blocks.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
White Ranch Open Space
Description - This large park has two entrances. In good weather the eastern one is usually swarming with mountain bikers and hikers, while the more remote western one is merely well-traveled. Nonetheless the east side can be a good birding spot. The first mile of the trail runs through a narrow trail easement, meaning you cannot cross the fences into private property. Although narrow, the easement contains some nice thick riparian tangles along Van Bibber Creek, worth checking in season for Yellow-breasted Chat and MacGillivray's Warbler among other skulkers. Black-throated Blue and Blue-winged Warblers have been reported from here. Keep an eye out in the dry scrub for Bushtit and other uncommon foothills birds. After a mile and a half the trail reaches the park proper and birders are given room to wander through the open, dry ponderosa forest.The west entrance to White Ranch, off Crawford Gulch Road, gets you up much higher into an area of mountain meadows with scattered ponderosa groves, a fine place to search for Mountain and Western Bluebirds, Pygmy Nuthatch and the like. In return for spending an extra half hour getting to this entrance, you will be rewarded with a crowd reduction of approximately 80%.
URL - White Ranch Open Space
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Foothill Shrub, Mountain Meadow, Ponderosa Forest
Directions - To get to the eastern (lower) parking lot: from the intersection of CO 93 and CO 6 in Golden, drive north on 93 about 2 miles to West 56th Avenue (sign for White Ranch Open Space). Turn left (west) and follow 56th about a mile until it ends at a T. Turn right into the parking lot. To get to the western (upper) parking lot: from the intersection of CO 93 and CO 6 in Golden, drive north on 93 about one mile to Golden Gate Canyon Road and turn left (west). In about 4 miles, turn right (north) onto Crawford Gulch Road. The park is on the right a few miles up this road.
Delorme - 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B1
Walton Reservoir and Leyden Lake
Aliases - Fortune Reservoir, Leyden Lake
Description - Walton Reservoir, also known as Fortune Reservoir, is a large new treeless reservoir just a couple of miles west of Standley Lake. It is deep and steep-shored, and worth checking in migration for things like scoters and loons. Scanning is easy from the shoulder of CO 72.
A short distance south of it is Leyden Lake, a private lake difficult to scan from the public road. Leyden has been so dry for so long that you are likely to find it reclaiming lakebed from various invasions of woody second-growth. The resulting emergent vegetation can be attractive to slough ducks and coots. If the place is ever opened to the public (as seems possible), the tangles on the west end of the lake will be an excellent spot to look for migrants.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From I-70 in the west Metro area, turn north onto CO 72 at exit 266. CO 72 follows Ward Road north, then jogs west along 64th Street, then north again on Indiana. To scan Leyden Lake, turn left off Indiana onto 82nd Avenue. To scan Walton (Fortune) Reservoir, keep going north on Indiana to where CO 72 diverges from it, and turn off Indiana to follow the highway to the west. The reservoir is on the north side of the highway about half a mile west of Indiana
Delorme - 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Arvada Reservoir
Aliases - Blunn Reservoir, Tucker Lake
Description - Also known as Arvada/Blunn Reservoir or simply as Blunn Reservoir, this is a decent-sized lake which charges admission, at least for those driving into the park. Depending on the season, it may not open until well after first light, and may close well before dusk. Any waterbird could show up here. The west end of the lake, accessible by walking trail, has some very decent riparian thickets worth a check in migration despite their proximity to CO 93.
Just to the northwest of Arvada Reservoir is Tucker Lake, at the center of its own City-of-Arvada Open Space. Tucker is medium-sized and nondescript, but because it is topographically secluded, it can actually be rather ducky at times.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian
Directions - To get to Arvada (Blunn) Reservoir, from CO 93 north of Golden and south of Boulder, head east a quarter mile on W. 64th/66th Avenue to the park entrance on the left (north). To get to Tucker Lake, continue east on 66th a short distance and take your first left. Follow this road until it winds around to the east/northeast. From this area, to view the lake, you must park along one of the tributary streets of 72nd Avenue and walk a hundred yards north through the open space gate and over the hill..
Delorme - 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B1
Coors Ponds
Description - There are a lot of ponds just east of the Coors properties in northeast Golden. The big ones can be good for rare waterfowl such as scoters and swans. They often have more wintering Red-breasted Mergansers than any other place in the county. Most any species of duck could occur here, so keep an eye out.
The largest of these ponds is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of McIntyre Street and CO 58. It is best scanned from the east shoulder of McIntyre, right across from the back entrance to Coors. There is another large pond directly east of it which can be mostly scanned by driving south on McIntyre, east (left) on 32nd, and north on Gardenia. Respect the private residences on Gardenia.
Several other ponds north of CO 58 are worth checking. One is on the east side of McIntyre between 44th and 48th--the water is only visible from the northwest corner. The other ponds are along 44th just west of McIntyre--the first two on the south side, the third on the north just before Salvia, which is the entrance road to Tony Grampsas Park (see the Golden section).
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - To get to this area, from I-70 exit 265 in west Metro Denver, head west on CO 58 towards Golden. To get to the ponds south of CO 58, turn left (south) on McIntyre and follow directions as above. To get to the ponds north of CO 58, turn right (north) on McIntyre.
Delorme - 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Hyatt Lake and nearby ponds
Aliases - Kelly Lake, Broad Lake, Boyd Lake
Description - Though large enough to be labeled on most maps, Hyatt Lake is nearly impossible to scan, since it is almost completely surrounded by homes and private parks. It is only visible from the parking lot of the Jefferson II Research Center, an office complex on the east side of McIntyre at about the equivalent of 58th Avenue. The entrance road to the complex also provides the only possible views of Kelly Lake to the southeast, a small pond far enough from the road to be attractive to various waterfowl.
A half-mile north along McIntyre is Broad Lake, which can be busy with ducks and even shorebirds if water levels are right. Since the industrial complex on the east side expressly prohibits trespassing, birders' best option is to park at the stripmall on the corner of McIntyre Parkway and 64th and then walk a hundred yards back along the sidewalk to scan the lake. (Note that if you are eastbound on 64th, you will encounter McIntyre Street before you encounter McIntyre Parkway--and there is no access from one to the other at this point. Stay on 64th to the Parkway.)
Another interesting seasonal pond is just a short distance west. This one, called Boyd Lake (not to be confused with the much larger and birdier Boyd Lake in Larimer County), is best scanned by driving west on 64th a half mile from McIntyre and turning left onto Quaker. The pond can be scanned from Quaker at a distance through a fence (scope recommended).
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Urban/Suburban
Directions - To scan Hyatt and Kelly Lakes from the Jefferson II Research Center, from I-70 exit 265 in west Metro Denver, head west on CO 58 towards Golden. Turn right (north) on McIntyre and follow it north about two miles to the Research Center on the right. You will have to drive all the way back through the complex of parking lots to the east side in order to scann Hyatt Lake. To get to Broad Lake, continue north on McIntyre another half mile. To get to Boyd Lake, turn left off McIntyre onto 64th, go west a half mile, and turn left (south) onto Quaker.
Delorme - 40 B1
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Golden
Aliases - Lions Park, Crusher Fire Trail, Tony Grampsas Park, Colorado School of Mines campus, Mines Park
Description - This beer-brewing suburb of Denver, hemmed in by hogback ridges and foothills, has a few spots worth checking out. At the west edge of downtown, along Clear Creek, is Lions Park, a citified plaza with a decent little stand of mature trees surrounding a little fishing pond. The larger water storage ponds just to the west may be of more interest. The creekpath here has some riparian habitat, but nothing really special.
To the east along 10th Street, which winds past the Coors headquarters and becomes Denver's 44th Avenue, is the Crusher Fire trail, which follows the Church Ditch along the west side of Tony Grampsas Park. The trail is nicely wooded for most of its 1.3 mile length. Access is via a small trailhead on Easley road about half a mile north of 44th, or (informally) by walking west from the parking lot in Tony Grampsas park. You can also get to this area by heading east along the bike trail that follows Clear Creek.
Another place worth checking for migrants is the Colorado School of Mines campus, which has many large deciduous trees, and the nearby housing complex known as Mines Park, which abuts an incredibly dense thicket of mixed riparian and coniferous growth. This thicket, on the south side of 19th Street (a.k.a. Lookout Mountain Road) west of the housing complex, is the property of the Colorado School of Mines.
If you're chasing irruptive winter finches, the evergreens in the Golden Cemetery might be worth a check.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Stream, Lowland Riparian, Park/Cemetery, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - The city of Golden is at the western edge of the Denver Metro area, around the junction of CO 93, CO 58 and US 6. To get to Lions Park, take CO 58 west from I-70 and exit at Washington Avenue. Follow Washington south three blocks and turn right. Lions Park is three blocks ahead on the left. To get to Tony Grampsas Park and the Crusher Fire Trail, head west on Hwy 58 from Denver and exit at McIntyre Avenue. Head north a quarter mile on McIntyre and turn left on 44th Avenue. Tony Grampsas Park is on the right in under a mile. Easley Road is just past the park on the right. To get to the Colorado School of Mines campus, take CO 58 to US 6 east, or take westbound I-70 to the US 40/West Colfax exit (exit 262) and follow signs to US 6 west. From US 6, the campus can be reached by heading east on 19th Street. Mines Park can be reached by heading west on 19th. To get to the Golden Cemetery, follow directions from westbound I-70 above. Just after getting on US 6 West, turn right (north) on Ulysses Street, then bear left at the fork in the road. The cemetery is on the left.
Delorme - 40 B1-C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B1-B2
Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve
Description - This park, perched atop a rampart foothill, can either be accessed from the southwest via I-70 or from the northeast via a breathtaking road out of Golden. It is filled with dense ponderosa forest with little undergrowth. Parts of the connecting trails through Denver Mountain Park property at Colorow Point and Jeffco Open Space Windy Saddle park are a bit steep, but most of the actual preserve is easy hiking and walking on about two miles of trails.
URL - Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest
Directions - From westbound I-70, take exit 256 and turn right onto US 40. From eastbound I-70, take exit 254 and turn left onto US 40. From this road turn north on South Lookout Mountain Road (sign). Alternatively, from the intersection of US 6 and 19th Street in Golden, follow 19th Street west to a left turn where it becomes Lookout Mountain Road. Coming from Golden the road affords terrific views, but it is very narrow, windy and slow.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Robert F. Clement Park
Aliases - Clement Park, Johnson Lake
Description - This urban park has some good trees along with a few small conifers and a tiny marsh, but no underbrush. The main attraction of this location is the large Johnson Lake on the west end of the property, which has a good trail running around it. The lake can be scanned either from the park or from the shopping center on the north side. Look here for ducks and other waterbirds in season, especially during the winter.
Habitat - Lake, Urban/Suburban
Directions - From C-470, take the Wadsworth Blvd exit and travel north for 4 miles to Bowles Blvd. The shopping center is on the right (east) just before this intersection. To reach the park itself, go right on Bowles for half a mile to the park entrance, on the right.
Delorme - 40 D2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C3
Bear Creek Greenbelt (Jefferson portion)
Description - As with the Denver County portion of this greenbelt, the part in Jefferson County contains some awesome and woefully underbirded riparian habitat. It certainly looks as good as the much more famous Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, and given the same amount of coverage should produce great birds. The greenbelt also contains some good-sized cattail marshes, large fields, and numerous small ponds, mostly towards the western end. Access is mainly from two roads that cross the greenbelt, where you can find good parking areas and access to the trail system. The most efficient way to bird this location is to use a bicycle. The main draw here is migrants in season, but look also for breeders such as Eastern Screech-Owl, and winter residents including sparrow flocks.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Marsh, Grassland/Prairie, Urban/Suburban
Directions - The two best access points for the greenbelt in Jefferson County are from S. Estes Street, which can be reached from either Morrison Road or Hampden Ave, a little over a half mile west of Wadsworth. Take the street to where it crosses Bear Creek, and the parking lot is on the east side. The other access point is along Old Kipling Ave, which is reach by taking Kipling Pkwy to Dartmouth Ave, just north of Hampden Ave, and head east and following the road as it bends to the north and becomes Old Kipling Ave. The parking lot is on the east side of the road as it crosses Bear Creek.
Delorme - 40 C2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Harriman Lake and Henry's Lake
Aliases - Henry's Lake
Description - These two small lakes near Marston are dwarfed by their larger relative, but definitely worth a look if you are in the area. Both have produced Greater Scaup on numerous occasions, and who knows what other goodies could show up? Harriman Lake has a nice trail around it, and some small groves of tress along the edge. Henry's Lake is only scannable from the side of a busy road, and given its location next to a Federal prison, use of a scope may not be the wisest course. Use your best judgment.
Habitat - Lake, Lowland Riparian
Directions - Both of these roads are along Quincy Ave. For Henry's Lake, drive west on Quicy from Wadsworth for less than half a mile and pull off on the south side of the road to scan the lake. For Harriman Lake, take Quincy a mile west of Wadsworth to Kipling St., and take a left (south). The parking lot for the lake is on the right (west) almost immediately.
Delorme - 40 C2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Kendrick Lakes
Aliases - Smith Reservoir, Main Reservoir, East Reservoir, Addenbrook Park
Description - Combined, these four medium sized reservoirs in southern Lakewood provide the perfect mix of habitats for an urban birding spot. However, they rarely receive birding attention, and their true potential is unknown. If you are in the area birding Belmar Park or Marston Reservoir, a short side-trip to these ponds could be well worth your while.
The namesake lake here is Kendrick Reservoir, the southeasternmost one. Check the water for ducks and the trees, especially in the southwest corner, for migrants. The real draw here, however, is the large marsh that rings the lake, most thickly at the western end where a boardwalk runs through it. Rails, Marsh Wren, and maybe even a bittern are possible here. During migration and winter, this would be a good spot to look for Swamp Sparrow as well as other species.
The neighboring lake to the west is Smith Reservoir, the largest lake of the group, but possibly the least productive for ducks. However, this lake boasts one of the best riparian groves in the area, especially on the north and west sides. This place is just begging for some rarities. The easiest way to check the grove is to walk the trail on the north side, and to walk along Moore Street along the west edge up to the apartment complex. Smith Reservoir also seems to have the best shore when low, so be sure to keep an eye out for shorebirds.
The two other lakes in the complex are to the north. East Reservoir is probably the best lake for ducks, and large rafts of divers and dabblers are possible here. This lake is very reminiscent of Little Gaynor Lake in Boulder County. There are some small marshes ringing the water, but no trees of any kind. Scan from Arkansas Avenue on the south. Just to the west is Main Reservoir, where you can find riparian groves that are even better than those at Smith Reservoir. Look here for migrants in season and sparrows during the winter. The lake itself can be good for ducks as well as American White Pelican and abundant cormorants on the sticks in the middle of the water. A good trail goes around the entirety of the lake, providing access to all the good trees, most of which are on the south and west sides.
Nearby Addenbrook Park is barely worth mentioning. It contains some small, sparse trees and a little pond.
Habitat - Lake, Lowland Riparian, Urban/Suburban
Directions - To reach Kendrick Reservoir, take Jewell Ave west from Wadsworth to the entrance of the park, on the right in a little less than a mile. By driving a little further west along Jewell Ave you can find pullouts in parking lots that let you scan the west end of the lake, or access the boardwalk.
Smith Reservoir is reached by going a little further along Jewell Ave to Moore Ct, and taking a right. You can scan some of the lake from here, and bird the thick brush and trees till you get to the apartment complex. The north end to the lake can be reached by taking Jewell to Kipling and turning north to Florida Ave, in about a half mile and taking a right (east). The entrance to the north end of the park is on the right a short distance from Kipling.
East Reservoir is also reached from Florida Ave, but by taking your first left off of Kipling onto Arkansas Ave. The reservoir is on the left along Arkansas, about a quarter mile from Florida.
Main Reservoir can be reached by heading west on Florida Ave from Kipling rather than east, and turning into the parking lot on the right almost immediately.
Addenbrook Park is along the east side of Kipling a little less than a mile north of Florida Ave. The entrance to the park is just across from Exposition Ave.
Delorme - 40 C2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Bowles Reservoir #1
Description - This good-sized lake adjacent to Marston Reservoir is always worth a check when you are in the area. Greater Scaup can be found here just as regularly as on Marston, and large rafts of ducks often contain large numbers of Hooded Mergansers. Even a loon or two has shown up, and sometimes gull flocks from Marston roost here. The county line situation is complicated here--this lake is all in Jefferson County, but Marston and most of the surrounding trees are in Denver County.
Habitat - Reservoir
Directions - From Wadsworth and Bowles, travel north on Wadsworth to Belleview, and take a right. Follow Belleview for a short distance and take your first left onto S. Balsam St. Follow this road as it curves around and becomes W. Grand Ave. The best scanning point for this lake is on the right about 400 yards from S. Balsam.
Delorme - 40 D2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Hine Lake Park and Blue Heron Pond
Aliases - Blue Heron Pond
Description - This good-sized pond requires a small walk but can be a good spot to check for ducks and other waterbirds in season, especially the late fall and early winter. While there is only limited riparian growth, some nice fields surrounding the lake might be worth a look for grassland species.
Nearby, treeless Blue Heron Pond may not look like much, but as a 1995 record of Surf Scoter shows, there is always the potential for something rare to show up.
Habitat - Lake, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - Hine Lake Park is reached by taking the Bowles Ave exit from C-470 and traveling a short distance east, then turning right (south) onto Coal Mine Ave. The entrance for the park is on the left in a little less than a mile. To get to Blue Heron Park (home of Blue Heron Pond), from Bowles and Simms, head north on Simms to the second right, W. Brandt Place. Take a right and travel to a "T" with S. Quail Street. Take a left and travel to the entrance of the park, on the right.
Delorme - 40 D2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C3
Conifer area
Aliases - Flying J Ranch Open Space, Beaver Ranch Open Space, Newton Park, Meyer Ranch Open Space
Description - These four parks near Conifer are basically the same, and visiting just one would probably net you any target species. The best of the bunch is Flying J Ranch Open Space, where you can find abundant mixed-conifer woodland of high quality, interspersed with aspen groves, large meadows and even a small pond. Look here for Pygmy Nuthatch, Williamson's Sapsucker, migrating sparrow flocks in the meadows that can include Brewer's, Lincoln's, White-crowned, and even Fox Sparrows, and all the usual suspects for this elevation and habitat. There is even a slim possibility of Northern Pygmy-Owl during the winter.
Beaver Ranch Open Space, just south of Conifer, has all of the same habitats, as well as a nice willow-lined creek near the entrance. Look here for all the same species, as well as hummingbirds (including Rufous and Calliope in late summer) visiting thistles along the entrance road. Newton Park, just across the road to the north, is made up of three picnic sites that require advance reservation to use. However, you can walk into the park from Beaver Ranch. The habitat is the same, though for the most part a bit sparser, and this site is probably only worth visiting if you are really desperate.
If you haven't had enough of large meadows and mixed-conifer woodland, then visit Meyer Ranch Open Space, just northeast of Conifer. There is an extensive system of trails here that access some fairly good habitat, where you can expect to find the same species as Flying J.
Habitat - Mixed-Conifer Forest, Ponderosa Forest, Mountain Meadow, Pond
Directions - To reach Flying J Ranch, take highway 73 north out of Evergreen, and turn at the signed entrance on the left. To reach Beaver Ranch Open Space, take Foxton Road south out of Evergreen, and take an almost immediate right into the park. Newton Park is just across the road. Meyer Ranch Open Space is about a half mile east of Aspen Park along US-285.
Delorme - 39 D7, 40 D1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B3
South Valley Park
Description - This open space park is very reminiscent of Red Rocks Park, with numerous rock outcroppings, tons of thick foothills scrub, and some good riparian habitat along Deer Creek. Look here for species such as White-throated Swift, Canyon and Rock Wrens, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon nesting on the cliffs, Spotted and Green-tailed Towhees in the scrub, and migrants in the riparian habitat. American Dipper can sometimes be found along Deer Creek.
URL - South Valley Park
Habitat - Foothill Shrub, Lowland Riparian, Rimrock/Mesa
Directions - From the metro area, travel south on C-470 and exit westbound on Ken Caryl Avenue. Turn left onto South Valley Road to the park's north parking area. Alternately, from South Platte Canyon Road (S. Wadsworth and C-470) take Deer Creek Canyon Road west to the smaller, south parking area.
Delorme - 40 D1
Roads of Colorado - 72 C3
Pine Valley Ranch Open Space
Aliases - Pine Lake
Description - This large open space contains many of the typical mountain habitats, especially mixed-conifer woodland and riverside willow habitat. A good trail along an old narrow-gauge railroad bed follows the river for two miles through the property, and can be a good place to look for willow specialists like MacGillivray's Warbler and Lincoln Sparrow. American Dipper can be common along the river, and has nested just east of the parking lot. Also be sure to look for Canyon and Rock Wrens on the cliff edges south and east of the parking lot. There is also a large burn area north and west of Pine Lake, and American Three-toed Woodpeckers are reportedly regular here.
URL - Pine Valley Ranch Open Space
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Streamside Willow, Lake, Burn Area, Mixed-Conifer Forest
Directions - From U.S. Highway 285 at Pine Junction, turn southeast onto Pine Valley Road (County Road 126). Continue 5.8 miles toward the town of Pine, then follow the signs to the park.
Delorme - 49 A7
Roads of Colorado - 72 B4
FR 550
Description - This dirt road, which can be quite rough (at least in the spring after snow-melt has carved numerous washouts, and before the road has been graded), goes through a nice chunk of mixed-conifer and ponderosa woodland. Most of the species typical of this habitat can be found here, including Dusky Grouse and Pygmy Nuthatch. American Three-toed Woodpecker has been found near here, so keep an eye out. The best way to find them is to go to burn areas, most of which are accessed from the Tramway Trail, along this road 4.5 miles east of Pine Valley Road (CR 126).
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest
Directions - From Pine Valley Ranch Open Space, follow Pine Valley Road (CR 126) south to FR 550, on the right (west), 3.5 miles south of the town of Buffalo Creek.
Delorme - 50 B1
Roads of Colorado - 88 B1
Wellington Reservoir
Description - This medium-sized mountain reservoir is usually true to the calling of such reservoirs, having very little on it. However, you never know when it might come down with a bad case of South Park Scoter Syndrome. The southern end of the lake, where the stream empties into the lake, has a good selection of wet meadows and streamside willows and an extensive beaver pond system. Look here for MacGillivray's Warbler, Lincoln Sparrow, and possibly Fox Sparrow.
Habitat - Lake, Streamside Willow
Directions - From US-285 in Bailey, take CR 68 (Wellington Lake Road) south for 11 miles to the reservoir. The reservoir can also be reached via a convoluted system of roads from Pine Valley Ranch by taking Pine Valley Road south from the Open Space to South Buffalo Creek Rd, and taking that road west to the reservoir.
Delorme - 49 B7
Roads of Colorado - 88 A1
Stony Pass Road
Description - Continuing south from Wellington Reservoir, this dirt road (rough in the spring, and closed in the winter) provides good access to mixed-conifer woodland, along with aspen groves and streamside willows. The lower portions of this road to the north can be good for Williamson's Sapsucker, and the higher portions contain Northern Saw-whet Owl, in addition to the regular mountain species. Continuing south on this road, and then on CR 211 after the intersection, will bring you through more of the same habitat to the southern end of Jefferson County (where few birders have trodden).
Habitat - Mixed-Conifer Forest, Aspen Grove, Streamside Willow
Directions - From Wellington Reservoir, continue south on Wellington Lake Road, which becomes FR 560. Follow this road south over Stony Pass, and into the bowels of southern Jefferson County. An atlas is highly recommended if you decide to explore this area.
Delorme - 49 B7-C7
Roads of Colorado - 88 A1-B2
Reynolds Open Space Park
Description - This is yet another mid-elevation mountain park with ponderosa and mixed-conifer woodland. Both Northern Saw-whet Owl and Northern Pygmy-Owl are rumored to occur here, so keep an eye (and an ear) open. In addition to these high-quality species, most of the mountain specialties can be seen here, and American Three-toed Woodpecker has been reported.
URL - Reynolds Open Space Park
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest
Directions - From U.S. Highway 285 and Foxton Road, drive south 5.5 miles to the parking area on the south side of the road. There is also a parking lot near the north end of the park off County Road 97.
Delorme - 50 A1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B4
Cheeseman Reservoir
Description - This high mountain reservoir is probably not worth a visit for waterbirds (though you never know). Most of the surrounding forest burned in the Hayman Fire, so the main reason to come here would be for American Three-toed Woodpecker.
Habitat - Lake, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Burn Area
Directions - From the town of Deckers, follow CR 126 (Deckers Road) to the west to FR 211 in about 2 miles and take a left (south). Follow this road for 2.5 miles to the reservoir.
Delorme - 50 C1
Roads of Colorado - 88 B2
Bear Creek Canyon area
Aliases - Idledale, Little Park, Lair o' the Bear Park
Description - A good stretch of scenic Bear Creek Canyon is part of Bear Creek Canyon Park, accessible from Morrison Road (Highway 74). Check road signs for park boundaries and access. The river has dipper and a small riparian corridor, and the cliffs can produce Canyon Wren. Montane shrubland up the slopes should be good for a towhee or two.
Idledale, just upstream along Bear Creek, has some beautiful riparian habitat right in town. Little Park, along the highway on the west end of town, provides access to the stream and some large cottonwoods. The part of the park upslope across the river contains good mixed-conifer forest (mostly Douglas-fir).
Lair o' the Bear Park is contiguous with Little Park and connected to it by foot trail. Its parking lot is about a mile upstream along the highway. Schedule a nice big chunk of time here, because this is about as good as foothills riparian can get! Lair o' the Bear could probably rival Gregory Canyon if it got as much coverage. Look for American Dipper, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, MacGillivray's Warbler and American and Lesser Goldfinches here, as well as spring and fall migrants. You might stumble upon a pygmy-owl in winter.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Stream, Ponderosa Forest, Mountain Meadow, Foothill Shrub, Cliff Face, Mixed Conifer Forest
Directions - From C-470, take the Morrison Road exit and follow that road west through the town of Morrison. Bear Creek Canyon Park begins soon after you leave the town. The rest of these areas are along the highway within a stretch of a few miles.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Kittredge area
Aliases - Corwina Park, O'Fallon Park, Pence Park, Mount Falcon Park
Description - The nearly-identical parks described in this section are contiguous with some of those described in the Bear Creek Canyon section, but they are higher in elevation and have little or no lowland riparian habitat, being comprised instead of open Ponderosa Pine forest on south-facing slopes and denser mixed-conifer forest of ponderosa, Douglas-fir and Blue Spruce on the north-facing slopes. The first one past Lair o' the Bear is Corwina Park, which has two parking lots, both of which access some younger Ponderosa Pine savannah and some denser mixed-conifer forest. Willows (trees, not bushes) line the stream here. A little farther upriver is O'Fallon Park, arguably the best of this lot, which has great Ponderosa habitat where Williamson's Sapsucker can be found in summer. It also has several bridges and a long stretch of road along a good dipper stream. There is some low riparian willow here that may have breeding warblers. To the south, Pence Park has more great Ponderosa habitat. The last park in this group, Mount Falcon Park is connected to the highway by a convoluted and confusing set of roads, but never fear: signage is excellent. It also has good ponderosa and mixed conifers where Willamson's Sapsucker has been seen.
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Stream, Streamside Willow, Mixed Conifer Forest
Directions - Corwina Park and O'Fallon Park are along CO-74, just west of the Lair o' the Bear park. Pence Park is off of Myers Gulch Road, which takes off to the south from S-74 in Kittredge. The parking lot is on the right in about a mile and a half. To access Mt. Falcon Park, take the Indian Hills turn-off from U.S. Highway 285, follow Parmalee Gulch Road for 5 miles to Picutis Road, then follow the signs to the west parking area. East access is available from Colorado Highway 8 south of Morrison. Turn west on Forest Avenue and north on Vine Avenue.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Evergreen area
Aliases - Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, Dedisse Park, Cub Creek Park, Dillon Park, Bell Park
Description - The highlight of Evergreen birding is Evergreen Lake, a decent-sized body of water that has attracted scoters and other goodies in the past. The west end of the lake has some nice cattail marshes, and much of the lake is surrounded by a park, so access is not a problem.
All the other parks around Evergreen (and there are many) are built very much along the lines of the ones near Kittredge: mostly open ponderosa woods, with some mixed conifers on north-facing slopes. The best is probably Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west of town, which has two parking lots that waste no time getting you into the trees. Closer to town is Dedisse Park, right across the road from Evergreen Lake, while farther out to the south you run into a cluster of parks along the highway. Dillon Park is essentially just the picnic area portion of Cub Creek Park, which has more ponderosa habitat. Bell Park abuts Cub Creek Park on the east, but does not border the highway. You can drive the back roads looking for it if you really, really haven't seen enough ponderosa yet.
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Marsh, Mixed Conifer Forest
Directions - The lake is best reached by taking CO-74 just west from the center of town, and turning left onto Upper Bear Creek Road (CR 74). There is a parking area for the lake on the left off this road. This road is also the access road to Dedisse Park. There are access points for Cub Creek Park off of CRs 78 (Brook Forest Road) and 73, one to two miles south of Evergreen. Alderfer/Three Sisters Park is reached by turn west on Buffalo Park Road, just south of Evergreen on CR 73, and traveling approximately 1 mile to the east parking lot. A second parking lot is located another 1/2 mile along Buffalo Park Road.
Delorme - 39 C7
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2
Bergen Park Area
Aliases - Elk Meadows Park, Buchanan Ponds, Fillius Park
Description - Elk Meadows Park is a Jeffco Open Space. The southern parking lot, on the north side of Stagecoach Boulevard, accesses (you guessed it) ponderosa pine, but there are mixed conifers and aspen higher up the trails. From I-70, exit onto Highway 74 (Exit 252) going south past Bergen Park. Continue 2.25 miles to Lewis Ridge Road turning right into the parking lot. A second access is available at Highway 74 and Stagecoach Boulevard, turn west on Stagecoach and proceed 1.25 miles to the south parking lot.
Fillius Park is another small Ponderosa Park just north of the town of Bergen Park.
Buchanan Ponds in the town of Bergen Park are small, but may be very interesting in early winter if bubblers are keeping the water open. Two ponds are easily accessible from Highway 74; to get to two more, park in the lot described in the directions and follow the hiking trail about a third of a mile downvalley.
Bergen Park itself is urban ponderosa with little underbrush. It is small and relatively unimpressive compared to the plethora of other fine ponderosa parks in the vicinity.
Habitat - Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Aspen Grove, Urban/Suburban, Pond
Directions - Bergen Park is along CO-74 a few miles north of Evergreen and a few miles south of I-70. Elk Meadows park is reached by going south from Bergen Park on CO-74 for 2.25 miles to Lewis Ridge Road and turning right into the parking lot. A second access is available at Highway 74 and Stagecoach Boulevard, a little less than a mile south of Lewis Ridge Road. Turn west on Stagecoach and proceed 1.25 miles to the south parking lot. Buchanan Ponds is reached by taking the highway into the center of Evergreen and heading east on Ellingwood Trail, across from the intersection with the Squaw Pass Road. There is a parking lot to the right a short distance from the highway. Fillius Park is just north of the town of Bergen Park along CO 74.
Delorme - 39 C7
Roads of Colorado - 72 A2
Welchester Tree Grant Park
Description - This urban park is a little gem of a place. Even though it's only eighteen acres in size, it hosts a really nice bunch of trees to trap migrants. Yellow-throated Vireo and Worm-eating Warbler have been reported from here.
URL - Welchester Tree Grant Park
Habitat - Lowland Riparian
Directions - Welchester Tree Grant Park is located on West 8th Avenue between Simms Street and Indiana Street. Due to recent construction and reconfiguration of the roads in the area, the park is best reached by taking the Simms exit from US-6 and going north for one block to 8th Ave and taking a left. The park is on the right in about three quarters of a mile. Park along 8th betwen Yank and Zang.
Delorme - 40 C2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C2
Lake Arbor
Description - This is a decent lake without much vegetation. It is likely to be best in the fall and winter for migrant waterbirds. Scanning is from the southwest along Lamar, where there is roadside parking.
Habitat - Lake
Directions - From US 36 between Denver and Boulder, take the Sheridan Boulevard exit. Follow Sheridan south about one mile to W. 80th Avenue and turn right (west). You will see Lake Arbor on the right in about half a mile. Take a right on Lamar just past the lake.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Little Dry Creek Trail
Aliases - Pomona Lake, Michael Northry Park
Description - Running along Little Dry Creek through northern Arvada, this trail has some nice stretches of riparian woodland, and provides access to the interesting Pomona Lake. The best stretches are towards the west end, especially in Michael Northry Park just east of Simms, and a short distance east of there in the half-mile stretch just west of Kipling. A half mile east of Kipling the trail passes Pomona Lake, which is closely hemmed in by large homes, but has a thin yet decent ring of trees and brush surrounding it. The lake and its vegetation can be birded easily from the footpath that circumnavigates the water. There is a tiny parking area giving access to the lake trail at its northwest corner, at 81st and Everett.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Lake, Urban/Suburban
Directions - From US 36 between Denver and Boulder, take the Sheridan Boulevard exit. Follow Sheridan south about one mile to W. 80th Avenue and turn right (west). To get to Pomona Lake, about 1.5 miles west of Sheridan, turn right on Club Crest Drive. Then take your second right onto 81st. Where 81st bends sharply to the left, you will see the tiny parking area on the right. To get to Michael Northry Park, continue west on W. 80th about 2.5 miles west of Sheridan to Simms. Turn right (north) on Simms. The park will be on the right after the road bends in about a third of a mile.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge
Aliases - Croke Canal, Farmer's Highline Canal, Church Ditch
Description - One of the smallest and most urban refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, Two Ponds has great potential as a birding spot. The refuge is split up into two parts, the Environmental Education Area and the Prairie Management Area. The Prairie Management Area, which covers the western two-thirds of the property, is open to the public seven days a week, but the Environmental Education Area, which contains the refuge's namesake ponds, is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays 11 AM to 7 PM, and at other times by reservation for groups of ten or more.
The Environmental Education Area, in the northeast corner of the refuge, actually contains three ponds. The two closest to the parking lot are hemmed in by riparian tangles dense enough to satisfy even the shyest skulker. These spots should be a high priority on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during migration. The ponds themselves are probably too small and shaded to attract many migrating waterbirds, but they greatly increase the attraction of the park to local breeders. There is some decent cattail marsh around some of the ponds. Parking for the Environmental Education Area is on the south side of West 80th east of Kipling.
The Prairie Management Area is criss-crossed by no fewer than three irrigation canals: the Church Ditch, the Farmer's Highline Canal and the Croke Canal. All have mature trees along at least part of their length, and there is some really impressive riparian stuff along the Church Ditch and the southern part of the Farmer's Highline Canal--dense groves that are at least a couple trees thick for a decent distance. Walking trails line all these canals, so birding them is easy. Parking for the Prairie Management Area is at the south end of the medical center parking lot on the southeast corner of West 80th and Kipling. You can also park on the south side of the NWR along 77th Street east of Kipling, which may be the best choice if you are hitting the southern groves.
URL - Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Pond, Marsh, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From US 36 between Denver and Boulder, take the Sheridan Boulevard exit. Follow Sheridan south about one mile to W. 80th Avenue and turn right (west). In a little over a mile and a half you will see a sign for a left turn into Two Ponds NWR. This is the parking lot for the Environmental Education Area. To get to the Prairie Management Area, continue west to Kipling and park in the lot of the medical center on the SE corner of 80th and Kipling.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
West Lake Park
Aliases - Pond Lake
Description - Also known as "The Pond" or "Pond Lake," West Lake would be a really sweet little birding spot if you could just get to it. There's a City of Arvada Park and Nature Area at the west end, but that's just a teaser--the actual lake and the dense trees around it have their chastity jealously guarded by high fences and strident signs. You can mostly scan the lake from the west, and the nature area has some nice deciduous growth, but it has been visited by overzealous birdbox builders who are encouraging House Wrens to nest colonially, like Purple Martins.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Lake
Directions - From US 36 between Denver and Boulder, take the Sheridan Boulevard exit. Follow Sheridan south a short distance and turn right (west) on 88th Avenue. In about two miles, after the road bends south to avoid Standley Lake, turn left (south) on Kipling Street. West Lake Park is on the left at the intersection of Kipling and Independence Way.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
Ketner Lake Open Space
Aliases - Kensington Park
Description - Ketner Lake is a nice medium-sized body of water, with some fairly extensive marshes. There are some very nice trees and tangles around it, especially at the west end in Kensington Park. Parking is along Moore.
URL - Ketner Lake Open Space
Habitat - Lake, Marsh, Lowland Riparian
Directions - From US 36 between Denver and Boulder, take the Church Ranch Boulevard exit and head south/west on Church Ranch, which winds around and becomes 100th Avenue after crossing Wadsworth. Continue west on 100th Avenue and turn right (north) on Countryside Drive. The lake will be on your right shortly. To park, continue to Moore and turn right.
Delorme - 40 A2
Roads of Colorado - 56 C4
Lake Rhoda
Description - The medium-small Lake Rhoda can only be scanned from the south, from the parking lot of a shopping center--and even then, fences and trees may make the experience unsatisfactory. But a good bird might make up for your trouble.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - From I-70 west of I-25 in Denver, take the Sheridan Boulevard exit (#271). Take Sheridan south two blocks to West 44th Avenue and turn right. Go about a third of a mile to Harlan Street and turn right. The lake is just north of the shopping center and can only be scanned (with difficulty) from the parking lot.
Delorme - 40 B2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C1
South Turkey Creek Canyon
Description - This mountain park near Tiny Town is an excellent place to get many of the foothills and lower mountain species near Denver. The lower portions of the trail are excellent for Red-naped Sapsucker, which usually nests in some of the aspens near the parking lot. Wild Turkey can usually be found somewhere around here as well. Dusky Grouse is occasionally seen, but don't expect to see it on the vast majority of trips. Also look for Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Mountain Chickadee, Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers, and Plumbeous Vireo.
Habitat - Foothill Shrub, Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Lowland Riparian
Directions - From C-470, head south on US-285 for 5.5 miles to South Turkey Creek Road, a left exit. Follow this road south, and just across the road from Tiny Town, park in the large dirt parking lot. The trail starts up behind the wire fence at the back end of the parking lot. Do not park under the inviting looking tree here--it is on private property.
Delorme - 40 D1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B3
Waterton Canyon
Aliases - Strontia Springs Reservoir
Description - For being as close to Chatfield as it is, Waterton Canyon hosts a dramatically different set of habitats. Species that very rarely occur at Chatfield are common here, such as Canyon Wren and, higher up, Pygmy Nuthatch. The riparian habitat in the lower part of the canyon might be worth a look for migrants in season, and the expected breeding species such as Bullock's Oriole, Yellow Warbler, House Wren and maybe even a Least Flycatcher during the summer. The thick foothills scrub on the hillsides is excellent for Virginia's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli and possibly Indigo Buntings and Spotted Towhee. A pair or two of American Dippers can usually be found along the river with a bit of searching.
A little further up the habitat blends into Ponderosa woodland, and species more typical of this habitat start appearing, such as Hairy Woodpecker, Pygmy and Red-breasted Nutatches, Pine Siskin and others. The canyon slowly rises the further upstream you go, and eventually you will reach a small reservoir, Strontia Springs Reservoir. This is usually as far as most people hike. The upper part of this hike can sometimes produce Northern Pygmy-Owl during the winter, and the lower portions host Eastern Screech-Owl, but both owls are exceedingly hard to find.
During the entire hike you should hear many Rock and Canyon Wrens, see a ton of White-throated Swifts zooming overhead (in summer), and maybe even see a Prairie Falcon or Golden Eagle soaring on the thermals.
Habitat - Foothill Shrub, Lowland Riparian, Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest
Directions - Take the Wadsworth exit off of C-470 and follow it south past the entrance for Chatfield, to a left turn onto Waterton Rd. Go left and drive to the second parking lot on the left. The entrance to the Canyon is across the road; be careful when trying to cross this busy road.
Delorme - 50 A1-A2
Roads of Colorado - 72 C3
Apex Park
Description - Just north of Red Rocks, this park is very similar in habitat (minus the awesome cliffs), and thus has similar bird species. For the most part the trail winds through thick foothills scrub with some riparian, with the associated Virginia's Warbler, Lazuli and Indigo Buntings, Spotted Towhee, Bullock's Oriole, Western Scrub-Jay and other expected foothills species. The upper end of the trail starts to enter Ponderosa forest with a little bit of aspen, where one could look for Pygmy Nuthatch, Red-naped Sapsucker, and other denizens of such woodland, though most are easier to get elsewhere. The Apex Trail has hosted some rare warblers in migration, so don't neglect it then.
Habitat - Foothill Shrub, Ponderosa Forest, Lowland Riparian
Directions - Access is from the northeast corner of the Heritage Square parking lot (US Highway 40 at County Road 93), just north of I-70 on US-40.
Delorme - 40 C1
Roads of Colorado - 72 B2