Kiowa County
Author(s): Andrew Spencer, Nathan Pieplow
County Seat: Eads
County Size: 1,758 square miles
Low Elevation: 3,690 ft. - Big Sandy Creek on the Prowers border
High Elevation : 4,690 ft. - Selenite Bluff
Best Birds : Curlew Sandpiper (1998), Royal Tern (1997), Black Skimmer (2001)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Kiowa County. Long, thin, flat and sparsely populated, this eastern plains county is not on any major river corridor, but its big lakes and small woodlots are a regular stop for all Colorado birders on their spring trips to the southeast, and summer and fall have brought outstanding rarities to the county. It is well worth a stop at any season.
Birding Locations
Rogers Ranch
Description - This ranch has several shortgrass prairie pastures along with a wonderful diversity of shorebirds along its one-and-a-quarter miles of shoreline on Neegronda Reservoir. Snowy Plover, American Avocet, Solitary Sandpiper, and Wilson's Phalarope are regulars here. This site also has nesting Piping Plover and Least Tern.
Habitat - Grassland/Prairie, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - To inquire about access to this ranch and to get directions, please call 719-829-4028 a minimum of 48 hours in advance of your potential visit. Please remember that this is a working ranch as well as a private residence, and there may be times when the landowner cannot accommodate visits. While you are on the ranch, remember to stay on roads, leave gates as you find them (whether open or closed), and refrain from taking anything off the ranch or leaving trash behind.
Delorme -
Roads of Colorado -
Slidin' W Ranch
Description - This ranch offers self-guided walking tours on 160 acres of shortgrass prairie. The prairie dog town consistently hosts Burrowing Owls as well as other prairie species. Look for Mountain Plover, Scaled Quail, Lark Bunting, Long-billed Curlew and Grasshopper Sparrow. This is a working horse ranch located at 13660 Highway 287, just south of the town of Eads.
Habitat - Grassland/Prairie
Directions - To inquire about access to this ranch and to get directions, please call 719-438-5907 a minimum of 48 hours in advance of your potential visit. Please remember that this is a working ranch as well as a private residence, and there may be times when the landowner cannot accommodate visits. While you are on the ranch, remember to stay on roads, leave gates as you find them (whether open or closed), and refrain from taking anything off the ranch or leaving trash behind.
Delorme -
Roads of Colorado -
Blue Lake (Adobe Creek Reservoir)
Aliases - Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake)
Description - Blue Lake, also known as Adobe Creek Reservoir, is one of the most underbirded locations in SE Colorado. Water levels vary from chock full to so low that there are actually two lakes, one in Bent County and one in Kiowa. A visit here at any time of the year could be productive, with the migration periods usually the peak time. In the summer, this is one of the few locations in the state that has a breeding population of Piping Plovers and Least Terns; however, PLEASE do not disturb any nesting areas of these state endangered species. Starting in July Blue Lake becomes a true shorebird Mecca. Practically every species that has occurred in the state has been seen here, mostly on the southern portion of the lake in Bent County. This seems to be a good locale for American Golden-Plover.
While not as famed for waterbird activity, the lake usually produces a good mix of species, especially later in the fall. Loons and gulls should be looked for in the late fall and early winter, before the lake freezes. The wintertime is generally not as productive as other times of the year, but the roads around Blue Lake are among the best areas in the state to find wintering prairie longspurs.
Blue Lake is also not well known as a good spring migration spot, but don't let this deter you from visiting. Though the water is often higher, there still may be mudflats for shorebirds, and gulls and ducks still occur. This area is also not well known as a land bird location, but a check of the tamarisk around the lake may produce surprises. After all, this is where the first state record of Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher showed up in 2002!
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Tamarisk
Directions - From Las Animas, follow westbound US 50 as it heads north out of town and crosses the Arkansas River. Immediately after the bridge, turn left (west) onto CO 194, then take a nearly immediate right (north) onto CR 10.5, which becomes CR 10 after a westerly jog. Follow CR 10 ten miles north to where CR UU leaves it heading west. To access the west side of the reservoir, follow UU west as it curves around the shoreline. To access the eastern shore of the reservoir, continue north on CR 10.
Delorme - 99 C4-D5
Roads of Colorado - 124 C1-C2
Neenoshe Reservoir
Aliases - Indian Reservoirs, Locust Grove
Description - Neenoshe Reservoir is the largest of the Indian Reservoirs and also usually the most productive. As on other eastern plains reservoirs, the water level on this lake varies enormously. When the water level is low, as it has been during the past few years, this can be a great location for shorebirds. The water level has been so consistently low that quite a bit of vegetation has grown on some of the flats, producing some great sparrow and lark habitat. The lake itself usually has large numbers of waterbirds, including, in season, enormous flocks of white geese, American White-Pelicans, ducks, and gulls. In summer, breeding grebes here can be majority Clark's. The large grove along the western edge of the lake is the world famous (well, maybe not) Locust Grove. Many a rare warbler has shown up here, and this is an essential stop on any trip to the area. The grove continues along the southern edge of the lake, but this section is usually not as productive. In the event of a fallout, though, it is probably worth a check.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Tamarisk, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - The Indian Reservoirs are south of Eads on both sides of US 287. To get to the Locust Grove at Neenoshe, turn east off of US 287 on CR E and go west 1.5 miles to CR 46. Turn north and follow the gravel road around as it swings around the southwest corner of the lake. Park where the northbound road is approached most closely by a grove of locusts and brush pushing west from the cottonwoods along the lakeshore. This is the Locust Grove. The other trees along the lakeshore, especially north of here, are worth a check. To scan the water of Neenoshe, drive to the southern parking lot, and then drive "into" the reservoir, until you reach the water. In recent years this requires a drive of a mile or more.
Delorme - 99 C6-C7
Roads of Colorado - 125 F1, 126 A1
Eads
Description - This small town has the twin distinctions of being the largest town in the county, and having the only reuben sandwich for sale in Kiowa. Birding the town park here may produce a warbler or two and sparrows in season. Collared-Doves are also found around town. The sewage ponds south of town can be productive for ducks and occasionally for shorebirds.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - Eads is along CO 96 where US 287 joins it from the north, between Haskell and Sheridan Lake. To get to the sewage ponds, head south on CR 41 from CO 96 just east of town. Where the county road bends left (east), take the dirt road southwest towards the sewage ponds, which can be well scanned from outside the fence. Beware this road when it is wet.
Delorme - 99 C6
Roads of Colorado - 109 F3-F4
Sheridan Lake
Description - Another of Kiowa's tiny hamlets, this town's claim to fame is the occasionally wet lake of the same name on the south edge of town. When there is actually water in this pond it can be quite a good shorebird location. There are practically no trees in town, but then there are definitely none on the surrounding plains, so it may attract a few migrants anyway.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Urban/Suburban
Directions - Sheridan Lake is at the junction of CO 96 and US 385 east of Eads. To get to the lake, follow the rough dirt track south out of town to the lakeshore (or near it, if the road is in bad condition).
Delorme - 103 C5
Roads of Colorado - 110 C4
Haswell
Description - Even smaller than the previous two towns, this one is also worth checking for migrants among the trees in town. Usually you will not find anything, but you never know. The roads northeast of the town have produced Cassin's Sparrow, Scaled Quail, and Mountain Plover.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - Haswell is along CO 96 in Kiowa County west of Eads, between Arlington and Galatea. To get there from US 50, turn north onto Bent CR 14 one mile west of Fort Lyon. Follow CR 14 north to the westerly jog at the Kiowa County line; turn north again on Kiowa CR 19 and follow it north to Haswell.
Delorme - 99 C5
Roads of Colorado - 109 D4
Long Lake
Description - When this intermittent pond actually has water it can be a good stop en route to Blue Lake. Depending on the water level, divers, dabblers, shorebirds, or all of the above can be seen.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - Long Lake is along Kiowa CR 19, a little over 6 miles south of the junction with CO 96 near Haswell, and about 6.5 miles north of the Bent County line.
Delorme - 99 C5
Roads of Colorado - 109 D1
Neesopah Reservoir
Aliases - Jett Lake
Description - This is the westernmost of the Indian Reservoirs. During dry years, Neesopah can dry up to the extent that it is actually three or four lakes. The southwestern lake has the most water, and can be scanned either from the east, from the corner of CRs 4 and F.5, or from the west, from CR 40 or from an access road that heads east from it to the western lakeshore. A small patch of short second-growth cottonwoods along the western access road may occasionally trap a migrant landbird or two.
The northeasternmost lake in the Neesopah complex, also known as Jett Lake, is where the first state record of Black Skimmer appeared. It can be awesome for shorebirds, occasionally with some impressive collections of Snowy Plovers, but is on private property and must be scanned from the road half a mile away.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Tamarisk, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - The Neesopah complex is south of Eads on the west side of US 287. To get to Jett Lake, turn west off US 287 onto the dirt road 1.5 miles north of CR E. Jett Lake can be scanned from this road several hundred yards to the north (private property; do not leave the road). Following this road as it curves south and west will take you to the corner from which you can scan Neesopah from the east. If you continue south on this road to CR C, then turn right (west) for a mile, then right (north) on CR 40, you can access the west side of Neesopah.
Delorme - 99 C6-C7
Roads of Colorado - 125 F1, 126 A1
Neegronda Reservoir
Description - This is another large reservoir that can be quite productive, especially in winter, when huge flocks of geese and large numbers of Bald Eagles can congregate here. Great Black-backed Gull has occurred, and many diving ducks are possible. The lake is best scanned from the boat ramp on the eastern shore, which can be reached by following a small access road west from US 287 about half a mile south of Nee Noshe. A small sign marks the turnoff. As for landbirds, the riparian areas along the northern shore could be a good area for migrants, but are part of a private campground. One could ask permission to bird here, or one could pay the camping fee.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Tamarisk, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From Eads, head south on US 287 past CR E to the turnoff on the right (west) with the small sign for Neegronda Reservoir.
Delorme - 99 C6-C7
Roads of Colorado - 125 F1, 126 A1
Queens Reservoirs (Neeskah Reservoir area)
Aliases - Neeskah Reservoir, Upper Queens Reservoir, Lower Queens Reservoir, King Reservoir
Description - Neeskah Reservoir, also known as Upper Queens Reservoir, is probably the reservoir that gets the most shorebirds. When the water level is low enough to create mudflats, be sure to check the western edge of the lake via the multitude of confusing access points. Neeskah can also be good for ducks, gulls, and an astounding number of Black Terns, in season. The often-underestimated grove on the southern end of the reservoir can be well worth a stop. Many a good migrant has been seen here, and one can usually find the resident Barn Owl.
Lower Queens Reservoir is the "Neenothing" reservoir. In addition to being nee-less, it also rarely produces much of interest birdwise. The structure of the lake is such that even when the water is low it has no mudflats. However, there are often good numbers of ducks and occasionally gulls on the lake, so something good could show up. The few trees with tons of tamarisk that line the lake may attract a migrant or two in season.
On the road between Upper and Lower Queens are a few small trees that, while they don't look like much, have actually gotten a good bird or two. They only take a couple of minutes to check, and who knows, maybe you'll find a Prairie Warbler. Look on the grasslands along this road for Cattle Egret during the spring and summer, and prairie longspurs during spring migration.
Finally, a note about the last of the Indian Reservoirs--King Reservoir, in Prowers County, is not only hard to scan well, but in fact I have yet to see a bird on it. Don't waste your time.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Tamarisk, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - To get to Neeskah (Upper Queens) Reservoir, return to CR E and continue east, turning south on CR 46.5 and east again on CR C just before the lake. Check the grove to the north of this access point. You can also follow the road south from here around towards the south end of the lake, which also has a grove worth checking. Following this road east to a T intersection and then turning south will put you in position to scan Lower Queens Reservoir.
Delorme - 99 C6-C7
Roads of Colorado - 125 F1, 126 A1