Lincoln County
Author(s): Mark Peterson, Ted Floyd
County Seat: Hugo
County Size: 2,586 square miles
Low Elevation: 4,412 ft. - East Fork Adobe Cr. on the Kiowa border
High Elevation : 5,960 ft. - County Line Rise
Best Birds : Connecticut Warbler (1899), Brown Pelican (1991)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Lincoln County is not a prime destination for most birders. It does, however, provide some great Eastern Plains birding. It consists mostly of grassland, semi-desert and agricultural fields. There are a few nice migrant traps and a number of small ponds that can be found with a little driving around. You can find parks in Limon, Hugo and Karval and you can usually find feeders around town that might host something worthwhile. Also, just driving around the county you can find many Prairie-Dog towns that usually host Mountain Plovers and Burrowing Owls.
Birding Locations
Bohart Ranch
Description - This private ranch is open to the birding public only during special field trips sponsored by Colorado Field Ornithologists and The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. The Bohart Ranch is situated within the Chico Basin, and it lies about 15 miles northeast of the well-known Chico Basin Ranch. The birding opportunities at the Bohart Ranch are in many ways analogous to those at the Crow Valley Campground/Pawnee National Grassland complex in Weld County: The Bohart Ranch offers extensive habitat for many speciaties of the Central Shortgrass Prairie eco-region (that's the Crow Valley part of the analogy), and plantings around the ranch headquarters are good for eastern vagrants and common western migrants (that's the Pawnee Grassland part).As of June 2008, there have been only 4 organized birding trips to the Bohart Ranch: May 27-28 2005, May 12-13 2006, June 1-2 2007, and May 24-25 2008. Despite the paucity of coverage, the Bohart Ranch has produced an impressive bird list, and it is expected that future visits will produce additional good birds.
The vast bulk of the habitat at the Bohart Ranch is sand-sage prairie, considered by experts at The Nature Conservancy to be one of the best representatives of this habitat type on the planet. The diversity of grassland birds to be found here is on par with what is offered by the Pawnee National Grassland, but the mix of species is surprisingly different. Prairie specialties that have been found during the four spring visits to date include Scaled Quail (common), Ferruginous Hawk (a few), Mountain Plover (a few breeding pairs), Burrowing Owl (a small colony), Short-eared Owl (scarce), Common Nighthawk (common), Common Poorwill (a few), Cassin's Sparrow (abundant), Brewer's Sparrow (common to abundant), Lark Bunting (abundant), Grasshopper Sparrow (scarce), and McCown's Longspur (scarce by mid-May).
The plantings around the ranch headquarters are modest, but they attract many migrants. The ranch managers turn on sprinklers for visiting birders, and most of the unusual bird species have a way of visiting one of the sprinklers every 15 minutes or so. Avian activity levels seem to be quite high in the plantings around the headquarters, and it is invariably the case that each new circuit around the plantings turns up something that wasn't there just 30 minutes earlier. Notables that have been found in these plantings include Gray Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, and Lesser Goldfinch. Some other species have included Lewis's Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike (several breeding pairs), Canyon Towhee, Swainson's Thrush (abundant in migration), and Brown Thrasher.
URL - Bohart Ranch
Habitat - Sand-sage prairie, planted trees
Ownership - The Nature Conservancy
Directions - PRIVATE. ACCESS BY WRITTEN PERMISSON ONLY. 10 miles south of Yoder on Yoder Road, then 3 miles west on Shear Road. Contact TNC Colorado Springs Office: 719-683-7171
Delorme - 98 B1
Roads of Colorado -
Karval Area Ranches
Aliases - Stogsdill Ranch, Davis Ranch, Thornton Ranch
Description - In combination, these three ranches offer unparalleled access to the heart of Colorado's shortgrass prairie. All family-owned and operated, these working ranches have a strong commitment to agricultural lifestyles as well as the wildlife and other natural resources that abound on their land. They have undertaken multiple habitat enhancement projects including playa lake, riparian and native rangeland restoration. All three ranches are dominated by native blue grama and buffalo grass rangeland and host the suite of shortgrass prairie birds including Burrowing Owl, Mountain Plover, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Long-billed Curlew, Cassin's Sparrow, Lark Bunting and many more. A portion of Horse Creek runs through the Stogsdill and Davis ranches, with a cottonwood canopy that makes excellent habitat for riparian nesting and migrant songbirds. All three ranches have playa lakes that when wet can make for remarkable birding, with the potential to see any of the 27 shorebird species that migrate through eastern Colorado, as well as nesting American Avocets in some years. The Thornton Ranch is home to a 43 acre playa that is 3 miles from the nearest county road. The exceptionally remote location offers fantastic birding both in the upland black-tailed prairie dog town and in the playa when it is wet. For more information and to access the sites contact Carl and Cherry Stogsdill at (719) 446-5354 or rainbowvalley@estra.com.
Habitat - Grassland/Prairie, Lowland Riparian, Pond
Directions - To inquire about access to this ranch and to get directions, please call Carl and Cherry Stogsdill at 719-446-5354 or email them at rainbowvalley@estra.com 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 - 98 B3
Roads of Colorado -
Northwest Corner
Description - Although this area has not been explored much, there is some pinyon-juniper habitat here that can be birded from the road. Cassin's Kingbird should be looked for here in summer as it breeds in similar habitat just to the west in Elbert County. There are also some nice agricultural fields in the area.
Habitat - Pinyon-Juniper Forest
Directions - Take Hwy 71 north out of Limon about ten miles. When the highway bends east, continue straight north on 21 road. This will take you through the described area.
Delorme - 96 B3
Roads of Colorado - 75 F3
Limon
Description - Overall Limon is not a great birding town, but there are some decent patches of habitat that may trap migrant landbirds. The best of these are in private yards along the eastern part of Hillcrest Drive and in one spot just behind (north of) the Events Center.
On the south end of Limon are the Doug Kissel Fishing Ponds. They include a nice marshy area where both Sora and Virginia Rail can be found along with Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Ruddy Duck, shorebirds in the fall, Swamp Sparrow and Eurasian Collared-Dove nearby.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Pond, Marsh
Directions - To get to the Doug Kissel Fishing Ponds, from I-70 take the Hwy 40 exit or business exit for Limon (exit 361) and follow 3rd Street west until you reach 4th Avenue, where you will turn south until you come to a "T," then turn east and park in the parking lot. There is a small fishing pond here but the marsh is to the south. You will follow the trail that leads you under the railroad tracks and back to the park. To get to Hillcrest Drive, return to 3rd Street and continue west two blocks to B Avenue. Take B Ave north to 7th Street and turn left (west). Hillcrest Drive will be your first right. If you follow Hillcrest as it curves west, you will see the Events Center on your right.
Delorme - 96 C3
Roads of Colorado - 91 F1
Hugo
Aliases - Doug Kissel Fishing Ponds, Kissel Fishing Ponds
Description - In the town of Hugo you may want to make your way to the southeast corner and look for the town's Wild Turkeys. They can be found in people's yards and in the middle of the streets. Migrants can also show up in the city park and in neighborhoods with mature trees. Broad-winged Hawk has twice been found in town.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban
Directions - Hugo is along US-40/285 southeast of Limon.
Delorme - 99 A4
Roads of Colorado - 92 B4
Kinney State Wildlife Area
Description - This small lake and state wildlife area is a very good migrant trap and home to many of the breeders of the Eastern Plains grasslands. There is a small marsh at the north end of the lake that can be productive. The Russian-Olives that line part of the east shore of the lake can be good for Empidonax flycatchers, warblers and sparrows. There is a seep on the west side of the lake that has willows and was once the best spot at the lake, but the understory has since been cleared out by cows. Below the dam there are a few big elms and a nice line of Russian-Olives that are usually productive. The lake itself has not been great for waterbirds as it is very small and heavily fished. However, the lake has been good for grebes and all regularly occurring species of swallow. Camping is free at this location.
Habitat - Pond, Lowland Riparian, Marsh, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From the north, go south from Hugo on 32 road to 2J road. Turn east on 2J and go 1 mile to the entrance. From the south, go north on 32 road from highway 94. Turn east on 2J and go 1 mile to the entrance.
Delorme - 98 A3
Roads of Colorado - 92 B4
Hugo State Wildlife Area
Description - This location is very close to Kinney and provides much the same habitat and bird diversity. Just west of the entrance you can find Burrowing Owls in the Prairie Dog town. Mountain Plovers can be seen occasionally at Hugo. The area below the dam is surprisingly productive during migration. Although there is not much there, it seems to produce. Like Kinney, the lake is very small and fished a lot so very few waterbirds are found here. You can travel further south into the SWA and find a few more small ponds and trees that usually do not have anybody else at them. There is a small pond that is in the far northeastern corner of the SWA that does tend to hold ducks and an occasional shorebird that is worth a quick check. This body of water is viewable from 2G road. Camping is free at this location.
A private pond just west of CR 32 near Hugo SWA has produced more waterfowl than any other location in Lincoln County that has been explored by this author. Other birds that have been found in this general area are Yellow-headed Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow and even Snow Bunting. The pond is best viewed from the northwest while standing on road 2G.
Habitat - Grassland/Prairie, Pond, Lowland Riparian
Directions - To get to Hugo SWA from the north, go south from Hugo on 32 road to 2G road. Turn east on 2G and go 2 miles to the entrance. From the south, go north on 32 road from Highway 94. Turn east on 2G and go 2 miles to the entrance. To get to the private pond, instead of turning east on 2G, go west approximately 0.5 miles and the pond will sit off the road to the south.
Delorme - 99 A4, 98 A3
Roads of Colorado - 92 B4
Karval State Wildlife Area
Description - This may be the largest publicly accessible lake in the county. It tends to have a number of waterfowl species and shorebirds. The tamarisks that line the water coming in from the west tend to hold sparrows during the winter, and have had their share of migrant warblers and Empidonax flycatchers. Golden Eagle can be seen here with some regularity. If you are coming from Highway 94 on 32 road, watch for Scaled Quail, as this is one of the most reliable spots for them in the county. Camping at this location is free.
Habitat - Pond, Grassland/Prairie, Tamarisk
Directions - From Highway 94 twelve miles east of Punkin Center, go south on 32 road about 10 miles to the entrance.
Delorme - 98 B3
Roads of Colorado - 108 A2
Schafer Reservoir
Description - This author has not ever birded this site but feels it is worth mentioning as it has been described to him as being great for waterfowl. It is not shown in the DeLorme but is shown in the Roads of Colorado.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - From Hugo go East on 40 to 43 road and turn south towards Boyero. Follow this road to a "T" with CR 39, at which point you need to turn left (south) and travel approximately 3.2 miles, where I believe there is a pull-off from which you can see the reservoir.
Delorme - 99 A4
Roads of Colorado - 92 C4
Evilsizer Lake area
Description - Like all Eastern Colorado counties, Lincoln can have nice bodies of water after rain showers. One particular spot in Lincoln County that has been great for this is located between 33 road and 39 road and between U road and R road. This area has been great for shorebirds. In the fall Upland Sandpipers can routinely be found around here with a little looking. As many as 20 species of shorebird have been found in this area including Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover and Red-necked Phalarope.
Habitat - Pond, Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From highway 94 travel south on 32 road to U road. Turn east on U and then just drive the roads between 33 and 39 roads. Caution: if it has recently rained, these roads can be very greasy.
Delorme - 98 B4, 99 B4
Roads of Colorado - 108 B1