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Lek Trek

Experience Colorado’s diverse landscapes searching for all five of Colorado’s mountain grouse species. This tour will take you from the great plains to intermountain valleys and high alpine tundra looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Sage-Grouse, Gunnison Sage-Grouse, and Dusky Grouse. Many mornings we will rise before dawn to settle down near breeding leks where we can observe the bizarre, yet magnificent courtship displays of these wonderful birds. Take the path less traveled and embark on this unconventional adventure through Colorado's most beautiful landscapes. Don't miss our additional 4-day extension where we'll visit both Greater and Lesser Prairie Chicken leks.

TRIP DETAILS

PRICE

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$2,000 per person, double occupancy

$400 single supplement

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Extension

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$1,200 per person, double occupancy

$200 single supplement

MEETING AND DEPARTURE POINT

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Denver International Airport

DATES

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April 21 - 27, 2025

GROUP SIZE

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5 - 7 participants

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

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This tour is designed for intermediate birders and photographers. We consider the difficulty level to be moderate, with most of the birding being close to roadsides and trails with slight uphills and downhills. Expect early morning starts and long drives, but we will make sure the trip is broken up with plenty of out-of-vehicle time. Rest and relaxation time will be built in throughout the tour, including free time in Steamboat Springs and Crested Butte 

INCLUDED

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6 nights accommodation at 6 different 2- and 3-star hotels, transportation, professional guide, meals (with the exception of one lunch in Steamboat Springs), snacks, water, cooler

NOT INCLUDED

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Flights, alcoholic drinks, trip insurance, souvenirs, and personal services (laundry, minibar expenses, phone calls, massages, etc.) 

WHAT TO BRING

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A packing list will be provided for all trip participants

ALTITUDE

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Denver is located at 5,280 ft above sea level. Highest elevations will be reached at Loveland Pass (11,991 ft above sea level) on Day 2. Please consult with your doctor if you have medical conditions that may be exacerbated at high elevations. You may experience some minor irritations such as a slight headache and mild dizziness, but symptoms should disappear as we descend to lower elevations. You may consider taking Diamox (Acetazolamide) and/or Acetaminophen before traveling to higher elevations, but please consult your doctor.  Eat a lighter meal before heading to higher altitude, stay well-hydrated, and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol

ABBREVIATED ITINERARY

Day 1

Photographing a Brown-capped Rosy Finch above treeline

Day 2

  • Loveland Pass

    • White-tailed Ptarmigan​

  • Silverthorne​

    • Brown-capped, Gray-crowned, and Black Rosy-Finch​

    • Clark's Nutcracker

    • Pine Grosbeak

  • Walden Reservoir​

  • Transfer to Antlers Inn in Walden

  • Optional evening owling 

    • Boreal Owl​

    • Northern Saw-whet Owl

Photographing White-tailed Ptarmigan at Loveland Pass

Day 3

  • Greater Sage-Grouse lek

  • Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge​

  • Rabbit Ear's Pass

    • American Three-toed Woodpecker​

  • Free afternoon in Steamboat Springs

    • Optional visit to Steamboat Feeders

      • Evening Grosbeak​​​​

  • Transfer to the Nordic Lodge

Greater Sage Grouse

Day 4

  • Sharp-tailed Grouse lek viewing

  • Transfer to Coal Canyon

    • Chukar​

  • Colorado National Monument​

    • Gambel's Quail​

  • Transfer to Quality Inn and Suites Delta​

Dusky Grouse

Day 5

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison

    • Dusky Grouse​​

  • Free time in Crested Butte

    • Optional visit to Crested Butte feeders

  • Transfer to Inn at Tomichi Village in Gunnison​

American Dipper (water ouzel)
WA2A8288.JPG

Day 6

  • Gunnison Sage-Grouse lek

  • Transfer to Pueblo West or Buena Vista (depending on what species we still need to find)

    • Potential birds​​

      • ​Scaled Quail​​

      • Lewis's Woodpecker

      • Pinyon Jay

      • Curve-billed Thrasher

  • Transfer to La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham near the airport​

Pinyon Jay 1-min.JPG

Day 7

  • Transfer to airport

  • Departure

4-Day Extension (GREAT PLAINS LEK TREK

April 27 - 30, 2025

Day 7

  • Pawnee National Grasslands

    • Chestnut-collared Longspur​

    • Thick-billed Longspur

    • Mountain Plover

  • Transfer to Doc's Bed and Breakfast, Wray

Larkspurs-min.JPG

Day 8

  • Greater Prairie Chicken lek

  • Birding the prairies
    • Burrowing Owl​
    • Ferruginous Hawk
    • Bobwhite Quail

  • ​Transfer to Kansas Country Inn, Oakley, Kansas​

GRPC-min.jpg

Day 9

  • Lesser Prairie Chicken lek

  • Birding the prairies
    • Loggerhead Shrike
    • Chihuahuan Raven
    • Long-billed Curlew

  • ​Transfer to La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham near the airport​

Day 10

  • Transfer to airport

  • Departure

Please note that this itinerary cannot be 100% guaranteed, as it is only a rough guide and can be changed due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. 

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