Washington County
Author(s): Andrew Spencer, Nathan Pieplow
County Seat: Akron
County Size: 2,520 square miles
Low Elevation: 4,061 ft. - South Platte River on the Logan border
High Elevation : 5,420 ft. - Presidents Hill
Best Birds : Reddish Egret (2002), Connecticut Warbler (2001)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Washington County. This county is famous for including most of Prewitt Reservoir, one of the state's premier sites for shorebirds and migrant passerines. Other than that, it is generally reputed to be one gigantic backwards-L-shaped piece of empty. But, as we hope to show, this reputation is only mostly deserved!
Birding Locations
Akron
Description - The county seat and largest town in Washington County, Akron has some decent large trees worth checking in migration.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban
Directions - Akron is along US 34, about 25 miles east of Brush.
Delorme - 95 D5
Roads of Colorado - 60 C2
Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Description - This is one of the very few State Wildlife Areas that charge an entrance fee. The SWA is comprised of two basic habitats: the extensive riparian habitat below the dam, and the reservoir with its associated mudflats.
The area below the dam consists of an extensive mosaic of Russian Olive thickets, mature cottonwood groves, and assorted swampy habitats. It is a four- or five-mile walk from one end of this area to the other, so budget five or six hours to cover it all thoroughly. The area can be accessed from either of two parking lots, one of which is in Washington County and the other of which is in Logan. The county line situation at Prewitt can be confusing, so county listers should check their maps carefully. Most vagrants are found within the first mile or two of the Washington County parking lot, but that is probably because this area tends to get the most birding coverage.
When planning your attack on this big place, keep in mind that the cottonwood forest is usually the least productive. The thickets and swamps, on the other hand, can be full of landbirds; practically every migrant on the Colorado list has shown up here. Fall trips can usually produce at least one good eastern warbler. Spring trips can also be good, but are less consistent. Even if migration is not in swing, Eastern Screech-Owl is common to abundant, but often hard to find—whistling will occasionally elicit a response. During the warmer months Red-headed Woodpecker can also be abundant, and both rails can be found in the cattail marshes.
Even if the landbird migration isn't good, there are usually thousands of shorebirds on the extensive mudflats that form around the reservoir most years in late summer. Anything is possible here; in particular, Prewitt is known for being one of the most reliable spots in Colorado for juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers in fall. The large concentrations of shorebirds and dabbling ducks attract Peregrine Falcons, and Sabine's Gull can often be found amid thousands of Franklin's Gulls and many Black Terns. Keep an eye out for Caspian Tern and rare gulls and waders.
Habitat - Lake/Pond/Reservoir, Lowland Riparian, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Marsh
Directions - From the Merino exit off I-76 (exit 102), go one mile north to CO 6 and turn right (east). The main entrance (Washington County portion) is 3.5 miles down CO 6 on the right. The Logan County portion can be reached by going a quarter mile past the main entrance and turning right onto CR 2.5, which parallels the dam at some distance and eventually leads to the Logan County parking lot.
Delorme - 95 C4
Roads of Colorado - 44 B4
Messex State Wildlife Area (south unit)
Description - Like its neighbor Prewitt, this SWA straddles the Logan/Washington line, but keeps its bulk (and its best birding potential) south of the line. The north parking lot provides access to the Logan County portion, which largely consists of a field with scattered Russian-olive trees. At the southeast corner of the field, this portion of the SWA includes a very short stretch of South Platte River bottomland forest.
The south parking lot sits in the heart of the bottomland forest, and this is the better place to bird from. Messex is probably too far west to have regular Bell's Vireos or Baltimore Orioles, but you should be able to find most of the other common riparian birds, and you might find some good migrants in season.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt
Directions - From the Merino exit off I-76 (exit 102), go one mile north to CO 6 and turn right (east). Angle left onto CR R in a little under two miles and drive 1.5 miles north, turning left (west) onto CR 59. The main Washington County entrance is along this road in about half a mile. To get to the Logan County entrance, continue west on CR 59 about a mile to CR 15.5 and turn north towards the tiny town of Messex. Just across the railroad tracks, turn right (northeast) onto diagonal CR 17.7. The northern parking lot is on the right side of the road in about a mile.
Delorme - 95 C4
Roads of Colorado - 44 B4
Otis
Description - Small and isolated, this prairie town has a few mature deciduous trees. The cemetery south of town contains some good juniper hedgerows worth a quick look in winter or migration. Just east of town is the town's sole sewage pond, which is small but can attract various waterfowl, ibis, and who knows what else.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt, Lake/Pond/Reservoir
Directions - Otis is along US 34 thirteen miles east of Akron and thirteen miles west of Yuma. The sewage pond is just north of US 34 on the west side of CR SS.
Delorme - 95 D6
Roads of Colorado - 61 E2
Longspur and Plover areas in Washington County
Description - (submitted by Joey Kellner) I've found Chestnut-collared Longspurs on my old Breeding Bird Survey route on Road KK between Road 19 and Road 20. Near here (give or take a mile north or south) I've also had McCown's Longspur and Mountain Plover. There are several farm houses just north and either east or west a few miles that have good looking hedgerows (ask permission first).
Habitat - Grassland/Prairie
Directions - From Akron, head 21 miles south on CO 63 to CR 20 and turn left (east). Road KK is seven miles east at a T intersection.
Delorme - 97 A5
Roads of Colorado - 61 D4
Last Chance
Description - Despite its doomsday name, this speck of a town is actually your first really great chance for migrant landbirds as you head east from Denver. The birds are usually found in the small but thick circle of trees that surrounds the intermittent pond behind the rest stop. When you are done checking this grove, explore the junipers and Russian Olives on the northeast corner of the intersection--the birds have been known to spill over into this area as well. Most eastern warblers have shown up in this town at some point, including Connecticut, and Cassin's Vireo is fairly reliable in fall.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Hedgerow/Shelterbelt
Directions - Last Chance is at the intersection of US 36 and CO 71. The rest stop thicket is on the southwest corner of this intersection.
Delorme - 96 B3
Roads of Colorado - 76 A1
Anton ponds
Description - (submitted by Joey Kellner) Along Highway 36 west of Anton are some low areas just north of the highway. During wet years these places can be fantastic with shorebirds, ducks, geese, etcetera. In November 2004 a Whooping Crane was photographed at the pond two miles west of Anton.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - Anton is twenty miles east of Last Chance on US 36. The best ponds are 1.5 and 0.5 miles west of Anton on the north side of the highway.
Delorme - 97 B5
Roads of Colorado - 76 C1
Cope
Description - This tiny town has some big trees, which could have potential to trap birds in migration, assuming their branches don't break under the burgeoning weight of the Eurasian Collared-Dove population. Abundant wells testify to the recent presence of sapsuckers; Red-naped could be expected in migration, Yellow-bellied perhaps in winter. The Cope cemetery has a few windblown conifers.
Habitat - Urban/Suburban
Directions - Cope is along US 36 at its junction with CO 59.
Delorme - 97 B6
Roads of Colorado - 77 E2