Pueblo, Lamar, La Junta
The counties and hotspots listed below represent well-known birding areas within the region and are provided for planning and reference. Specific trip locations vary based on season, access, and local conditions.
Pueblo County blends foothill parks with reservoirs and riparian stopovers. Lake Pueblo State Park (South Marina, Valco Ponds, Rock Canyon) anchors regional waterbirding. Chico Basin Ranch (Headquarters, Rose Pond, Twin Ponds; registration required) provides migrant concentrations in managed ponds and shelterbelts. Pueblo City Parkand Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA offer urban birding with riparian habitats, while Pueblo Mountain Park adds montane edges. Together, these sites illustrate Pueblo’s unique mix of foothill and plains habitats.
Prowers County highlights migrant oases and prairie reservoirs. Lamar Community College and Willow Creek Park & Fairmount Cemetery concentrate spring and fall migrants. North Gateway Park provides wetland birding, while Thurston Reservoir and Granada SWA (Midwestern Farms, Camp Amache, town area) support waterfowl, shorebirds, and open-country birding. Collectively, Prowers offers some of the best migrant stopover diversity on the southeastern plains.
Bent County anchors the Arkansas River corridor with expansive reservoirs and marshes. John Martin Reservoir(Dam, Point CG, Bent CR 18 Overlook) stages massive flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds. Nearby, Lake Hastyprovides easy access to riparian edges. Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) hosts concentrations of grebes and waterfowl, while the Fort Lyon Wildlife Easement & marshes add wetland diversity. The scenic canyonlands of Higbee Valley road provide the only reliable location for several southwestern desert species. Van’s Grove & Van’s Marsh (Gageby Creek area) highlight migrant corridors. Collectively, Bent County delivers some of the region’s grandest spectacles.
Nearest Airports
Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Drive Times
Pueblo to La Junta: 1–1.5 hours
Pueblo to Lamar: 2–2.5 hours
Colorado Springs to Pueblo: 45–75 minutes
Denver to Pueblo: 1.75–2.5 hours
Spring (Mar–May) brings booming prairie-chicken displays, crane movements, and migrant flocks through cottonwood groves. Days are mild, with variable winds across the plains.
Summer (Jun–Aug) highlights prairie breeders, grebe colonies, and riparian nesting songbirds. Conditions are hot and dry, often punctuated by afternoon storms.
Fall (Sep–Oct) ushers in waterfowl and shorebird spectacles, alongside sparrow and raptor movements. Days are crisp and clear, with cooler nights.
Winter (Nov–Feb) concentrates geese, cranes, and raptors around reservoirs and open fields. Conditions are cold but strikingly open, with wide prairie skies and far-reaching views.
