Ornifolks Lek-A-Day trips 2011

 Tour dates April 10-16, 17-23 and 24-30.

 Cost $1395, includes ground travel, 6 nights lodging, required permits, and my services as guide and driver. NON Refundable deposit of $250 is required; Single supplement is $275 (Please let me know if you wish a SS when you sign up as rooms become scarce). Tour begins when I pick you up at the Day’s Inn and terminates upon our return.

Balance due  February 1, 2011

Meals snacks and drinks are on your own.

 Contact and /or  check payable to Mike Flieg (Not Ornifolks) at 314-631-0606. 

    ornifolks@sbcglobal.net

    4333 Al Clare Dr.

    St. Louis MO 63123  

Target species are Rosy finches, longspurs, Mountain Plover, Both Prairie Chickens, Both Sage Grouse, Sharp-tail, (Blue) Dusky Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan.

Itinerary

Day 1-Sunday-Denver to Allenspark (Rosy finches) then to  Pawnee National Grassland. (Mountain Plover, McGown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs  (125 miles) night in Ft. Collins .

Day 2-Monday-Ft. Collins to Walden through Poudre River Valley ( Cameron Pass ). Stops for Dipper and finches along the way. Night in Walden (125 mi)

Day 3- Tuesday-AM for Greater Sage Grouse lek, then on to Steamboat Springs where we will spend the night. PM search for Blue (Dusky) Grouse. (85 miles)

Day 4-Wednesday-AM Observe Sharp-tailed Grouse lek,  then proceed to Gunnison through Loveland Pass where we will search for ptarmigan. Night in Gunnison (173 mi)

Day 5-Thursday-AM near Gunnison for Gunnison Grouse then   to Lamar  for Lesser Prairie Chicken (several stops along the way) Night in Lamar (279 mi) 

Day 6-Friday-AM Lesser Prairie Chicken lek, near Holly then after some local birding we drive to Wray where we spend the night. (160 mi.)

Day 7-Saturday- Greater Prairie Chicken lek in AM then return to Denver by noon.

End of trip (166 mi).

WHY SHOULD I GO WITH ORNIFOLKS ?

Price: Lowest on the circuit.

Permits: All of the required federal and state permits are obtained. Don’t risk embarrassment or detention. Ask your tour leader to display his permits. Permission is always obtained before we enter private land.

Timing: Our trips begin on Sunday and end on Saturday. If you have limited vacation time, only 5 days are required not 10. Arrive and depart to and from Denver , where you will get the cheapest fares to Colorado . Why pay a higher fare to Gunnison , or another point to accommodate the leader.

Experience: Twenty years leading three trips per year (26 total). A total of over 300 satisfied participants. Contact us for references.

Accommodations: We use the same lodgings as Bird Quest and VENT.

Best Leks: We observe a lek of 20+ Lesser Prairie Chickens NOT 2 or 3 birds.

We are in viewing trailers and blinds where they exist. We get much better looks at Sharp-tailed and Blue Grouse.

Food:  Don’t pay for food that you don’t really want. Eat on your own. Do you want a full breakfast or just a snack? How about lunch?  Would you rather pick up some food from a grocery store? The choice is yours.