600!!

July 25th, John was trying for the Black Swift. He got to Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park 20 minutes before sunrise and waited an hour after sunrise. No swifts, so he started back to the parking lot. Halfway back, he glimpsed something round and brown. There were 5-6 Dusky Grouse within a few feet of the trail! The male was sitting on top of a rock making soft cooing sounds. The rest were probably immatures and a female. John got great pictures. In the afternoon, John stopped by a reservoir in eastern Colorado and saw the Solitary Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper. He was up to 599.

July 26th, John drove across Kansas. Near Dodge City, he saw a Missippi Kite. 600! We were reunited in Springfield MO that night. John mentioned getting up at 5 the next morning, I convinced him that we could sleep in.

July 27th, we stopped by the Springfield Nature Center, a lovely gem. John got pictures of the Carolina Chickadee and the Tufted Titmouse at their feeders. We checked in with family. Grandkids and a couple of adults headed for Silver Dollar City near Branson. John did his laundry and I got on my daughter's computer to blog.

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 28th, we will get up at 5 to look for some target birds. Temperatures are in the high 90's midday, so birding will be limited. I fly back to California Sunday and John heads for Texas.

John has 602 birds on his big year list.