Bird photographers...

I have a good friend coming to town next weekend and he's a HUGE "birder." This guy spends his money on optically superior binoculars like we spend on camera gear.

I have no idea where to take him. He mentioned something about Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Anyone have any ideas for the best birding within 2-3 hrs of Denver?

Any info helps, and as always Thanks!

I am not an expert birder, but dabble in it. The Platte inlet to Chatfield and up steam is one of the favorites for my birder friends and a few have said it is the best in the Denver area. It has a nice cottonwood canopy along the river with wetlands near by. There is a network of dirt social trails that lead upstream. It's buggy and probably warms up pretty good after mid-morning. Incidentally, it is in an area that will be underwater if the Chatfield expansion goes through and the birders have voiced opposition to loosing this nice habitat.

I have done some birding in Jeffco Open Space and was at the Flying J Ranch near Conifer a week or so ago. A little cooler up there. About thirty species. Nothing hugely unusual, but a few Williamson's Sapsuckers. Nuthatches, a few sparrow species, hermit thrush, and flycatchers.

Barr Lake?

It would really help if you could post what kind of birds are a high priority for him. Fowl, raptor, shore birds, etc.

Different birds in different ecosystems. Some special birds in Colorado would include the ptarmigan (High Mountains) or the Bunting (Eastern Plains).

Here is a list of locations:
http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/

Here is the rare (or special) bird list which is updated frequently:
http://coloradobirdingsociety.net16.net/#SUBSCRIBE%20TO%20COBIRDERS