During the 1970s or 1980s, Barbara McKnight, the long-time secretary of New Mexico Ornithological Society, demonstrated that Black-eared Bushtits, at least in New Mexico, were juvenile or immature Bushtits. Black-eared Bushtits at that time were considered a separate species. Barbara banded birds on her property at Cedar Crest, New Mexico, for many years. She banded a first-year Black-eared Bushtit to have it return and be recaptured the following year as a Bushtit with brown auriculars. This was one of Barbara's many contributions to ornithology, demonstrating that nonprofessionals can contribute to the science or ornithology. Barbara was my banding mentor. Chuck Hundertmark
----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: "Digest Recipients" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 2:55:01 AM Subject: [cobirds] Digest for [email protected] - 11 Messages in 9 Topics Today's Topic Summary Group: http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/topics • Black-eared Bushtits? (pictures) [3 Updates] • Standley Lake scoters [1 Update] • 10/28 Birds in Larimer and Weld [1 Update] • Red Phalarope in Bent County [1 Update] • Pueblo City Park 10/28 (not so thrilling this morning) [1 Update] • Boulder res and Cherry creek res [1 Update] • Canvasbacks / Ketring Lake (littleton) [1 Update] • Short-eared Owl/Larimer [1 Update] • Colorado RBA, Friday October 28, 2011 [1 Update] Black-eared Bushtits? (pictures) Dave Cameron <[email protected]> Oct 28 12:21PM -0700 Could be.... I saw more of their backs (2 days in a row, and will try to return again today), than their breasts, and got more of an impression of dark gray than brown. Also, here's a pic I found online that someone down in NM posted, asking whether the bird in the photo was a black-eared. I didn't see a solid answer in the forum he was on, but his pic sort of looks like my bird, esp the second shot. Dave Cameron Dave Cameron <[email protected]> Oct 28 02:00PM -0700 Didn't actually include the aforementioned link-- here it is: http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/thread/78037.aspx "Karl Stecher Jr." <[email protected]> Oct 29 02:21AM -0600 Dave, I don't know where the cutoff is between interior and full black-eared. The "ear" came out brown on your picture...I would throw out a guess that this bird is 80% of the way towards a black-eared. I await the comments of the master of molt, Tony Leukering, on this one. I only know, roughly, that 1) black-eared used to be a separate species, and 2) Sibley speaks of this coloration as being noted in immatures. I have never handled specimens, much less with this question in mind. Karl Stecher Centennial Dave Cameron writes: Standley Lake scoters Doug Faulkner <[email protected]> Oct 28 09:27PM -0600 Just before sunset today there were three white-winged scoters in the southeast corner. Lots of grebes (4 species - none rare) and 3 common loons also present. Doug Faulkner Arvada 10/28 Birds in Larimer and Weld Cole Wild <[email protected]> Oct 28 08:22PM -0700 I did a little birding today (10/28) in Larimer and Weld Counties, here are the highlights: Boedecker Reservoir - Larimer Bonaparte's Gull - 11 Least Sandpiper - 1 Bonnel Drive Pond - Larimer (a pond on the east side of County Road 21 just south of Lon Hagler Reservoir) Swamp Sparrow - 1 Lonetree Reservoir - Larimer Red-breasted Merganser - 1 Dry Creek Reservoir - Larimer Surf Scoter - 2 female / immature (probably the same 2 birds from earlier in the week) Prairie Falcon - 1 Union Reservoir - Weld Common Loon - 2 Red-breasted Merganser - 4 Cole Wild Loveland Red Phalarope in Bent County Duane Nelson <[email protected]> Oct 28 04:39PM -0600 Birders, I drove to Adobe Creek Reservoir (aka Blue Lakes) this afternoon. This lake straddles the Bent / Kiowa County lines, and is about 13 miles north of Las Animas via Road 10. The north lake is mostly in Kiowa County. I had one Pacific Loon, rare in Kiowa County. An early adult Bald Eagle was present. Sandhill Cranes called constantly, and while I was there, a few Snow Geese arrived. There are lots of American White Pelicans, several species of grebes, hundreds of cormorants, and a fair number of ducks. The south lake is where the shorebirds are. The north end of the south lake (Bent County) had double-digit Greater Yellowlegs, two Black-bellied Plovers, American Avocets and one late Lesser Yellowlegs. The best birding was on the south end of the south lake, accessed by County Road UU. From the dam, head north on the two-track on the east side of the outlet canal all the way to the lake. There are several small islands, chock full of shorebirds and other water birds. As I was watching, I heard a sharp "pick" call (similar to a Sanderling) I looked up to see a robust shorebird with a white wing stripe coming in for a landing. When it landed on the water and began to swim, I knew I was on to something; a basic-plumaged Red Phalarope. The phalarope swam just offshore, and I got lots of photographs. If my pictures are not great, it's not the phalarope's fault. Duane Nelson Las Animas, Bent County, CO Pueblo City Park 10/28 (not so thrilling this morning) "Brandon K. Percival" <[email protected]> Oct 28 01:30PM -0700 The warbler flock from yesterday, seemed to have thinned out today, as there were maybe 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers and three Townsend's Warbler around the headquarters building, east of the Duck Pond in Pueblo City Park this morning. In the same oak tree, that the TENNESSEE WARBLER was yesterday (which is west of the headquarters building and just east of the pond), I saw it there again today at 8:15am, and never again. The west side of the park, near the Frisbee Golf Course creek had more birds today, there was a male Red-naped Sapsucker in this area. There was no sign of the Pine Warbler or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker this morning. Hopefully tomorrow will better, since there is a field trip starting there in the morning. Brandon Percival Pueblo West, CO Boulder res and Cherry creek res loch kilpatrick <[email protected]> Oct 28 12:59PM -0700 Hello All Glenn Walbec and I check out a few areas today. Boulder Res- Arctic Tern, Mt Bluebirds and 1 Eastern Bluebird, Lots of Ducks, Redheads, Canvasbacks, Buffleheads, L. Scaup. No Red-necked Grebe or Scoter's Cherry Creek Res 2 common Loons Red-throated loon Lots of ducks, Grebes, coots, and a few American tree Sparrows moving through. Good Birding Loch Kilpatrick Parker Co www.flickr.com/photos/lochkilpatrick Canvasbacks / Ketring Lake (littleton) Dave Cameron <[email protected]> Oct 28 12:24PM -0700 Thurs, 1st day after the storm, 7 Canvasback showed up at Ketring Lake. Bushtits still present, along with 2 Song Sparrows. Dave Cameron Denver Short-eared Owl/Larimer "The \"Nunn Guy\"" <[email protected]> Oct 28 08:05AM -0700 Commute route==>Clark Reservoir-North Poudre Reservoir #3; SMith SWA; Wellington #4; Bee Lake; Wellington #6; cluster of lakes near Larimer's Windsor Reservoir; Eagle and Terry Lakes. Bee Lake Short-eared Owl hanging out on camping peninsula. Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ Colorado RBA, Friday October 28, 2011 Joyce Takamine <[email protected]> Oct 28 04:48AM -0600 compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: October 28, 2011 e-mail: rba@cfo-link phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 28, 2011 updated at 5:00 am, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on you phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on this species in this report) TUNDRA SWAN (*Routt) Surf Scoter (*Boulder, *El Paso, Larimer, Park) White-winged Scoter (Park) Black Scoter (*Boulder, *El Paso) Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, *Garfield, Weld) Red-necked Grebe (*Boulder, Broomfield, Pueblo) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Arapahoe) American Golden-Plover (El Paso) POMARINE JAEGER (Boulder) LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Pueblo) Thayer's Gull (Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Alamosa, Larimer) ARCTIC TERN (*Boulder) White-winged Dove (Prowers) Red-belllied Woodpecker (Weld) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (*Pueblo) Eastern Phoebe (Washington) Tennessee Warbler (*Pueblo) PINE WARBLER (*Pueblo) Hooded Warbler (Pueblo) SCARLET TANAGER (Pueblo) Fox Sparrow (Phillip) White-throated Sparrow (Huerfano, Pueblo) Northern Cardinal (Pueblo) Rusty Blackbird (Larimer) White-winged Crossbill (Gilpin) Alamosa County: --A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Rawinski at San Luis Lake SP at the north end of the lake on October 25. Arapahoe County: --A Pacific Loon and NEOTROPIC CORMORANT were reported by Kelly at Cherry Creek SP on October 22. The loon was viewed from east of Prairie Loop along the Nature Trail. The Pacific Loon was seen again on October 25 by Nick Moore. Boulder County: --Nick Moore spotted a tern at Boulder Reservoir on October 18, which Nunes confirmed is a juv ARCTIC TERN. On October 26, Halsey reported the ARCTIC TERN was foraging along the S shore. The Red-necked Grebe first reported by Pieplow on October 20 was at the west end of the reservoir as reported by Halsey. On October 27, Halsey reported that the ARCTIC TERN was flying around the middle and east end of the reservoir. --On October 25, Nunes reported 4 f/imm Black Scoters in the NE part of Boulder Reservoir and 1 f/imm Surf Scoter in the middle of the reservoir. On October 27, Halsey reported 3 f/imm Black Scoters and 2 f/imm Surf Scoters at Boulder Reservoir. --1 Black Scoter and 3 Surf Scoters were found by Mlodinow on Ish Reservoir on October 22. --A probable juv light morph POMARINE JAEGER flew south from Ish Reservoir on October 23 as reported by Wild. Broomfield County: --A Red-necked Grebe was reported by Wild at Great Western Reservoir on October 22. El Paso County: --A possible American Golden-Plover was reported by Goff on the south shore of Big Johnson on October 23. --A f/imm Surf Scoter was reported by Nick Moore at Big Johnson on October 25. Peterson relocated the Surf Scoter at Big Johnson on October 27. --3 Black Scoters were reported by Peterson at Prospect Lake at Memorial Park on October 27. Directions: Take exit 141/Cimarron St from I-25, go east to where it "T"s with Wasatch. Turn left/north and go 1 block to Costilla and turn right/east to Lake and Park. Best viewing was on the south side. Garfield County: --A Pacific Loon was reported by Zerbi on Rifle Gap Reservoir on October 27. Gilpin County: --1 White-winged Crossbill was reported by Wild on Lump Gulch Road on October 25. Huerfano County: White-throated Sparrows are visiting the feeders at the Nelder Yard in La Veta on October 26. Contact [email protected] for more information. Larimer County: --1 Thayer's Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 1 Rusty Blackbird were reported by Wild at Timnath Reservoir on October 22. 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Thayer's Gull were reported by Mlodinow at Timnath Reservoir on October 23. --2 f/imm Surf Scoters werre reported by Wild at Dry Creek Reservoir on October 25. --1 imm Surf Scoter was reported by Komar at the marina lagoon at Boyd Lake SP on October 25. Park County: --At Spinney Mountain Reservoir on October 22, Kellner reported 1 imm White-winged Scoter and 2 imm Surf Scoters. --At Antero Reservoir on October 22, Kellner reported 3 Surf Scoters (1 imm, 2 ad males). Prowers County: --A White-winged Dove was reported by Leatherman in the Willow Valley Subdivision of Lamar on October 22. The subdivision is E of Willow Creek Park. Pueblo County: --A juv LONG-TAILED JAEGER was reported by Percival at the SWA of Pueblo Reservoir on October 13. The LONG-TAILED JAEGER was seen on October 24 by Percival from SWA on NW side of Pueblo Reservoir. --On October 19 from west of Valco Ponds parking lot, Percival reported a f SCARLET TANAGER, m Northern Cardinal, and 2 White-throated Sparrows. The SCARLET TANAGER was west of the Valco Ponds parking lot between the bluff and the river as reported by Percival on October 23. --2 male Northern Cardinals and 2 White-throated Sparrows were reported by Chartier at Valco Ponds on October 22. Percival reported 2 White-throated Sparrows at Valco Ponds on October 23. --A male Hooded Warbler was reported by Percival at Valco Ponds in the first parking lot behind restroom on October 20 and on October 23 Percival reported that the Hooded Warbler was in the eastern part of the Valco Ponds parking lot early in the morning. --A Red-necked Grebe was reported by Percival at Pueblo Reservoir on October 21 and was relocated by Percival on October 23 looking W from the SWA on the NW side of Pueblo Reservoir. --At Pueblo City Park on October 27, Percival reported m PINE WARBLER, Tennessee Warbler and juv YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Routt County: --3 TUNDRA SWANS were reported by Ritt on Nofstger Reservoir on October 26. The reservoir is about 5 miles S of US 40 and W of CR 27. --3 TUNDRA SWANS were reported by Luke at the WFMC Ponds S of Craig on October 27. Forrest wonders if they are the same 3 that were reported by Ritt yesterday. Weld County: --A Pacific Loon was reported by Teuton at Union Reservoir on October 22, it is best viewed from SW corner. A Pacific Loon was reported by Mlodinow at Union Reservoir on October 25. It was on the north-central part of the reservoir. --A f Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Wilberding in the NW corner of Crow Valley CG on October 22. The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, October 29 will be to Prospect Park led by Tom Parchman (303-274-7951). Meet at N side of lake at the parking lot. Meet Tom at 0800 for a half day trip. Bring water, snacks, and dress appropriately for weather. The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, October 30 will be to the Longmont Area led by Chris Owens. Meet at Jim Hamm Park at 0800. From I-25, take Exit 240. Go west four miles on CO 119 to the Boulder/Weld County Line Road, then north 2 miles to Jim Hamm Park at 17th Ave. Bring water, lunch, and appropriate clothing. Plan to bird until just after noon or mid-afternoon depending on the birds. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group cobirds. You can post via email . To unsubscribe from this group, send an empty message. For more options, visit this group. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
