Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: March 30, 2012 e-mail: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750
This is the Colorado Rare Birds Alert for Friday, March 30, 2012, 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 your 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) TRUMPETER SWAN (*Larimer) Barrow's Goldeneye (Eagle, Garfield, La Plata) Thayer's Gull (Logan, *Washington, *Weld) ICELAND GULL (*Washington) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Boulder, *Washington) Glaucous Gull (Logan, *Washington) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Larimer *Washington, *Weld) WESTERN GULL (*Washington) Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson) SNOWY OWL (Bent, Lincoln, Logan, Weld) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Weld) Black Phoebe (Delta) Eastern Phoebe (*Douglas/Jefferson) VERMILION FLYCATCHER (*Phillips) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*Pitkin) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*Pitkin) PURPLE FINCH (Boulder) Please note, detailed directions to most of the following locations can be found on the Colorado County Birding Website: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/index.php<http://www.coloradocountybrding.com/index.php> Bent County: --On March 26, Nelson reported the SNOWY OWL at John Martin Reservoir. It has been in essentially the same location for 12 straight days on cliff, beaches and promonotires one and one-half miles west of Point Overlook on the north side of John Martin Reservoir, dating back to March 15. Please remain in vehicles when observing the bird and do not approach too closely. The SNOWY OWL has not been seen since March 26. Boulder County: --On March 15, Mlodinow found a 1-st cyc GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Panama Reservoir and it was seen again on March 17. --On March 17, Floyd reported a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Panama Reservoir. --On March 23, Hutchinson reported a pair of PURPLE FINCH in southern Lafayette. This is about 70 yard east of US 287, 0.5mi south of Empire Rd and 0.5 mi north of the Northwest Pkwy overpass. There is a culvert over a drainage ditch here the the two were in the second tree east of the highway along the south side of the drainage. The GPS coordinates were: 39.965280, -105.08927. --A 3-rd cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Floyd at Prince Lake #2 on March 27. Delta County: --A Black Phoebe was reported by Harris in Escanlate Canyon near Captain Smith's Cabin on March 27. Douglas/Jefferson County: ----An Eastern Phoebe was reported by Kibbe at "Phoebe Bridge" near the mouth of Plum Creek at Chatfield State Park on March 28. On March 29, Prickett reported a pair of Eastern Phoebes at Phoebe Bridge. Eagle County: --70+ Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Filby at Spring Park Reservoir on March 27. Garfield County: --Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Dahl at the Rifle Fish Hatchery on March 26. Jefferson County: --The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Red Rocks Trading Post feeders continued to be seen through March 26, as reported by Henwood. --Schmoker reported that the Greater Roadrunner cruised by the Hawkwatch on March 18, at Dinosaur Ridge. It appeared around 10:15 below the Hawkwatch on the East side of the ridge and continues to move steadily South out of view. La Plata County: --Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Beatty on the Animas River on March 17. Larimer County: --The TRUMPETER SWAN at Duck Lake was reported by Mlodinow on March 29. Directions: Take Windsor Exit from I-25 (Exit 262), go west on CR 32 (Carpenter Road) 2 miles and pull over to view the lake on the left side. Beware of high-speed traffic. Lincoln County: --On March 18, Ackert reported a "very white" Snowy Owl just off of I-70 near exit 376 (Bovina). The Owl was on the north side of the highway between the towns of Bovina and Arriba. Logan County: --On March 25, Mlodinow reported 5 Thayer's gulls, 3 Glaucous Gulls (1st yr) at No. Sterling Reservoir near the SE corner. --On March 25, Mlodinow reported a juv or female SNOWY OWL near Hwy 138 and CR 95. The location was on the north side of US 138, just west of CR 95. This is near the entrance to little Jumbo Reservoir. --On March 25, Mlodinow reported 6 Red-bellied Woodpeckers east of CO 55, heading to Tamarack. Phillips County: --An ad male VERMILION FLYCATCHER was reported by Severs in the town of Holyoke at the SE corner of Sherman and Kellogg. Please repect private property. Bird was observed from the street. Pitkin County: --75 Rosy-Finches all Brown-capped except 1 Gray-crowned were reported by Filby at the top of Sam's Knob at Snowmass Ski Area on March 28. Washington County: --On March 25, Mlodinow reported from a pond along CO 6, just W of Prewitt Reservoir, 2 Thayer's Gulls (1-st cyc, 2-nd cyc), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 2-nd cyc, 2 ad), 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 1-st cyc, 2-nd cyc) and a Thayer's/Iceland hybrid. On March 29, Mlodinow reported from the pond, an ad WESTERN GULL (photographed by Peterson on March 25), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 ad, 2 imm) 1 Glaucous Gull (1-st cyc), 6 Thayer's Gulls On March 25, Mlodinow reported from Prewitt Reservoir a 1-st year ICELAND GULL across the reservoir, a Lesser Black-backed Gull (ad), a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (ad) and 2 Glaucous Gulls (imm). On March 30. Mlodinow reported from Prewitt, 3 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Glaucous Gulls (1 ad, 1 imm), 1 ICELAND GULL (3-rd cyc) and 1 Herring X Glaucous-winged Hybrid. --On March 26, Spellman reported a wide variety of gulls continue at Prewitt including Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gulls. Weld County: --On March 25, Mlodinow reported a SNOWY OWL on CO 52 east of Hudson about 16 miles between CR 77 and CR 79. It was on the shoulder of the road on the N side, abut half way between the county roads. --On March 25, Hackos reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker at Crow Valley. --On March 19, Lefko reported a Lesser Black-backed Gull at CR 31 and CR 80. --On March 29, Mlodinow reported an ad Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull at the N Weld County Dump on Hwy 14 west of Ault. Upcoming DFO Field Trips: Saturday, March 31 Rollin' on the River. Leader: Jackie King. Meet the leader at 0900 in the parking lot at 3rd and Walnut on the Auraria campus. Observers will walk along the South Platte River to look for Ducks, gulls and any other birds we can find. this will be a half day trip ending by noon so lunch is optional. The leader uses a wheelchair so the trip will be on paved, level sidewalks. Please call the leader if you plan to go. 720-381-3314 or 303-287-1644. Saturday, March 31 Fountain Creek regional Park and Big Johnson Reservoir Leader: Paul Slingsby (303-422-3728 or e-mail Paslingby At comcast.net). Please register with the leader before hand, spring weather might cause a change. Meet the leader a 0700 at the SE corner of the Great Indoors parking lot. We will carpoll from there. Great Indoors is just north of C470 on Yosemite. From Denver via I-25, use exit 185 and go west on County Line Road to Yosemite. Fountain Creek Retional Park has good trails for easy walking near ponds, wet-lands, grassland and the creek. Bring lunch. Telescope and 2-way radios will be useful. Plan to be back at carpool meeting place at 1700. If you want to meet at Fountain Creek, plan for 8:30 at the Peppergrass Lane parking lot. Sunday, April 1 Walden Ponds, Boulder Leader: Chuck Hundertmark (303-604-0531, Cell 720-771-8659) Meet the leader at 0800 at Cottonwood Marsh parking lot at Walden Ponds in Boulder County. This will be a half-day trip. Walden is accessed from a short road, which goes west from 75th Street 0.9 mi north ov Valmont Road. Will look at ducks and migrants on ponds and in woods in both Walden and Sawhill areas and check to see if the local Osprey pair has returned. Will also look for migrants along Boulder Creek near 75th St. Bring a scope if you have one, along with snacks, water, and appropriate clothes. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine -- 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.
