Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: November 25, 2012 email: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, November 25, 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) Tundra Swan (*Boulder) Surf Scoter (*Weld) White-winged Scoter (*Denver) Long-tailed Duck (*El Paso, Larimer) Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Larimer, Pueblo) Red-throated Loon (Douglas) Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, Huerfano) Dunlin (Boulder) Thayer's Gull (Boulder) Chihuahuan Raven (*Boulder) Winter Wren (*Pueblo) Fox Sparrow (*Pueblo) Bohemian Waxwing (Moffat) Swamp Sparrow (Boulder, Pueblo) White-throated Sparrow (Jefferson, Huerfano) Harris's Sparrow (Huerfano, Pueblo) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson) Lapland Longspur (Larimer, Weld) Snow Bunting (Larimer) Northern Cardinal (*Boulder) Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe, Douglas) BRAMBLING (*Jefferson) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder) Black Rosy-Finch (Boulder) Common Redpoll (*Boulder, *Jefferson, Weld) Adams County: --A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Gilbert on the S Platte River near 88th and Colorado by the water tank on November 21. Arapahoe County: --At Cherry Creek SP on November 19, Righter reported 3 Pacific Loons near the dam, and a Rusty Blackbird on the Prairie Loop. Boulder County: --At Baseline Reservoir in Boulder on November 17, the BBC field trip led by John Vanderpoel had a nice gull study of 1-st cyc Thayer's and Herring Gulls side by side and 5 Tundra Swans (2ad, 3 juv). On November 21, Rynes reported that the 5 Tundra Swans were in the SW corner of Baseline Reservoir in the morning. On November 22, Kaempfer reported that the Tundra Swans were at Sombrero Marsh in Boulder. On November 23, Rynes reported the Tundras Swans at Sombrero Marsh. On November 24, Steve Frye's bird walk reported the Tundra Swans back at Baseline Reservoir. --Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches were reported by Wilberding in Ward on the main street on November 18. --A Northern Cardinal was found by Jinx Cooper in Hawthorne Gulch in Boulder on November 19. From Broadway, turn N on Hawthorn and drive to the end and park. Continue on the trail for about 200 yards. Bird was near pump house. On November 23, Cooper saw the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorne Gulch below the pump house. On November 24, Boswell refound the Northern Cardinal near the pump house. The cardinal has been seen between 0900 and 1000 near the pump house. It is quiet so you have to be looking at the right spot at the right time. Sometimes it will perch in the open for a few seconds. --November 19 was Swamp Sparrow day for Ted Floyd in Boulder County: he had one at the Cottonwood Marsh parking lot, 1 at Sawhill Ponds parking lot, 3 along Boulder Creek at 75th about 1000 ft downstream, 1 at McIntosh in the marsh on SW side, and 1 at Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont. On November 20, Waltman reported a Swamp Sparrow at first pond SW of parking lot pond at Sawhill. On November 22, Floyd reported 2 Swamp Sparrows at the back end of Sawhill Ponds, and 1 at Cottonwood Marsh Parking Lot. --A Dunlin was reported by Floyd at Panama Reservoir on November 19. --On November 21, Breitsch reported a Fox Sparrow at Walden Ponds in Boulder. --Tumasonis reported that Steve Frye's bird walk had 40 Common Redpolls at Baseline Reservoir on November 24. They were feeding in weedy patches on the west side of the reservoir. Later in the afternoon, Lamoureux reported that the redpolls were feeding on the shore in the SW corner of Baseline Reservoir. --A Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Schmoker in Longmont on November 24. Denver County: --A juv White-winged Scoter was reported by Tina Jones at Marston Reservoir on November 22. On November 23, Kibbe relocated ythe White-winged Scoter at Marston. Tina Jones reported White-winged Scoter at Marston on November 24. Douglas County: --At Chatfield SP on November 20, Drummond reported a juv Red-throated Loon close to the dam wall seen from handicapped fishing pier and 2 Rusty Blackbirds at Plum Creek Delta. El Paso County: --A f type Long-tailed Duck was reported by Peterson at Big Johnson on November 24. Huerfano County: --On November 22, Neldner reported 2 Harris's Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow at her feeders in La Veta. If you would like to try for the birds, please contact her at pollywren AT gmail.com. On November 23, Neldner reported 3 Harris's Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow at her feeders. --At Lathrop St on Martin Lake on November 23, Neldner relocated the Pacific Loon which she first reported on November 15. Jefferson County: --Tumasonis reported on November 22 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post. --A White-throated Sparrow was reported by Tumasonis at Matthews/Winter Park on November 22. --A BRAMBLING was reported by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on November 19. Directions: Bear Creek Lake Park is SE of C470 and Morrison Road. After entering BCLP ($5 entrance fee), stay to the left (North Road) and drive about a mile to the Boat Launch area, where there is a large parking lot to the south. Park here and do not park on side of road. Just before reaching the Boat Launch area, there is a wooden sign on the north side of the road that reads COYOTE CROSSING PICNIC AREA. Stand here and look about 30 feet to NE, you will see a small wooden footbirdge spanning the draw with willows on both sides. This is where the bird returned in the afternoon with a mixed flock of American Tree Sparrows, song Sparrows, Juncos, and House Finches. Henwood reported on November 20 that the BRAMBLING returned to the seed by the footbridge. The bird was seen by many birders all day. The bird has been identified as a juvenile male. On November 21, Edwards reported that the BRAMBLING continues and it was again seen by many birders. On November 22, Stachowiak reported that the BRAMBLING did not appear until about 8 a.m. On November 23, Campbell reported that the BRAMBLING appeared at 7:20 a.m. Kathy Miller reported that the BRAMBLING made appearances about every 20 minutes between 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. The BRAMBLING was not seen on November 24. --On November 22 while waiting for the BRAMBLING, Batchelder observed 2 Common Redpolls in a tree to the right of the bridge. Martin reported a Common Redpoll at 9:45 a.m. while waiting at the BRAMBLING spot on November 23. A Common Redpoll was reported by McConnell at the BRAMBLING spot on November 24. Larimer County: --A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Cropper at Grandview Cemetery near the golf course in Scotch Pines 20 yards east of the port-a-potty on November 17. Leatherman reported m YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Grandview Cemetery on November 18. --An ad m Long-tailed Duck was found by Wild on November 17 at Douglas Lake near Wellington and refound by Komar on November 18. --At Smith Lake near Wellington on November 18, Komar reported 1 subadult m Barrow's Goldeneye and 1 probable Snow Bunting heard calling overhead. --3 Lapland Longspurs were reported by Lefko at Rawhide Energy Plant on November 18. Moffat County: --30 Bohemian Waxwings were reported by Luke in Oak brush S of Craig on November 18. Pueblo County: --3 Swamp Sparrows were reported by Percival W of Valco Ponds parking lot on November 19. --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Percival W of Pueblo Nature Center on November 19. --On November 24 the AVAS field trip to Pueblo Nature Center had a red Fox Sparrow at the Nature Center and and Winter Wren W of the the Nature Center as reported by Percival. Weld County: --On November 19 at Crow Valley, Leatherman reported Lapland Longspur flyovers and Common Redpolls (flock of 10, flock of 29, and a single bird). The redpolls were feeding with American Goldfinch. --A f Surf Scoter was reported by Schmoker at Milavec Lake in the Frederic Recreational Area on November 24. The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, November 25th will be the RMBO Annual Barrow's Goldeneye Count in the Silverthorne and Grand Lake Areas led by Paul Slingsby (303-422-3728). Meet the leader at the Stegosaurus lot to carpool at 0800. From I-70 west , exit 259 (Morrison), head south a very short distance on CO 26 and turn left (east) into parking lot (look for the Stegosaurus sign). This is the same lot as used by Hawkwatch. Will meet at south end of lot, spaces permitting, near the driveway. Spotting scopes, binoculars and 2 way radios will be very useful. Please carefully study male, female and first year Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes before the trip. *Registration with the leader is required.* dress for very cold and windy weather even if the forecast is for a comfortable day. This includes insulated windproof leg coverings and insulated boots. Bring a lunch and hot thermos but we may find a warm place to buy a lunch if our schedule allows. Will try to be back at Stegosaurus lot by dark. The next monthly meeting of Denver Field Ornithologists will be on Monday, November 26 at 7:30 pm in the Ricketson Auditorium of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Cindi Kelly will kick off the two part program Learning about Colorado Birds. She will discuss the Bald Eagle Watch. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
