Compiler: Joyce Takamine e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org Date: December 12, 2015 This is the Rare Bird Alert, Saturday, December 12, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species). Trumpeter Swan (*Boulder, Grand, Larimer, Mesa, Weld) Tundra Swan (Arapahoe, Delta, Douglas, Jefferson, Garfield) Surf Scoter (Arapahoe, Douglas/Jefferson, Jefferson, Larimer) White-winged Scoter (Boulder, Jefferson, *Otero) Black Scoter (*Otero) Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe, *El Paso, Logan, Logan/Sedgwick, Pueblo, Sedgwick, Weld) Barrow's Goldeneye (Chaffee, *Larimer, Moffat) Red-throated Loon (Arapahoe, Logan) Pacific Loon (Larimer) Red-necked Grebe (Douglas,Jefferson, *Larimer) Dunlin (*Larimer) Thayer's Gull (*Adams,Arapahoe, Boulder, Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo, Weld) Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, *Larimer, Weld) Great Black-backed Gull (Douglas, Larimer, Pueblo) SNOWY OWL (Denver, Adams) Burrowing Owl (Denver) White-throated Swift (*Pueblo) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Bent) Black Phoebe (Mesa) Eastern Phoebe (Weld) Winter Wren (El Paso, Pueblo) Varied Thrush (El Paso, Grand) Curve-billed Thrasher (Bent, Weld) Lapland Longspur (*Denver) Chestnut-collared Longspur (*Weld) Snow Bunting (Denver, *Weld) Northern Parula (Weld) Yellow-throated Warbler (*Larimer) Canyon Towhee (Bent) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Boulder) Rusty Blackbird (Adams, Pueblo) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Grand, San Juan) Black Rosy-Finch (*Weld) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Grand, Larimer, San Juan, *Weld) PURPLE FINCH (Bent) Common Redpoll (Larimer, Logan) ADAMS COUNTY: --A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Ira Sanders at Barr Lake SP on November 28. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Kevin Keirn at Barr Lake SP on Decenber 5. On December 6, Scott Manwaring reported Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull at Barr Lake SP. On December 10, David Dowell reported 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 ad Thayer's Gull at Barr Lake SP> --2 f Rusty Blackbirds were reported by Norm Erthal below the dame at Barr Lake SP on November 30. On December 1, Gregg Goodrich reported 2 f Rusty Blackbird at Barr Lake SP. --A SNOWY OWL was reported by Bill Hutchinson and Jonnie Thompson somewhere in Adams County on December 5. ARAPAHOE COUNTY:. --On November 27, Gene Rutherford and Craig Rasmussen reported Glaucous Gull at Cherry Creek SP. On December 9, Bob Righter reported Glaucous Gull at Cherry Creek SP. --On November 28, C Warneke reported 2 Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir on the Arapahoe/Jefferson County line. --On November 28, Gene Rutherford reported 13 Tundra Swans at South Platte Reservoir in South Platte Park. --On November 30, Karl Stetcher reported Red-throated Loon at Cherry Creek Reservoir seen from picnic tables S of the marina. --On November 30, David Suddjian reported 3rd-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cooley Lake. --On December 2, Bob Righter reported ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP. --On December 6, Scott Somershoe reported ad Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull at Cherry Creek SP. --On December 6, Glenn Walbek reported Long-tailed Duck at Cherry Creek SP. BENT COUNTY: --On November 16, Duane Nelson reported that he has had f-type PURPLE FINCH, m Red-bellied Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Canyon Towhees visit his feeders in Las Animas. Birders are welcome if you notify Duane in advance at dnelson1 ATcenturytel.net On November 19, Duane Nelson reported that the f-type PURPLE FINCH returned and the other birds continue. BOULDER COUNTY: --On November 24, Stephen Knox reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm.On November 27, Ted Floyd and Tracy Pheneger reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. On December 6, Jack B, holdne Maxfield, and Ryan Bushong reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. --On November 28, Peter Gent reported a f-type White-winged Scoter at Baseline Reservoir. On November 29, Tom Behnfield and Gregg Goodrich reported White-winged Scoter at Baseline Reservoir. --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Peter Gent at Baseline reservoir seen from Cherryvale Road on December 2. --Ted Floyd reported an ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Waneka Lake on December 2. --On December 6, Carl Starace reported 3 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch at Allenspark. --On December 9, Carl Starace reported a pair of Trumpeter Swans and W end of Burch Lake. Burch Lake is S of Hwy 66 and just W of N 75th in Longmont. On December 10, John Vanderpoel reported pair of Trumpeter Swans at Burch Lake. CHAFFEE COUNTY: --30 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Presto Larimer on the Arkansas River in South Main River Park in Buena Vista on December 9. DELTA COUNTY: --3 Tundra Swans were reported by Scott Jorgensen at Sweitzer Lake on December 2. DENVER COUNTY: --A SNOWY OWL was reported by Bill Hutchinson in Adams County on December 5, but he did not disclose the exact location so it could have been in Denver County. In most of the reports of the DIA SNOWY OWL on eBird on December 6 appear to be in Denver County. The county lines near the airport are confusing. The DIA SNOWY OWL was reported by Behnfield and many other birders on December 6. On December 7, Bart DeFerme and many others reported SNOWY OWL and Burrowing Owl at DIA. The SNOWY OWL was not seen on December 8. On December 9, the DIA SNOWY OWL was reported by Cynthia Madsen and Norm Erthal around noon near the usual spot of E 114th and Trussville. Cynthia Madsen also reported 8 Lapland Longspurs at the same spot. Kyle Medina also reported the SNOWY OWL around 2 pm. The SNOWY OWL was seen around 3:30 pm by the Drummond party on December 9. The SNOWY OWl was not seen on December 10. --24 Lapland Longspurs were reported by Sam Fason on Gun Club Road S of E 112th Ave on December 6. --A Snow Bunting was reported with Horned Larks by Scott Manwaring on the DIA Owl Loop on December 6. --15 Lapland Longspurs were reported by David Dowell at DIA NE on December 10. On December 11, Chris Rurik reported 20 Lapland Longspurs at DIA Owl Loop. DOUGLAS COUNTY: --2 Red-necked Grebes were reported by Joey Kellner and Glenn Walbek from Marina Sandspit at Chatfield on November 28. --19 Tundra Swans (11 ad, 8 juv) were reported by Gregg Goodrich and many others from Marina Sandspit at Chatfield on November 28. --A Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Linda and Lee Farrell at the Marina at Chatfield SP on December 6. On December 7, Tim Ryan reported Great Black-backed Gull off Chatfield Marina. DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES: --2 f-type Surf Scoters were reported by David Suddjian at Chatfield SP on December 1. --An ad Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Jesse Casias at Chatfiled SP on December 5. EL PASO COUNTY: --A Varied Thrush was reported by David Chartier and Bill Maynard at Fountain Creek RP on November 29. It was by the beaver dam on the north end of Rice's Pond. --A Winter Wren was reported by Bill Maynard at Fountain Creek RP on November 29. On December 7, Tim Leppek reported WInter Wren at Fountain Creek RP. --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Sam Fason at Big Johnson Reservoir on December 6. --4 Long-tailed Ducks were reported by Mark Peterson at Big Johnson on December 11. GARFIELD COUNTY: --A juv Tundra Swan was reported by Jackson Trappett at Rifle Gap Reservoir on November 28. GRAND COUNTY: --A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Carol Hunter at Lake Granby Dille Dock on November 30. --A Varied Thrush has been visiting the yard of Cathy Craig in Granby since late November. Cathy is willing to allow birders to come and try to see the thrush. But she does not want anyone to come closer to the feeders than the block that she will place in the driveway. Please contact her at PioneerCSC at aol.com for information. On December 6, Carol Hunter and Cathy Craig reported that the Varied Thrush continues to come to the feeders. On December 8, Mark Chavez reported Varied Thrush, 100 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, and 5 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch in Granby at home of Cathy Craig. JEFFERSON COUNTY: --On November 14, Bill Kaempfer reported 2 Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir on the Jefferson County side. On November 17, David Suddjian reported 2 f-type Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir. On November 23, David Suddjian reported 2 f-type Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir. On November 27 Dale Pate reported 2 Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir. On November 30, David Suddjian reported 2 f-type Surf Scoters at South Platte Reservoir. --On November 28, Tom Behnfield reported 2 Red-necked Grebes and 2 Tundra Swans from Swim Beach at Chatfield. --On December 7, a f White-winged Scoter was reported by David Suddjian at South Platte Reservoir. On December 8, Phil Lyon reported White-winged Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. LARIMER COUNTY: --Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches were reported by John Shenot at Livermore Community Church on November 27. On November 28, Dave Leatherman reported 3+ Common Redpolls at Livermore Community Church. --A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Andy Bankert and Tom Behnfield at Lon Haley Reservoir in Loveland on November 29. Beware that duck hunters are present so the swan may not be present. --A Dunlin was reported by Irene Fortune at Lake Loveland on November 29. On November 30, Nick Komar reported Dunlin at Lake Loveland. Two Dunlin were reported by Nick Komar and Mark Chavez at Lake Loveland on December 1. On December 3, Irene Fortune reported pair of Dunlin at Lake Loveland. On December 4, 2 Dunlin were reported by Lori Zabel, Chris Goulart, and David Wade at Lake Loveland. On December 5, Dave Leatherman reported 2 Dunlin in the NW corner of Lake Loveland. On December 6, 1 Dunlin was reported by Denise Bretting at Lake Loveland. On December 9, Gregg Goodrich reported Dunlin and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Loveland. On December 10, Josh Bruening reported 2 Dunlin and Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull at Lake Loveland. On December 11, Josh Bruening reported 1 Dunlin and imm Glaucous Gull at Lake Loveland. --A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Nick Komar at Boedecker Lake in Loveland on November 29. --A f type Surf Scoter was reported by Nick Komar at Dry Creek Reservoir in Loveland on November 29. --At Lake Loveland on December 1, Mark Chavez reported 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Thayer's Gull. On December 5, Dave Leatherman reported 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull. --On December 5 at Boyd Lake, Nick Komar and Austin Hess reported 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 juv Great Black-backed Gull. --A Red-necked Grebe and Pacific Loon were reported by Andy Bankert at Rawhide Power Plant on December 6. On December 7, Dave Leatherman reported Red-necked Grebe and Pacific Loon at Hamilton Reservoir by Rawhide Power Plant. On December 10, Josh Bruening reported Red-necked Grebe and f Barrow's Goldeneye at Rawhide Power Plant. --On December 8 Josh Bruening reported m Barrow's Goldeneye at Timnath Reservoir. --On December 11, Jeff Birek reported Yellow-throated Warbler in Fort Collins. The warbler is visiting the feeders in the backyard of Luke Caldwell at 1520 W Mountain. Caldwell welcomes birders to enter his yard through the front and proceed along the east side. The bird spends most of the time visitng the feeder in the pine trees along the east fence line near the alley. LOGAN COUNTY: --A Red-throated Loon was reported by Joey Kellner and Kathy Mihm Dunning at Prewitt Reservoir on November 29. --A Long-tailed Duck and Common Redpoll was reported by Joey Kellner and Kathy Mihm Dunning at North Sterling Reservoir and SP on November 29. LOGAN/SEDGWICK COUNTIES: --A Long-tailed Duck was reported by Steve Mlodinow at Jumbo Reservoir on December 7. MESA COUNTY: --At Highline Lake SP on November 28, Mike Henwood and Rom Lambeth reported 5 ad Trumpeter Swans. On November 29, Nic Korte reported 5 Trumpeter Swans at Highline Lake SP. On December 4, Mike Henwood reported 10 Trumpeter Swans (9 ad, 1 juv) at Highline Lake SP. On December 6, David Price reported 7 Trumpeter Swans at Highline Lake SP. On Decmeber 9, Steve Brown report 10 Trumpeter Swans including 1 juv at Highline Lake SP. --On December 2, Mike Henwood reported Black Phoebe at Redlands Parkway Ponds. OTERO COUNTY: --A White-winged Scoter was reported by Stan Oswald at Holbrook Reservoir on December 2. On December 7, Stan Oswald reported White-winged Scoter and f Black Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir. On December 11, Norm Erthal reported Black Scoter and White-winged Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir. PUEBLO COUNTY: --On December 2, Margie Joy reported seeing White-throated Swifts at Pueblo Reservoir. On December 3, Brandon Percival and Steve Mlodinow reported 17 White-throated Swifts over the Arkansas River and Valco Ponds #2 and #3. This is the first state record of White-throated Swifts in December. On December 5, Bill Kaempfer reported 3 White-throated Swifts at Valco Ponds SWA and Chris Gilbert reported 2 White-throated Swifts at Pueblo Reservoir. On December 7, Margie Joy reported that White-throated Swifts continue to be seen along the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir Dam. On December 11, Stephany McNew reported 4 White-throated Swifts at Valco Ponds SWA. --On December 3, Brandon Percival reported 1 Rusty Blackbird and 1 Winter Wren east of Valco Ponds --Brandon Percival reported a m Long-tailed Duck at Pueblo Reservoir off West Fishing Road on December 3. --By the South Shore Marina tires, Steve Mlodinow reported 5 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Brandon Percival reported that the Great Black-backed Gull continues. SAN JUAN COUNTY: --On November 29 in Silverton, Riley Morris reported 100 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, 22 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (including 7 Hepburn's). SEDGWICK COUNTY: --A Long-tailed Duck was reported by Joey Kellner and Kathy Mihm Dunning at Jumbo Reservoir on November 29. WELD COUNTY: --At Windsor Reservoir on December 1, Mark Chavez reported Glaucous Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. --2 Curve-billed Thrashers were reported by Norm Nerthal at Raymer on Rd 116 on December 4. --A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was reported by Lori Zabel at Sandstone Ranch on December 4. --A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Jack B at Union Reservoir on December 6. On December 7, Norm Erthal reported Trumpeter Swan at Union Reservoir. On December 8, Tim Ryan reported Trumpeter Swan at Union Reservoir. --2 Long-tailed Ducks were reported by Norm Erthal at Poudre Ponds in Greeley on December 7. The ponds are on 35th Ave N of F Street. --On CR 125 from Carr to US 95, Steve Mlodinow reported 35 Hepburn's Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch and 45 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, and 1 Black Rosy-Finch on December 11. --At Pawnee National Grasslands Adams and Bunker Reservoir #1 on December 11, Steve Mlodinow reported 125 Lapland Longspurs, 1 Chestnut-collared Longspur, and 1 Snow Bunting. DFO Field Trips: The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, December 12 will be to Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield led by Lynn willcockson (Lynnliz2698 AT aol.com; 303-757-7000). Direction: On Deer Creek Rd west of S Wadsorth Blavd, south of C-470. Meet leader at Entrance Gate at 0900. Note what we have always called the Arboretum is now officially called the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. Admission is free if you are a member, show prof of membership. Otherwise, it is %5 per car. (Good Encouragement to carpool) Enjoy a leisurely walk to see what birds are out making a living in the unpredictable December environment. Lunch optional. Register online or contact leader. The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, December 13 will be Cherry Creek Sp Wetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza (kvonsaltza AT yahoo.com; 303-941-4881). Directions: Meet at 0900 at Prairie Loop lot in Cherry Creek SP. From either park entrance, follow Lake View Rd to the Pairire Loop that is located at the south rim of the reservoir. State Parks pass or day pass required. This is a half-day of walking that passes through most of the important habitats found in the park, over a distance of about three miles. Trails can be slippery so dress accordingly. Bring water and snacks; lunch optional. Beginning birders are welcome. Register online or contact leader. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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