Compiler: Joyce Takamine e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org Date: December 20, 2015 This is the Rare Bird Alert, Sunday, December 20, 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, Mesa, Weld) Tundra Swan (*Boulder, *Larimer) White-winged Scoter (*Arapahoe, Jefferson, Otero) Black Scoter (Otero) Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe, El Paso, Logan/Sedgwick, Pueblo, Weld) Barrow's Goldeneye (Arapahoe, Chaffee, Larimer, Moffat) Pacific Loon (Bent, Larimer) Red-necked Grebe (Larimer) Dunlin (Larimer) Thayer's Gull (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Larimer, Otero) Iceland Gull (Arapahoe) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Arapahoe, El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo, Washington, Weld) Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Larimer) Great Black-backed Gull (Douglas, Larimer, Pueblo) Greater Roadrunner (Bent) SNOWY OWL (Denver, Adams) Burrowing Owl (Denver) White-throated Swift (*Pueblo) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Bent) Black Phoebe (Fremont) Eastern Phoebe (El Paso, Weld) Chihuahuan Raven (El Paso) Canyon Wren (*Pueblo) Winter Wren (El Paso, Pueblo, Washington) Varied Thrush (Grand) Curve-billed Thrasher (Bent, El Paso, Weld) Lapland Longspur (Denver, Yuma) Chestnut-collared Longspur (Weld) Snow Bunting (Denver, Weld) Yellow-throated Warbler (*Larimer) Canyon Towhee (Bent) Red Fox Sparrow (*Denver, Morgan, Yuma) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Boulder, *Pueblo) Lazuli Bunting (*Larimer) EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Morgan) Rusty Blackbird (Pueblo) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Grand, Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch (Grand, Jefferson, Weld) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Grand, Jefferson, Weld) PURPLE FINCH (Bent, El Paso) White-winged Crossbill (Clear Creek) Common Redpoll (Bent, *Jefferson, *Larimer, Yuma) 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. On December 12, Candice Johnson reported Lesser Black-backed Gull at Barr Lake. On December 13, Sue Riffe reported 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Barr Lake --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 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. --On December 12, Glenn Walbek reported f Long-tailed Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, ad Glaucous Gull, and ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP. On December 14, Bob Righter reported f-type Long-tailed Duck at Cherry Creek Reservoir. --A White-winged Scoter was reported by Tim King at South Platte Reservoir on December 14. On December 18, Charles Lawrence reported White-winged Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. --On December 18 at Aurora Reservoir, David Dowell reported 1 ad Iceland Gull (Kumlieni), 2 Thayer's Gulls (1 ad, 1 juv), and 2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls. --A White-winged Scoter was reported by Scott Somershoe at McLellan Reservoir on December 19. 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. --Duane Nelson reported 3 Canyon Towhees, 1 Curve-billed Thrasher, and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker at his feeder on December 15 for the John Martin CBC. Also found on the count were 2 Roadrunners, Pacific Loon, and Kathy Mihm Dunning photographed a Common Redpoll. 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 December 19 Steve Frye reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. --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. --On December 17, Bill Kaempfer reported Tundra Swan at Valmont Complex. --On December 19, Ira Sanders reported 3 Trumpeter Swans N of Hwy 66 at 58rd Road which is the road to Rabbit Mountain. 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. CLEAR CREEK COUNTY: --2 White-winged Crossbills were reported by Scott Manwaring on Guanella Pass on December 11. 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. On December 12, Matt Clark reported SNOWY OWL and 2 Lapland Longspurs on the DIA owl loop. --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. --A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow was reported by George Mayfield at Bear Creek Park on December 19. DOUGLAS COUNTY: --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: --An ad Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Jesse Casias at Chatfiled SP on December 5. EL PASO COUNTY: --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. On December 13, David Chartier reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks at Big Johnson. On December 16, Bill Maynard reported 4 Long-tailed Ducks at Big Johnson. --On December 14 on the Fountain Creek RP CBC, Ted Floyd reported Winter Wren and f-type PURPLE FINCH. On December 14, Dan Maynard reported Chihuahuan Raven, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Eastern Phoebe on the Fountain Creek RP CBC. On December 16, Jeannie Mitchell reported PURPLE FINCH ata Fountain Creek RP near feeders in front of nature center. --On December 18, Alan Versaw reported Chichuahuan Raven on Drennan Road. FREMONT COUNTY: --A Black Phoebe was reported by SeEtta Moss at Fremont Sanitation Plant in Florence on December 13. GRAND COUNTY: --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. On December 12, Scott Manwaring reported Varied Thrush, 4 Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 55 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and 1 Black Rosy-Finch at yard of Cathy Craig in Granby. On December 15, Cathy Craig reported that the Varied Thrush continues to visit her yard along with Rosy-Finches. On December 17, Cathy Craig reported that the Varied Thrush continues to vist her yard. On December 18 Gwen Moore reported Varied Thrush, Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finch att yard of Cathy Craig in Granby. --Cathy Craig reported a Trumpeter Swan on Lake Granby on December 15. --Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches were reported by Forrest Luke at a feeder of of 9th St in Kremmling on December 14. --All 3 species of Rosy-Finches were coming to a feeder about 10 miles south of Kremmling off CR 100 which is accessed off CR10 whichis accessed off Hwy 9 as reported by Forrest Luke on December 14. JEFFERSON COUNTY: --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. On December 13, Dale Pate reported White-winged Scoter at South Platte Reservoir --On December 17, Scott Somershoe reported Gray-crowned, Brown-capped, and Black Rosy-Finch and Common Redpoll at feeders at the home of Ira Sanders at 314 Defrance Ct in Golden. Ira welcomes birders. On December 18, Tom Behnfield and Frank Farrell reported Common Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, and Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch at feeders of Ira Sanders in Golden. On December 19, Jayne reported Common Redpoll at thistle feeder at Ira Sanders. LARIMER COUNTY: --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. On December 12, John Shenot reported ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Loveland. On December 12, Nick Komar reported 3 Thayer's Gulls at Lake Loveland. --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. On December 12, Dean Shoup reported Yellow-throated Warbler on W Mountain. On December 13, Dave Leatherman, Nick Komar, and Gwen Moore reported Yellow-throated Warbler at 1520 W Mountain Ave in Fort Collins. On December 14, David Wade and Norm Erthal reported Yellow-throated Warbler at 1520 W. Mountain Ave. On December 15, John Shenot, Andy Bankert, and Georgia Doyle reported Yellow-throated Warbler at 1520 W. Mountain Ave in Fort Collins. On December 16, Brad Biggerstaff and Ken Pals reported Yellow-throated ,Warbler at 1520 W. Mountain Ave. On December 18, Tom Behnfield, Robert Beauchamp, Georgia Doyle and Denise Bretting reported Yellow-throated Warbler at 1520 W. Mountain Ave in Fort Collins. On December 19, Kevin Keirn, Adam Vesely, and Mark Chavez reported Yellow-throated Warbler at 1520 w. Mountain Ave. --On December 12 at Larimer County Landfill, Nick Komar reported 2nd-cyc Glaucous Gull, 3 Thayer's Gulls, and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. --On December 16, Andy Bankert reported Red-necked Grebe and Thayer's Gull at Douglas Reservoir. --An ad m Lazuli Bunting was reported by Rachel Hopper at The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins on December 19. --2 Tundra Swan were reported by Casey Setash at Douglas Reservoir on December 19. --8 Common Redpolls were reported by Nick Komar and Ken Pals in Wellington in neighborhood SE of Waverly on December 19 as part of the Fort Collins CBC. 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 December 9, Steve Brown report 10 Trumpeter Swans including 1 juv at Highline Lake SP. MORGAN COUNTY: --An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was reported by Jeff Dawson at Narrows Dam Site on December 16. --A "red" Fox Sparrow was reported by Bill Kaempfer along CO 144 between Weldona and Fort Morgan on the Eldona/Fort Morgan CBC on December 16. 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. On December 13, Stan Oswald reported Black Scoter and White-winged Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir. On December 16, Gwen Moore reported Black Scoter and White-winged Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir. --On December 14, Gwen Moore reported 2nd-cyc Thayer's Gull 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 15, Preston Larimer reported about 15 White-throated Swifts over the Arkansas River near Osprey Picnic Area. --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. On December 11, Norm Erthal reported Great Black-backed Gull at S Shore Marina tires of Pueblo Reservoir. --On December 19 on the Pueblo Reservoir CBC, Brandon Percival reported 33 White-throated Swifts (first time on count), GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and 2 Canyon Wrens. WASHINGTON COUNTY: --A Winter Wren and a juv Lesser Black-backed Gull were reported by David Dowell at Prewitt Reservoir on December 13 WELD COUNTY: --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. After reviewing her photo, Leukering and Mlodinow declared the bird a Black Rosy-Finch. --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. --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Gary Lefko at a frozen pond W of Widsor Lake on December 13. YUMA COUNTY: --On December 17, at Bonny Reservoir SWA below the dam, Loch Kilpatrick reported "Red" Fox Sparrow and Common Redpoll. --On December 18, Glenn Walbek reported "Red" Fox Sparrow, Common Redpoll, and 13 Lapland Longspsur at Hale Ponds. DFO Field Trips: No Field Trips Scheduled until December 26. Help with a Christmas Bird Count. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHtstTeXhB1bxOJ%3DEVWhoH50x7b-jJgeXUZmWwVBw0uQD2prdg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
