Compiler: Mary Driscoll e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org <http://cobirds.org/> Date: November 20, 2016 This is the Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, November 20, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species) NOTE: The RBA is using the new AOU checklist and the order of the families has changed Surf Scoter (Arapahoe, Jackson, Kiowa,Weld) Black Scoter (Arapahoe, Crowley) White-winged Scoter (*Otero)(Pueblo) Red-necked Grebe (Pueblo) Greater Yellowlegs (Jackson) Black-legged Kittiwake (Pueblo) Lesser Black-backed Gull (*El Paso) Great Black-backed Gull (*Pueblo) Mew Gull (El Paso)(*Larimer) Red-throated Loon (Adams, Larimer, Pueblo) Pacific Loon (Pueblo, Summit) Red-shouldered Hawk (El Paso) Red-bellied Woodpecker (*El Paso)(Morgan) Sedge Wren (Bent) Bewick's Wren (Delta, Mesa) Varied Thrush (*El Paso) Lapland Longspur (Elbert) Orange-crowned Warbler (Delta) Pine Warbler (*Prowers) Rusty Blackbird (Boulder), (*Pueblo) Great-tailed Grackle (Weld) *****For locations you are not familiar with (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site for directions: www.coloradocountybirding.org <http://www.coloradocountybirding.org/> ARAPAHOE COUNTY: ---On November 15, a Black Scoter was seen at Aurora Reservoir by D. Dowell. ---On November 13, a Black Scoter (adult, male) and a Surf Scoter (female) were reported by Glenn Walbek at Cherry Creek State Park. On November 16, Nick Komar reports both Scoter species still present at Aurora Reservoir, along the southeast shore. BENT COUNTY: ---On November 12, a Sedge Wren was reported by Steve Mlodinow at the west end of Van’s Marsh on south side of road (near John Martin Reservoir) BOULDER COUNTY: ---On November 13, a Rusty Blackbird was reported by Jack Bushing, foraging along the water’s edge of the NNW side of Hecla Lake, Louisville. CROWLEY COUNTY: ---On November 12, Four Black Scoters were reported by Steve Mlodinow at Lake Henry where the entrance road meets lake. Note Lake Meredith is entirely closed to public access. DELTA COUNTY: ---On November 11, Two Bewick's Wrens and an Orange-crowned Warbler were reported by Jason Beason at Confluence Park. ELBERT COUNTY: On November 15, D. Suddjian reported seeing Lapland Longspurs in the areas I checked that had bare dirt fields, with many 100s noted SE of Matheson along CRs 169, 66, 153, and 70. The biggest numbers were along CR 66 a few miles E of CR 149. And a pond along CR 169 at 3.8 miles S of Hwy 86 had a series of flocks of longspurs coming in to drink water, offering nice looks with a scope. EL PASO COUNTY: ---On November 19, late in the day, David Tennessen reported four Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Big Johnson Reservoir near the far shore. ---On November 19, Aaron Driscoll reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the wooden area around the banding station at Chico Basin Ranch (fee). ---On November 18, Cici Lee reported a Varied Thrush at Drake Lake, Mallard Dr., Falcon-Peyton area. It was perched in the dead tree just west of the parking area. On November 19, between 9:50-10:15AM, Cici Lee reported the Varied Thrush on the south shore of Drake Lake, and then in the yard south of the lake. Very cooperative. ---On November12, an adult Mew Gull was reported by Mark Peterson and David Chaffen at Big Johnson Reservoir. This might be the same bird previously reported at Prospect Lake. ---On November 9, an adult Mew Gull was reported by Dale and Joel Adams at Prospect Lake at Memorial Park, Colorado Springs. ---On November 10, a Red-shouldered Hawk was reported by Susan Craig, it was swooping around low over the shopping center at the SE corner of Constitution and Powers Blvds. LARIMER COUNTY: ---On November 19, at dusk, Nick Komar reported a Mew Gull (1st cy.) along the north shore of Lake Loveland with a throng of gulls. ---On November 12, a Red-throated Loon was reported by Nick Komar at the North end of Boyd Lake SP. State Park pass required. Approach main entrance from the south (road is closed to the north). On November 13, the Red-throated Loon was re-found at the North end of Boyd Lake, by David Wade. ---On November 13, a Red-throated Loon was reported by David Wade and Georgia Doyle at the North end of Boyd Lake SP. It was seen from the northern most parking lot on the west side. State Park pass required. OTERO COUNTY: ---On November 18, Darth Aves reported a White-winged Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir on south side of the lake near the outlet. PROWERS COUNTY: ---On November 11, An adult male Pine Warbler visited the various seed feeders in Janeal Thompson’s yard. The bird was also observed eating insects. The Pine Warbler was seen by David Leatherman on November 16. On November 19, Janeal Thompson reports the Pine Warbler continues to make irregular visits to her feeders, and nearby Juniper Tree. PUEBLO COUNTY: —On November 18, B. Percival reported a White-winged Scoter below Pueblo Reservoir dam between the road bridge and Valco Bridge. He also saw a Rusty Blackbird in the same area along the river walk. ---On November 18, Brandon Percival reported a Great Black-backed Gull at Pueblo Reservoir. On November 19, mid-morning, Brandon Percival reported the Great Black-backed gull standing on the tires at the south shore marina at Pueblo Reservoir. ---On November 15, Eric DeFonso reported seeing the Black-legged Kittiwake seen well from the N most of the three parking areas looking W at Pueblo SWA. ---November 14 update on Black-legged Kittiwake, thanks to Brandon Percival: Still present today as of 7:38 AM at the same location. Pacific Loon also still present today, west of West Fishing Road. “A good number of people were able to see the bird today (including a visiting birder from Tennessee), after the early morning sighting from West Fishing Road, it spent the rest of the day in the State Wildlife Area, seen off the middle parking looking west. It seems to hang out near the diving Common and/or Pacific Loons. Looking for these diving loons, and looking at the gulls near them, seems to be a good trick to find the kittiwake lately. I did a quick count of all the people, who I know saw the bird so far, and that total is 62 people at least. The bird has been around for 15 days (since 30 October), though missing for 4 days last weekend, when no one saw it. A good number of Common Loons were seen today, from both West Fishing Road and in the SWA. The Pacific Loon finally showed up late in the day, in the SWA.” ---On November 3, a Red-necked Grebe was reported by Brandon Percival and Kara Carragher at Sailboard Launch Area of Pueblo Reservoir. On November 16, Brandon Percival reports the Red-necked Grebe continues off sail boat launch area at Pueblo Reservoir SUMMIT COUNTY: ---On November 13, a probable Pacific Loon was viewed from Giberson Bay at Dillion Reservoir by Jack Bushing. WELD COUNTY: ---On November 5, a Surf Scoter (female) was reported by Tracy Pheneger at Union Reservoir. On November 15, S. Mlodinow reported a Surf Scoter at Union Reservoir. ---On November 4, two Surf Scoters and 285 Great-tailed Grackles were reported by Steve Mlodinow at Union Reservoir. Denver Field Orthinologists Field Trips: Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website: Littleton Area Lakes Tuesday, November 22 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM David Suddjian (Email: [email protected] Phone: 831-713-8659) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 12 Directions: Meet at South Platte Reservoir. From C470 take the Platte Canyon Road / South Platte Park exit. From Platte Canyon Road at Depew Street turn southeast onto the entrance road for South Platte Park. Continue past a 90 degree left turn and the first parking lot, and meet in the second parking lot. We will visit bodies of water in the Littleton area seeking a variety of ducks, gulls, and other waterbirds, with a cross section of landbirds while we are at it. Stops will probably include South Platte Reservoir, the adjacent South Platte River, Centennial Park, Ketring Park. Chatfield Reservoir is a possibility (day use fee). Scopes will be helpful. Bring liquids and snacks. Some walking at some sites. Register online or contact leader. Annual Barrow’s Goldeneye Count to Silverthorne Wednesday, November 23 12:00 AM - 6:00 PM Paul Slingsby (Email: [email protected] Phone: 303-422-3728) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: Meet at the RTD Park-n-Ride located at Union Blvd and W 2nd Place. From US 6 go south to the second stoplight. Turn left and proceed toward the end of W 2nd Place. Look for the group at the southeast corner of the Park-n- Ride lot.We will count Barrowâ€TMs Goldeneyes and other birds at the Silverthorne water treatment plant and then drive to Hot Sulfur Springs (rosy-finches), Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Grand Lake. Spotting scopes and 2-way radios will be useful. Dress for cold, windy weather. Insulated, windproof leg coverings and warm boots are recommended. Bring water and snacks, weâ€TMll find a warm place to buy lunch. Plan to be back at meeting place by dark. Register online or contact leader. South Platte River Trail at E 88th Ave and I-76 Friday, November 25 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Jackie King (Email: [email protected] Phone: 720-381-3314) Trail Difficulty: Easy Directions: Meet at the parking area at 88th Ave and South Platte River Trail. From I-76 take E 88th Ave exit, go west on 88th for 1.6 miles, then turn south at Colorado Blvd. Turn left again into the parking lot for the South Platte River Greenway Trailhead. Notice this is a Friday. We will look for ducks, hawks, falcons, and whatever else that may fly in. Please dress for the weather. Sunscreen suggested. We will walk on easy, wheelchair accessible trails. Nearest restrooms are at the 7-11 just north across the street from the meeting location. Register online or contact leader. Good Birding, Mary Driscoll Unincorporated Arapahoe County 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] <mailto:[email protected]>. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F3DB152E-5652-4C99-9FF8-276D007875E8%40me.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/F3DB152E-5652-4C99-9FF8-276D007875E8%40me.com>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. -- 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/9B2972BB-58BE-4BAA-8A93-7FF5EEA9BCB8%40gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
