DuWayne, FYI, four birders saw the Red-flanked Bluetail today in Laramie, as recently as 12:12, and reported that to eBird at the stakeout hotspot. So it is alive and well.
Joe Roller, Denver On Tue, Nov 5, 2019 at 1:49 PM DuWayne Worthington < [email protected]> wrote: > Has anyone seen the blue-tail today? > > On Tue, Nov 5, 2019 at 7:45 AM Joe Roller <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Several of you have asked me for information about this "way lost" bird, >> found >> yesterday by Cody Porter, a savvy birder in nearby Laramie, Wyoming. >> Kudos to Cody for getting "the word" out promptly! >> >> That Bluetail has become known as the "Laramie Rarity". (Say in fast >> three times). >> A few Colorado birders made it up to the Equality State yesterday, Nov 4, >> and many >> more are on the scene or en route at this very moment. >> >> Honestly, I had never even heard of this species, so I studied up on it a >> bit, using >> eBird maps and other on-line sources. Might as well share what I learned. >> Any of this can be amended or corrected by more knowledgable birders or >> those who have actually seen the bird. >> >> The *Red-flanked Bluetail* is an old world flycatcher (formerly thought >> to be >> a kind of thrush) that breeds in cooler climates of Northern Europe and >> Asia, >> eg, Scandinavia, Russia, northern China and south into more temperate >> parts of >> southern China, Japan, etc. >> >> The Scandinavian population migrates southwest to England, France, etc, >> with >> some straying further to Mediterranean countries, but NOT to the eastern >> US, as many >> other "overshoot" species have done. >> The Asiatic breeding Buetails migrate pretty much due south to spend the >> winter in southern China and Japan, with records as far south as Vietnam. >> >> And a few individuals, perhaps with a faulty GPS in their brains, migrate >> east and southeast, >> showing up to winter in Alaska and the US west coast, as far south as Los >> Angeles. >> >> These vagrants have stayed for months, attracting hundreds of eager >> birders from all over the US. The >> closest one ever got to Colorado was the Bluetail that spent the winter >> of 2016-17 in far western Idaho, >> where some intrepid Colorado birders were able to see it. >> >> BUT there are no US records of Red-flanked Bluetail for any points east >> of Idaho until yesterday, when >> the Laramie rarity (kind of rhymes) was found and photographed. >> >> Why drive that far to see this Bluetail? Check out the airfare to other >> places you could find one, >> like Sweden,Finland or that other popular Bluetail breeding site near >> Lake Baikal, Дорога до Теплых озер (Tepli Ozera access track). >> >> Will it survive the cool Wyoming winter? Only if it has a consistent food >> supply and is carrying >> a lucky rabbit's foot, BUT the bird is sure to arrive in Colorado soon if >> it continues on its apparent southeasterwardly >> journey. >> So keep those mealworms handy, and watch your feeder continuously. You >> too could enjoy 500 birders crowding into >> your kitchen for a glimpse of this year's rarity, Red-flanked Bluetail! >> >> Thanks and good birding! >> Joe Roller, Denver >> >> PS >> IF you plan to seek out the Bluetail, work up a carload, pack up, and go >> the alley near this address: >> 658 1/2 North 9th Street, Laramie, WY >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/658+1%2F2+North+9th+Street,+Laramie,+WY?entry=gmail&source=g>. >> >> The homeowner, Cody Porter, has welcomed birders so far, but of course >> that could change, >> based on the historic observation that "life happens". >> >> The exact site is pinpointed on the eBird hotspot map, labelled: >> "stakeout Red-flanked Bluetail, Laramie, 2019" >> That hotspot can be used even if the bird has moved a few blocks. >> >> >> >> >> -- >> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCCrzbFK2%3DwxbJbET3yVRcKC-DV%3D9uFCs2aCCqDa0%3DNJw%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCCrzbFK2%3DwxbJbET3yVRcKC-DV%3D9uFCs2aCCqDa0%3DNJw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > > *DuWayne Worthington* > > *Science Teaching Faculty* > > > *Valor Christian High School* > > *Influence through Excellence* > > *3775 Grace Blvd.* > > *Highlands Ranch, CO 80126* > > *303-471-3000 x 3278* > *www.govalor.com <http://www.govalor.com/>* > -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCDRnb1qft2PjMA33ntiVHM2giB%3DRWe8%2BUtyL1HYcCF%2Bw%40mail.gmail.com.
