who saw it. none of the ebird reports i have seen, have it on their list. On Tue, Nov 5, 2019 at 2:08 PM Joe Roller <[email protected]> wrote:
> 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. >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3775+Grace+Blvd.+%0D%0A+Highlands+Ranch,+CO+%C2%A080126?entry=gmail&source=g>* >> >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3775+Grace+Blvd.+%0D%0A+Highlands+Ranch,+CO+%C2%A080126?entry=gmail&source=g> >> >> *Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3775+Grace+Blvd.+%0D%0A+Highlands+Ranch,+CO+%C2%A080126?entry=gmail&source=g>* >> >> *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 > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCDRnb1qft2PjMA33ntiVHM2giB%3DRWe8%2BUtyL1HYcCF%2Bw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Brandon K. Percival Pueblo West, CO Sent from my Phone -- 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/CA%2BXeEuVOs%3DQ2_rfTpSBhz5HFj9p5gLoaf02vjBvfKmpi6zjvPw%40mail.gmail.com.
