Date: Monday, April 6, 2020 Email: RBA AT cobirds.org
Compiler: Joe Roller, jroller9 AT gmail.com Phone: (303) 204-0828 _____________________________________________ *The Colorado Rare Bird report is an informational service. * *Because of statewide coronavirus “Stay at Home” orders, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound readers abreast of rare bird sightings across the state during spring migration.* *This report does NOT endorse or encourage illegal travel to see or "chase" rare birds beyond your own local area.* *We urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on non-critical travel and limits on outdoor activities that include birding. Please do so ONLY at or close to home and ONLY with universally promoted safety precautions, including physical “social distancing.”* Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBirds. Thanks! CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website. (*) indicates new information on a species. For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for “Recent eBird Sightings.” ______________________________________________ *Migration notes: * It's Spring! Swallows, vultures, Broad-tailed Hummers and a few Swainson’s Hawks and Sage Thrashers have returned. And the sparrow and longspur migration is upon us. The curtain is rising on the shorebird migration too. What’s in your yard or near your home? Rare, out-of-place and some out-of-season species reports are listed below. Tundra Swan (Summit) EURASIAN WIGEON (El Paso, Logan) Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe) Mew Gull (Adams) Glaucous Gull (El Paso) Neotropic Cormorant (Bent, *El Paso) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Mesa) Common Redpoll (*Gunnison) Sagebrush Sparrow (Boulder, *El Paso, Jefferson, *Larimer) Rusty Blackbird (*Douglas) Summer Tanager (*Douglas) ————————————————————————— *ADAMS COUNTY:* —On Apr 4 a Mew Gull was seen again at Dunes Reservoir by Adam Vesely, who first reported it there on Mar 29. This may be the same bird first reported from nearby lakes on March 18 by Burke Angstman. Dunes Reservoir is northwest of the intersection of E 112th Ave and Highway 85 and appears on the eBird Hotspot map. There’s a small public parking lot near the southwest corner of the reservoir, located in the neighborhood. *ARAPAHOE COUNTY:* —On Apr 1 the over-wintering Long-tailed Duck continued at South Platte Park/South Platte Reservoir. —On Apr 3 a Long-tailed Duck was reported at Quincy Reservoir by G Stacks. *BENT COUNTY:* —On Apr 4 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported at Lake Hasty by Duane Nelson, who first reported it there a few days ago. *BOULDER COUNTY:* --On Apr 2 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported on the dam at Lagerman Reservoir; first reported Apr 1 by Cody Limber. *DOUGLAS COUNTY:* --On Apr a Summer Tanager was reported from "190-210 W Happy Canyon Rd" Castle Rock, by Cynthia Kristensen. On Apr 5 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Chatfield SP—Plum Creek Nature Area. First reported Apr 4 by Frank Farrell. *EL PASO COUNTY:* —On Apr 5 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported on Hemingway Rd between Drennan and Brook by Tyler Stewart. —On Apr 5 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported from the hotspot, Memorial Park and Prospect Lake. First reported by Tyler Stewart. —On Apr 4 a Eurasian Wigeon was reported from Forest Lake Park in Monument by Chris McReynolds. This is a private area, but can be viewed from the concrete path (public, I am told) near Forest Lake Drive. A scope is essential to view this distant duck. —On Apr 4 a Glaucous Gull was reported from Big Johnson Reservoir by Jim Merritt. *—Please note Chico Basin Ranch is closed* until at least Apr 15 because of the Covid-19 outbreak. *GUNNISON COUNTY:* —Apr 5 a Common Redpoll was reported near Crested Butte by Drew Kelly. *JEFFERSON COUNTY:* —On Mar 31 two Sagebrush Sparrows were reported at Bear Creek Lake Park/Pelican Point Area; first reported by Mark Chavez. No subsequent reports. *LARIMER COUNTY*: —On Apr 5 a Black Phoebe was reported from Lake Estes by Mark Hemmes. This is the first eBird report from there. They are almost unheard of in the mountains. —On Apr 5 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Lake Estes; first found by Marc Hemmes. —On Apr 1 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Lon Hagler Reservoir SWA by Christopher Murray. *LOGAN COUNTY:* —On Apr 3 the EURASIAN WIGEON first seen on March 18 by Glenn Walbek at Merino ponds (private property-view from Hwy 6), was reported again (at a distance) by Michael Lester. Note, ALL viewing MUST be from US-6. Homeowner has made it clear that nobody has permission to enter private property for better views, nor can they enter driveway. *MESA COUNTY:* —On Apr 4 a Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported from 19 Road in Fruita by Nick Musel. This would be only the 3rd eBird record from the West Slope! *PUEBLO COUNTY:* *—Please note Chico Basin Ranch is closed* until at least Apr 15 because of the Covid-19 outbreak. *SUMMIT COUNTY:* —On Mar 31 a Tundra Swan was reported in Silverthorne at Angler Mountain Ranch Ponds (PRIVATE, view from road only). First reported on Mar 23 by Misty Walters. _________________________________________________ *PLEASE NOTE:* Because of concerns and precautions around the Covid-19 pandemic, Denver Field Ornithologists and other birding clubs have suspended all in-person club activities, including field trips, for the rest of March and the month of April. The annual Colorado Field Ornithologists convention has been cancelled. Please share interesting and/or unusual birds and behavior observations on COBirds. Good birding! Joe Roller Denver, CO jroller9 AT gmail.com 303 204-0828 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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