[cobirds] February 23, 2010, Rare Bird Alert for Colorado
Date:February 23, 2010 e-Mail: r...@cfo-link.org phone: 303-659-8750 compiler: Joyce Takamine This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 5 am sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Highlight species include (*Denotes that there is new information for this species in this report) Long-tailed Duck (Pueblo) Barrow's Goldeneye (Denver, Pueblo, Summit) Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Boulder, Broomfield, Pueblo) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Pueblo) SNOWY OWL (*El Paso) Winter Wren (Jefferson) Lapland Longspur (Weld) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Summit) White-winged Crossbill (Larimer) Common Redpoll (Garfield) To skip this recording to leave a message, press the star key at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions including the county and dates for all sightings. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Boulder County: --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Blackburn at Erie Reservoir on February 22. Broomfield County: --2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls were reported by Schmoker at the Indian Peaks Parkway pond on February 21. The pond is on Lowell BLvd, just south of Hwy 7. Denver County: --A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was reported by Henwood along the S. Platte River just north of the bridge on W. Evans Ave on December 14. On February 21, Schmoker reported the male Barrow's by Florida bridge. El Paso County: --A SNOWY OWL was reported by Cipoletti on Hwy 24 east of Elbert Road on December 27. Cipoletti refound the owl in the same area on January 8. Directions: On Hwy 24 drive east of Falcon to the first road east of Elbert Road, Scott Road W. Turn south, turn right at next intersection, and right again onto Prairie View Lane. Check roof tops and fence posts anywhere in area. Look for whitewash on rooftops for favored perches. Thanks to Bill Maynard for posting the information. On February 20, Lee reported that a visitor from Arizona saw the owl fly north on the east side of McKissick Road. Garfield County: --A Common Redpoll was reported by Filby at his feeders in Carbondale on February 21. If you want to try to see it contact Dick Filby at 970-704-9178. The feeders are not visible from the road. Jefferson County: --An Eastern Winter Wren was reported by Hansley in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt on February 5 along the tree bridge trail. The wren was seen with a Gray Catbird in the same area on February 20 by Chavez. Larimer County: --A pair of White-winged Crossbills was reported by Leatherman in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins on November 22. Brown reported seeing the pair in the SE corner of the cemetery on February 18 and on February 20, Leatherman has a flyover of the crossbills. Pueblo County: --A male Long-tailed Duck (Santangelo, January 23) and a male Barrow's Goldeneye (Mark Miller, January 31) were still present at Pueblo Reservoir SWA on February 18 as reported by Blackburn. --An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Percival at the South Shore Marina of Pueblo Reservoir on February 6 and was seen again in the same location by Blackburn on February 18. Summit County: --1 Gray-crowned and 1 Hepburn's Rosy-Finch were reported by Nims at North Peak of Keystone Ski Area on February 17. --Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Nims at the Blue Water Treatment Plant on December 28, On January 17, Nims found 3 Barrow's Goldeneyes at the treatment plant. Weld County: --3 Lapland Longspurs were reported by Lefko on Hwy 85 between Nunn and Pierce on February 21. The DFO field trip for Saturday, February 27 will be to 88th and the Platte River led by Lou Mazzola (303-666-2142). Meet the leader at 0800 at E. 88th and the South Platte River. From I-76, take E 88th Ae 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. Half day trip, lunch is optional. The DFO field trip for Sunday, February 28 will be to the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt led by Patty Echelmeyer (303-233-4947). Meet the leader a 0830 at Prospect Park Lake, south of West 44th ave. just east of Robb St. Easy walk along mostly wheelchair accessible trails. Half day trip, lunch is optional. Bring drinking water. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder, Co -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
[cobirds] Long-tailed Ducks
The Long-tailed Ducks are still at West Gravel Lake near Colorado Blvd and 88th Street. I saw three of them with Barrow's Goldeneye and Hooded Mergansers on Sunday, 2/21/10 Marilyn Rhodes -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
[cobirds] Common Redpoll Carbondale again
Hi all, After going missing for a day and a half, the Common Redpoll was again at our back yard feeders around 9am for 10 minutes or so. It flew off but not before I obtained some more shots. It was again with a group of about 8 American Goldfinches. It has not returned in the past 90 minutes. If anyone wants to drop by to try your luck you would be most welcome, just call first 970-704-9178 as the feeders are not visible from the road - you will need to come into the house. Good birding Dick Filby Carbondale -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
[cobirds] Mr. Bill
Hi all: I have posted the solution to Mr. Bill Mystery Quiz #335 (2010-1-06) for your gull-ogling pleasure. I hope to get to the most recent completed quiz in the next day or two. Enjoy, Tony Leukering Villas, NJ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
[cobirds] Sexing finches
Hi all: Just noticed a note in Cobirds that encouraged me to write this reminder. The family Fringilidae, the true finches, is comprised of a variety of species that exhibit a variety of plumage-maturation rates -- that is, varying time from juvenal to adult or definitive plumage. Many species exhibit delayed plumage maturation, that is, they take at least a year to reach definitive plumage. Pine Grosbeak is one such beast, as are Purple and Cassin's finches -- but not House Finch. First-year males of these species are very similar in appearance to that of females. In fact, it is very difficult -- often impossible -- to determine the age and sex of female-plumaged individuals of these species in the field and can actually be quite difficult to get right in the hand. So, just because a female-plumaged individual of one of these species is hanging out in winter with an obvious male, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a female. Oh, the odds are strong because there are more females of all ages than there are immature males, but not definite. Tony Leukering Villas, NJ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
[cobirds] Sandhill Cranes in Bent County
Cobirders, This morning, I heard on the news that February has been even colder than January in Southeast Colorado, and January was far from mild in this part of the state. Although recent snows largely spared Bent County, it still seems more like winter than spring, with most lakes uncharacteristically still mostly frozen. Stan Oswald and I visited marshes near Ft. Lyon today. We had an incoming flock of approximately 100 Sandhill Cranes noisily approach from the south around noon today. Spring is here, despite local weather conditions. Usually, the best place in Southeast Colorado to see early cranes is north of Lamar, where thousands roost at night in the shallow alkali waters of King Reservoir, with feeding groups gathering near Thurston Reservoir during the day. Equal numbers of Sandhill Cranes roost at night on the west end of John Martin Reservoir, visiting surrounding farm fields during the days to feed. These are a bit more difficult to pin down. Duane Nelson Las Animas, Bent County, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en Visit the CFO Website at: www.cfo-link.org
