[cobirds] Rare Bird Alert for Colorado, Friday, August 3, 2012
Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: August 3, 2012 email:rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 3, 2012, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star Key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Highlight species include: (*denotes that there is new information on this species in this report) Barrow's Goldeneye (Clear Creek) LEAST BITTERN (*Fremont) Little Blue Heron (Adams) Green Heron (El Paso, *Fremont, Jefferson) YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Arapahoe) Mississippi Kite (Weld) ROYAL TERN (*Adams) ACORN WOODPECKER (*Pueblo) White-winged Dove (Prowers) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Prowers) Black Phoebe (Delta, Fremont) Eastern Phoebe (Fremont) Great Crested Flycatcher (Adams, Sedgwick) Cassin's Kingbird (Prowers) Bell's Vireo (Logan) Purple Martin (Garfield, Sedgwick) Carolina Wren (Douglas) Northern Parula (Washington) Summer Tanager (Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (Jefferson, Logan, Prowers) Indigo Bunting (Jefferson) Adams County: --A Little Blue Heron in transitional phase plumage was reported by Canter at Lowell Ponds SWA on July 19. It was along the shore and on the island of Heron Lake. Lowell Ponds is at 56th and Lowell. Gonder reported the Little Blue Heron at Lowell and Clear Creek on July 22. On July 26, Canter reported the Little Blue at Clear Creek and Lowell. On July 29 Gillilan reported the Little Blue Heron at the eastern edge of Lowell Ponds. --A ROYAL TERN was reported by Mlodinow at Barr Lake on July 29. Mlodinow reported a Great Crested Flycatcher near the nature center at Barr Lake on July 29. On July 30 Stachowiak and Kilpatrick along with many other birders saw the ROYAL TERN at Barr Lake. Goff reported that the ROYAL TERN was seen around 1030 on July 31 on a buoy at Barr Lake. On August 2, Brooke observed the ROYAL TERN on the usual sand bar at Barr Lake. Arapahoe County: --A juv YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported by P J Ross near South Platte Park on July 25. Clear Creek County: --The Barrow's Goldeneye family of mama and six ducklings was reported by Shade and the DFO field trip to Mount Evans on July 26 at Echo Lake. On July 27, Kingery reported that the Barrow's Goldeneye family was down to 5 ducklings. Gillilan reported on July 29 that the Barrow's Goldeneye family continues with 5 ducklings. Delta County: --A Black Phoebe was reported by Cooper at the old Hotchkiss Sewer Lagoons on July 26. Douglas County: --The Carolina Wren first reported by Huffstater in June was refound by Guarlt on July 22. Take the middle I-25 exit in Castle Rock and go east and then south on Wilcox St to 2nd Ave. Turn left and park in the angled parking on the street. Take the trail west towards Plum Creek, go under the Wilcox bridge, and turn left at the trail junction in 100 yard or so you will come to a black bench. The wren was south of the bench. On July 28 Dunning relocated the Carolina Wren in the same area. El Paso County: --A Green Heron was reported by Koehn at Rice's Pond at Fountain Creek Regional Park on July 20. The Green Heron was reported by Miller at the SE end of South Rice's Pond at Fountain Creek on July 27. Fremont County: --A LEAST BITTERN was flushed by Rich Miller from Cattails along the S shore of Holcim Wetlands on July 25. Miller also reported 2 Black Phoebes and 3 Eastern Phoebes at Holcim. On July 30, Percival reported LEAST BITTERN and 2 Green Herons at Holcim. Garfield County: --Purple Martins were reported by Brett Walker flying over Roan Plateau on July 26. --A Purple Martin was reported by Brett Walker on Skinner Ridge on July 30. Jefferson County: --An Indigo Bunting was reported by Henwood at Red Rocks on July 27. It was in the NW corner of the upper South Parking lot behind Ship Rock. --A male Indigo Bunting was seen and heard by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on July 28. The bunting was E of Muskrat Meadows. --A molting m Summer Tanager was reported by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on July 28. The tanager was along the road in the seep area just E of Muskrat Meadows. --A Northern Cardinal was reported by Mayfield at Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge on August 1. The Cardinal was S of the boardwalk that runs through the marsh east of West Lake. --A Green Heron was reported by Mayfield on August 1 on the west side of Prospect Lake on the little platform dock with cormornats and Canada Geese. Logan County: --A couple of Northern Cardinal were reported by Kaempfer at Tamarack Ranch SWA on July 29. --A Bell's Vireo was reported by Kaempfer at Red Lion on July 29. Prowers County: --At Lamar Community College Woods on August 1, Leatherman reported 3 Northern Cardinals (2m,1f). --At Fairmount
[cobirds] update to the AOU checklist
David Sibley nicely summarizes the scientific name changes at his blog here: http://www.sibleyguides.com/2012/07/name-changes-of-birds-in-the-2012-aou-supplement/ The complete supplement is here with updates to taxonomic order: http://www.aou.org/auk/content/129/3/0573-0588.pdf In general there were not any new splits for Colorado avifauna. --Scott Scott E. Severs Longmont, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] RFI: three-toed woodpeckers
Hi Birders, I have a friend in from out of town who would like to see a three-toed woodpecker. Does anyone know of a reliable place to see them? We are staying in Westminster and know we will need to drive a ways. We would like to avoid a long car ride if possible. Thanks! Jessi Oberbeck Westminster, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Missing Your Best Chance for Royalty?
Cobirders, For those of you who have dismissedthe postings about the Royal Tern, you may be missing the chance of a lifetime.This monarch has been displaying his royal plumage and beak to several of us atBarr Lake off and on since the discovery July 29 by Steve Mlodinow. Since then,it has shown off its bright orange bill to many interested gawkers. Only thethird time it has ventured into Colorado, this sovereign’s normal United Statesflying is only along the eastern and California coastlines. Males and femalescan distinguish each other, fortunately, but we humans can’t tell them apartwithout some, ahem, invasive procedures. What we can say is that it is an adultbird who has put away its breeding plumage for the season. That was not adifficult change of costume, as it basically consisted of switching to alighter weight hat. Normally rare birds are the juveniles who haven’t yetlearned how to use their GPS devices, as birds’ navigation systems are toocomplicated for us humans to figure out. To pay homage to the visitingroyalty, go to the Barr Lake Visitor Center parking lot. (Parks Pass required).Walk west across the bridge and into what you remembered to be the lake. Thiswill be easy, as the reservoir is now half beach. Walk until your feet get wet.Start scanning sandbars and other landing zones. Or, you may be lucky enough tocatch the tern fishing. Terns are the sleek members of the gull family. Notethe pointed bill, wings and tail, which is forked. The royal is much moreacrobatic than the slightly smaller ring-billed gulls with which it willassociate on the beach. The exciting part is watching it plunge dive for itsdinner, going headlong into the water. Royalty, you know, dislikes stooping toeat commoners’ food, such as beach garbage. Barr Lake, which also houses theheadquarters of Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory at the northwest corner of thelake, has been a special place in Colorado to see birds. A total of 18 firststate records have been seen there, but this is the first time Barr haswelcomed royalty. So who knows, you might miss a tern and luck into somethingelse. Enjoy your visit. Larry Modesitt Chairman, Board of Directors Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] RFI: Plumbeous Vireo Virginia's Warbler
Greetings all, Any thoughts? We aren't seeing them at Gregory Canyon currently... Many thanks! Wes Homoya Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Acorns, Grace's continue....
To follow up on Brandon's post, I took a spin down to Pueblo Mountain Park yesterday (Thursday) to look for the above critters. Many thanks to Tom Wilberding for some valuable suggestions. Anyway, I was sucessful in both quests. The acorn woodpeckers were not in the usual snag (adjacent to the parking lot), but I found two in the valley just below the snag. When I was preparing to leave, one of them landed in the parking lot not far from my car, so they do not appear to be of a mind to make seeing them too big a challenge. By the way, the little valley in the lower part of the park can be reached via a short path from the parking lot, or if you are feeling particularly lazy, you can drive there after heading over to the basketball court (see below). This little valley is quite birdy- I had a nice flock of evening grosbeaks (they seem to prefer the stream area just below the pond), all three nuthatches, plumbeous vireo, Hammond's flycatcher and lots of other predictable stuff. I actually had Grace's warbler at two separate locations, and I thought these might be of interest to anyone heading down that way to look for them. To get to the first site, just walk toward the lodge from the parking lot and go around the right end. You'll soon come to an old-fashioned metal clothes-line setup; there was a very cooperative singing bird there. To reach the second site, drive out of the opposite end of the parking lot (to the left of the building- I'm not sure what it is) and continue for a couple hundred yards down a draw and up the other side. You will come to an old concrete basketball court- strange looking affair with walls. Anyway, just beyond this court was where I found the other Grace's (per Brandon's comments)- also singing. I could not locate the hooded, however. Good luck and good birding! Norm Lewis Lakewood -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
RE: [cobirds] RFI: three-toed woodpeckers
I found several American Three-toed Woodpeckers in the area of the Dome Fire on Anenome Hill recently. This is just outside downtown Boulder. From either the Centennial or Settler's Park Trailheads, find the Anenome Hill Trail. I have never actually hiked this trail since I am usually out and about off-trail, so I cannot give precise directions. Trail info can be found at www.osmp.org There is a social trail that follows the ridge on top of Anenome. I found several ATTW in the burned area here. Best of luck, Christian NunesBoulder, CO pajaro...@hotmail.com Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 17:43:51 -0400 Subject: [cobirds] RFI: three-toed woodpeckers From: ivory.billed.wd...@gmail.com To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Hi Birders, I have a friend in from out of town who would like to see a three-toed woodpecker. Does anyone know of a reliable place to see them? We are staying in Westminster and know we will need to drive a ways. We would like to avoid a long car ride if possible. Thanks! Jessi Oberbeck Westminster, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
FW: [cobirds] RFI: three-toed woodpeckers
Cobirders, The Douglas County spot for American Three-toed Woodpeckers has been reliable, although I have not been up there in about six weeks. Take Hwy 67 west from Hwy 85 at the town of Sedalia for approximately 9.94 miles to the intersection of Rampart Range Road. You can turn left, pull over on the left side and park in the small lot by the pay phone (in itself a historical artifact) or in the big parking lot just up to the right. It is best to just listen for them drumming. They respond more to a playback of drumming than squawking. There is usually Williamson's Sapsuckers in the area as well. Good Birding, Steve Stachowiak Highlands Ranch, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Flammulated Owl Sighting / Teller County / Mueller State Park / August 1, 2012
A flammulated owl while was seen at Mueller State Park on Wednesday, August 1 while hiking with with a d Mueller State Park group hike on the Lost Pond trail. The forest was a mix of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, and aspen. The owl was seen in an excavated hole in an aspen tree. The bark was excavated around the hole and had a little reddish band around it.. While pointing out the hole to the people on the hike an owl peered out from the hole. It had popped up its head! We looked at it with our binoculars, and it we were able to postively identified it as a flammulated owl (Dark eyes, grey beak, and white feathers above the beak). Here is where we found it: Lost Pond trail, about 1/4 mile beyond Lost Pond heading toward Geer Pond. On the left side of the trail, as you are heading toward Geer Pond. Grove of aspen trees, not very far off the trail. The hole is about 20 feet up. It was Wednesday, August 1, around 9:40 A.M.We did not have a camera with us, so we did not get a photograph. Richard Tucey -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
