[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, Thursday, November 15, 2012
Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: November 15, 2012 email: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, November 15, 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) Swan spec (El Paso) Surf Scoter (*Las Animas) White-winged Scoter (Chaffee) Long-tailed Duck (*Mesa) Barrow's Goldeneye (Boulder, Chaffee, El Paso, Garfield, Lake, Pueblo) Red-throated Loon (Pueblo) Pacific Loon (Douglas/Jefferson, Pueblo) Red Phalarope (Douglas/Jefferson) Thayer's Gull (Larimer) Hybrid Gull (Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Douglas/Jefferson) Sabine's Gull (El Paso) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (*Huerfano) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (*Fremont, *Larimer) Bohemian Waxwing (Boulder) Swamp Sparrow (El Paso) White-throated Sparrow (El Paso) Harris's Sparrow (Douglas/Jefferson, El Paso) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson, *Larimer) Lapland Longspur (Douglas/Jefferson, Weld) Rusty Blackbird (Douglas/Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch (Montrose) Common Redpoll (Boulder, *Larimer, Lincoln, Phillips, Routt) Boulder County: --An ad male Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Floyd at Baseline Reservoir in Boulder on November 12. --Chris Owens reported that the DFO field trip found a pair of Common Redpolls at McIntosh Lake on November 11 around noon. They were on the S shore near the W end of Lakeshore Drive. They were on the shore then flew into bushes and then to trees. --5 Bohemian Waxwings with Cedar Waxwings were reported by Mark Miller near 63rd and Gunbarrel Ave on November 13. Chaffee County: --At Ice Lake in Buena Vista on November 10, Nick Moore reported 2 White-winged Scoters and 20 Barrow's Goldeneyes. Douglas/Jefferson Counties: --On November 11 at Chatfield SP Walbek reported Red Phalarope, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur and Stachowiak reported Pacific Loon and Rusty Blackbird. El Paso County: --A m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Mark Peterson at Big Johnson on November 9. --A juv Sabine's Gull was reported by Pals at Quail Lake in Colorado Springs on November 10. It was near the shore near the parking lot. --At Fountain Creek Regional Park on November 10, Pals reported ad Harris's Sparrow at the nature center feeders, White-throated Sparrow near the Culvert at Duckwood Road Parking Lots, and Swamp Sparrow by the bridge in NW end of nature center pond. On November 11 at Fountain Creek RP, Gloria Nikolai reported White-throated Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow. They were W of the Gazebo. --A Swan was found by Bill Maynard at the S end of Rice's Pond in Fountain Creek RP on November 13. After reviewing the photos taken there is no consensus on the identity. Fremont County: --A juv YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Moss at Centennial Park in Canon City on Novmeber 14. Garfield County: --2 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by McConnell at Rifle Gap SP on November 13. Huerfanco County: --On November 13 an ad basic BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was reported by Rich Miller at Lake Martin in Lathrop SP. On November 14 Miller reported a juv BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Lake Martin. Jefferson County: --Breitsch reported on November 12 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post. Lake County: --Nick Moore reported Barrow's Goldeneyes at Mt Elbert Forebay on November 10. Larimer County: --Common Redpolls were reported by Judie Wright on November 8 at Lily Lake in Rocky Mt NP and Rashid refound 21 of them at 4:30 pm on the S side of the trail that goes around the lake. On November 9, Pautsch relocated the Common Redpolls on the S end of the lake. Stay near the small bridge and watch for movement near the bridge. On November 10, Starrett reported that the Common Redpolls had moved to the N side of the lake towards the west end near water's edge. On November 12, Henwood reported that the Common Redpolls were on the S side of the lake near the footbridge. On November 13, Pieplow reported 7-8 Common Redpolls at Lily Lake about a couple hundred yards S of the parking lot under construction near lakeshore. On November 14, Kilpatrick reported 28-30 Common Redpolls on the S side of the lake. --A juv gull was found by Rashid at Lake Estes on November 10. It is at the W end of the lake N of fire station. It can be seen from the parking area along the S side of the lake. There has been discussion on its identity and it appears to be a Glaucous-wing X ? Hybrid. --A juv GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW has been visiting the yard of Sean Walters in South Loveland since November 10. If you
[cobirds] Steller's Jay in Bent County
Birders, A Steller's Jay appeared at my feeders in Las Animas, Bent County this morning, November 15th. One hundred miles east of the mountains, this is noteworthy, and may augur more sightings away from the mountains, perhaps as far east as Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandles. The male Red-bellied Woodpecker remains at my feeder as of this morning, but the Harris' and Fox Sparrows have departed. I ventured south from Las Animas yesterday 30 miles to Setchfield SWA. The junipers are loaded with berries this fall, and with them come birds that utilize this food source. I would guarantee Mountain Bluebirds as abundant over the winter. I saw six Sage Thrashers in the juniper ridge tops just southwest of the broken Muddy Creek dam. Duane Nelson Las Animas, Bent County, 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] Colorado Field Ornithologists requests Nominations for Ron Ryder, Lifetime Achievement and Appreciation Awards.
Birders, The CFO Board will review nominations from any CFO member for these prestigious awards. Criteria for each award and a complete list of past recipients can be found at: http://cfobirds.org/business/awards.htm Notice that these awards are not necessarily given every year. Please email me an intention to nominate someone for any award, and I will send you a simple form to fill out and return by January 15, 2013. Each nomination will be reviewed by the Board at our January 26, 2013 meeting, when final decisions will be made. Please do not delay, and do not hesitate to discuss the process with me. Thanks! -- 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] Roxborough
Some good casual birds in Roxborough Park today. First, a textbook White-winged Junco on my feeder, followed by a Golden Eagle soaring over the open space and east toward N Roxborough Park Rd. Then at lunch, a nice light Ferruginous Hawk at the intersection of Waterton and Rampart Range. Regards -Greg Pasquariello Roxborough Park 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] possible Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, CU-Boulder campus
At approximately 2:45 this afternoon, while in my office on the phone I noticed a small dark bird flycatching in a barren honey-locust about 40 feet outside my office windows on the south side of Regent Administrative Center (Broadway and Regent Drive in Boulder). After a few forays, the bird headed east along the building out of my window view. At the end of my call, I decided to wander outside to see if I could refind the bird. In order to head out of the building to my car for binoculars, I stepped outside the 2nd story door onto a stairway balcony at the front of the building, and there was the bird again perched on the railing less than ten feet away. I was able to study the bird as it turned in a variety of positions and studied me for 30 to 60 seconds before it flew off. I have not been able to see it again. Here is my description: Flycatcher: bright greenish yellow; yellowish chest as well as head and back; round head; small bill (with darker upper mandible); bright white wing-bars on black wings with top one ½ the length of the bottom one; wings showing white edges on the secondaries; round buffy-white eye-ring; white outside edges on the tail, seemingly short primary projections. I will continue to keep an eye out, of course. If you would like to try to bird in this area, there is pay parking nearby and the campus probably won't be very busy tomorrow. Bill Kaempfer Boulder -- 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] Timnath Res (Larimer) and northwestern Weld on 15Nov2012
Today Norm Lewis and I birded at Timnath Reservoir (eastern Larimer) and drove into the western part of the Pawnee Grasslands. Highlights follow. Timnath Reservoir White-fronted Goose (1) Ross's Goose (8) Snow Goose (10+) White-cheeked Geese (hard to estimate but over 10,000) Horned Grebe (1) Weld CR 100 about 1.2 miles w of CR57 (i.e. west of Norma's Grove at where Coal Creek crosses CR100) Common Redpoll (4) feeding on wild sunflower seeds Northern Shrike (apparently checking out the redpolls) Lapland Longspur (large flock of at least 100 birds) Norma's Grove Northern Shrike Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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] Re: El Paso swan ID question
After much staring at pictures and various guides people have pointed me to I think this is actually a Tundra swan for these reasons: 1, Sharp prominent curves in bill around gape 2. In all of my pictures there is evidence of the yellow teardrop marking on the lore. It looks like a reflection at first but it is in the same location at different angles and has some degree of yellow in it. 3. The area of the bill where it joins the eye is relatively narrow 4. The shape of the back is not as evenly rounded as the tundra Thanks for all of the comments. Bill On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:29:48 PM UTC-7, kickback wrote: Here are some more pictures showing frontal views: http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2491_cr.jpg http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2490_cr.jpg http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2516_cr.jpg http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2530_cr.jpg http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2534_cr.jpg Thanks for the comments so far Bill On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 8:12:49 PM UTC-7, kickback wrote: I think these pictures show a Trumpeter swan based on its bill shape and color which is what Bill Maynard and Brandon Percival originally thought they saw (and later questioned) at Rice's pond at Fountain Creek Nature center on Tuesday. Comments on this swan's ID are welcome, is it a Trumpeter or Tundra swan? http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2497_cr.jpg http://www.avoapples.com/birds/IMG_2513_cr.jpg Thanks! Bill Kosar Colorado Springs bill_ko...@msn.com -- 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cobirds/-/YhRcYdrU69kJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Huerfano County Update: Pacific Loon
A lone juvenile Pacific Loon kept me glued to Martin Lake at Lathrop State Park for most of the morning. All of my previous experience with this species has been non-breeding adult plumage. I kept following it around the lake lugging my spotting scope with me, checking and re-checking the descriptions, illustrations and range map in Sibley's. Finally called my husband, who was on his way to Walsenburg, and persuaded him to take a detour. With both of us checking we still could not come to a definitive conclusion. We had quickly eliminated Common, Red-throated and Yellow-billed, which left us with Pacific or Arctic. While both of us have seen Pacific Loon (including one at Lathrop State Park in 2008) neither of us has experience with Arctic. The loon appeared to have a flatish crown and a white patch on the flank...however neither seemed pronounced enough for Arctic...which, judging from the range maps, would have been a great stretch. Upon arrival at home, and review of my photos, was still undecided, so posted some to Cobirds Facebook page, my Facebook page and sent some to friends over e-mail, and finally, I compared my shots today with our shots of the Pacific Loon we had seen in 2008. The conclusion was probably foregone: Pacific Loon. I did not see the Black-legged Kittiwake, but my attention was on the loon. I will head back out to Lathrop in the morning and pay closer attention to the gulls! Polly Wren Neldner La Veta, 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] November 2012 D.F.O. Fieldtrips -- Join Us!
Denver Field Ornithologists November 2012 Field Trips Saturday, November 17 Roxborough State Park Leader: Doris Cruze, 303-798-8072 Meet leader at 0800 at the Visitor’s Center for a three and a half-hour walking tour on an easy trail. Participants should see golden eagles and species common in the foothills. State Parks Pass required. Lunch will be optional but there is a beautiful place to sit on the patio and watch the birds as you eat lunch. Take South Wadsworth Blvd. past Chatfield State Park to Waterton Road on left. Take Waterton Road 1.6 miles east to North Rampart Range Road, turn right and go south 2.3 miles to Roxborough Park Road. Turn left and follow signs to the park (2.2 miles). This is an excellent trip for novice birders and new members. Sunday, November 18 Denver City Park Leader: Chuck Hundertmark, 303-604-0531 Meet leader at 0800 at parking strip southwest of 22nd Ave. just north of Ferril Lake. From Colorado Blvd., turn west onto 22nd Ave. and go past the Museum of Nature and Science. Turn left just before the Zoo at the sign to the Pavilion Bandstand. Park on the left at the end of the parking area closest to Ferril Lake. We’ll check Ferril Lake and Duck Lake for early winter water birds. We’ll also check trees to see what empty nests we can spot. If time allows, we may visit one or more other city parks. This trip will be an easy morning of walking. Bring water, snacks, two-way radios, binoculars and scopes are optional. Half day trip. Limit of 10 participants. Call or email leader if you plan to attend. chundertma...@gmail.com. Saturday, November 24 Rigli Ranch Leader: Joe Rigli, 970-867-5210 Meet leader at ranch by 0830. From Hudson, go east on CO 52 until it turns north. Don’t turn north, but continue east on Morgan County road F to CR 14, then turn north for approximately one mile to first house on left by boxcars. Bring lunch and extra water. Joe reports that wild turkeys have been seen at the ranch and he will be looking for the elusive creatures that escaped Thanksgiving! Sunday, November 25th RMBO Annual Barrow's Goldeneye Count, Silverthorn and Grand Lake Areas Leader: Paul Slingsby 303-422-3728 Meet the leader at the Stegosaurus lot to carpool at 0800 am. From I-70 west exit 259 (the Morrison exit), head south a very short distance on CH26 and turn left (east) into the parking lot (look for the Stegosaurus sign). This is the same lot as used by Hawkwatch. We will meet at the south end of the lot, spaces permitting, near the driveway. We will count Barrow's Goldeneyes at the Silverthorne water treatment plant and then drive to Lake Granby where will count from the south shore, from 2 roads at the south end of Shadow Mountain Lake and from the west end of Grand Lake. Spotting scopes, binoculars, and 2 way radios will be very useful. Please carefully study male, female, and first year Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes before the trip. This will be a good day to observe and practice identifying the different forms. We'll also see other interesting ducks, making for a very interesting and unusual winter birding day. Registration with the leader is required. Dress for very cold and windy weather even if the forecast is for a comfortable day. This includes insulated, wind proof leg coverings and insulated boots. Bring a lunch and hot thermos but we may find a warm place to buy a lunch if our schedule allows. We will try to be back at the Stegosaurus lot by dark. This will be a full day trip. Scheduled by Jackie King Submitted by Chris A. Blakeslee - DFO Board Member Centennial, Colorado corvidc...@aol.com -- 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] Redpoll Sightings
Cobirders, It looks like it might be a good winter for redpolls here in Colorado. It would be nice if observers would include the type of habitat the birds are being observed in, if they are associating with other species and the types of plants the birds are feeding on when the birds are reported. That would be both educational and provide others clues for what to look for when out searching for redpolls. 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.
RE: [cobirds] Redpoll Sightings
Steve et al, The Common Redpolls seen today about 1.7 miles west of Norma's Grove by Norm Lewis and me were eating wild sunflowers (probably Helianthus annuus) seeds extracted from the flower heads along a dirt road in open shortgrass prairie. In my experience, this is a common scenario during invasion years. I have also seen them eating deciduous tree buds (especially elms) in parks, and at Grandview Cemetery they sometimes occur up in the spruce tops getting seeds from cones. Indeed, this might be a good year to figure out all their various Colorado options. I saw a pic today from south of Lamar and the lone redpoll there was eating safflower at a feeder. Others have reported that redpolls predictably go for thistle seed at feeding stations, also. This would indicate they might be expected at fields with heavy crops of thistles showing last season's seed heads. I went all the way up to Lily Lake day before yesterday trying to figure that situation out, since people seemed to be saying they found the birds on the ground beside the trail. That sounds like grass or some other small plant seed. As David Waltman, Eric DeFonso, Steve (Kingswood?), Bob Shade, the Pollocks, and others can attest, it was cold and windy on Nov 3rd at Lily Lake and some of us only saw 1 bird for about 5 minutes. It came in from far to the east, did something mysterious under a willow along the frozen lake shore (procured liquid water at the edge of a heat-concentrating boulder?), and bombed off back toward a conifer forest to the east. Hard to figure out what they're doing when you can't find the birds. If anyone has comments on what they observed at that Lily Lake situation, I would second Steve's request for information. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins From: waxwi...@q.com To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Subject: [cobirds] Redpoll Sightings Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:05:32 -0700 Cobirders, It looks like it might be a good winter for redpolls here in Colorado. It would be nice if observers would include the type of habitat the birds are being observed in, if they are associating with other species and the types of plants the birds are feeding on when the birds are reported. That would be both educational and provide others clues for what to look for when out searching for redpolls. Good birding,Steve StachowiakHighlands 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. -- 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.
