[cobirds] Prospect Ponds Natural Area and NCELC, FtCollins (Larimer) on 5/26
From 9am to 4:30pm I walked on the west side of the Poudre River from the north end of Sharp Point Drive (jct with Prospect) past the feedlot thru Prospect Ponds Natural Area (PPNA) to an area perhaps 100 yards southeast of the Northern CO Environmental Learning Center (NCELC) parking lot (that is, a wooded area along the west side of the river southeast of the vacant Raptor Center rehab facilities). Total of 54 species of birds. However, the main goal was to document insects inhabiting boxelder trees in this area. The other day I posted how I was noticing considerable migrant use of this tree and how I thought the primary attraction was probably the Boxelder Leafroller caterpillar. I am still thinking this insect is a good food item when found, but that other things are just as attractive and probably more abundant. Those insects are: an unidentified caterpillar which folds the leaflet over like the Boxelder Leafroller but which has a pale head capsule and is smaller (Boxelder Leafroller head capsule is dark). I saw zillions of these by keying in on what birds key in on - that is, holes in leaves nearby and/or folded leaf margins tied down with silk. Also present were psyllid nymphs, a few inquilines (things like small spiders or predators inside the folds made by the caterpillars - in other words, an inquiline is a squatter living in a house made by some other creature), aphids, assassin bug nymphs in the genus Zelus, some type of fly which causes the leaflets to pucker up tight and get thick (species unknown), a mite which caused oval bumps to form on the upper surface of the leaf and a white erineum (maybe look this term up?) to form on the bottom surface), and Boxelder Bugs (which I do not think are eaten by birds with their wits about them - taste nasty according to a chicken I offered one to years ago). Bird highlights: American Redstart (1 gorgeous male) working low coyote willows along the northeast corner of the PPNA southernmost pond Chipping Sparrows (several) getting abundant leafhopper nymphs from among the leaves, small branch stems, and flowers of coyote willow Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) e of where redstart was, good side by side comparison with pewee Summer Tanager (1 molting male, mostly reddish about the head, mostly lime green on back and belly) just north of the northwest corner of the NCELC parking lot, mostly east of the river (another way to describe this would be just south of the east end of the Suspension Bridge). This bird was mostly staying low flycatching for March Flies and Honey Bees, the latter mostly visiting the flowers of Leafy Spurge. A guy was walking around spraying the spurge, one of our worst noxious weeds, but even bad plants provide some environmental services. Indigo X Lazuli Bunting (1 male) this bird was denim blue with a white belly, no wing-bars, scattered rusty feathers across the chest. It sang to my ear like an Indigo. Willow Flycatcher (1, my FOY) seen on the return trip, near where the redstart was, foraging out from, what else? Willows. Also seen were a few Dusky Flycatchers, one Least Flycatcher, a few Swainson's Thrushes (one of which seemed a bit redder backed than a typical Olive-backed Thrush), two Lazuli Buntings, one female Common Merganser flying around in the trees as if looking for a cavity big enough to nest in, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers (all Audubon's), and one female Black-headed Grosbeak. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/SNT148-W15D0F8F671D28E28616AB9C1CB0%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Banding Report, 5/26/15
A third day of nice spring weather! 27 new, 3 returns today: Dusky Flycatcher 1 Swainson's Thrush 4 Gray Catbird 4 new, 1 banded 2012 Yellow Warbler 9 Common Yellowthroat 3 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 new, 1 banded 2013 Spotted Towhee 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Lazuli Bunting 1 Bullock's Oriole 1 Lesser Goldfinch 1 new (F), caught side-by-side with 1 ( M) banded last year. Banding daily through Sunday, weather permitting, from about 7:30-11. Meredith McBurney Bander, Chatfield Station Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/d816d053-5b6a-4ad7-a787-f677ca47e583%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Arctic Tern-Timnath Res-Larimer
The adult Arctic Tern was still present, foraging around the center of Timnath Reservoir, at 8 pm this evening. It was noticeably smaller than the Forster's Terns nearby. I scoped it from atop the dam just south of the parking area on the west side . Nick Komar Fort Collins CO -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/0EE746BD-67E0-458E-81A6-B3CD2D1CCD49%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Scaled Quail Family with very young chicks-on private property in Canon City
A friend of mine lives in a part of Canon City where there are a lot of Scaled Quail and they visit my friend's property to both eat the bird seed she puts out for a variety of species and rest in a safe location. Sorry my friend does not want address given out. I got some nice photos of the the male, female and very young chicks (they just are too cute!) recently--though from a minimum distance of 30 and from inside my car to reduce disturbance, I used a long lens so most pics are pretty close views.. I have uploaded them pics and a short video clip on my Birds and Nature blog http://birdsandnature.blogspot.com/. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAUvckrWHpG91N0OEntPZvh94JfU7tJYYRn6HSfBW%3DmmWcuSjQ%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 26 May 2015
This is the Rare Bird Alert, Monday, May 25 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species). Broad-winged Hawk (Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Larimer, Phillips, Sedgwick, Weld, Yuma) Laughing Gull (Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larimer) ARCTIC TERN (*Larimer) BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (*El Paso (CB)) LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Weld) Red-headed Woodpecker (Prowers, Pueblo, Yuma) EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Larimer) ALDER FLYCATCHER (Arapahoe, Kiowa, Phillips, *Pueblo (CB), Sedgwick, Yuma) Least Flycatcher (*El Paso,*El Paso (CB), *Jefferson, Larimer, Logan) Gray Flycatcher (Arapahoe, Boulder Douglas, Larimer) Black Phoebe (Pueblo) Eastern Phoebe (Boulder, Fremont, Jefferson, Las Animas, Logan) Great Crested Flycatcher (Huerfano, Larimer) Bell's Vireo (Douglas, *Pueblo) Yellow-throated Vireo (Jefferson, Larimer, Weld) Blue-headed Vireo (Jefferson) Winter Wren (Larimer) Wood Thrush (El Paso (CB)) Curve-billed Thrasher (Pueblo) Lapland Longspur (Prowers) Worm-eating Warbler (Larimer) Golden-winged Warbler (Fremont, Larimer) Blue-winged Warbler (*Jefferson) BREWSTER'S WARBLER (Larimer) Prothonotary Warbler (Adams, Prowers) LUCY'S WARBLER (La Plata) Chestnut-sided Warbler (Arapahoe, *El Paso, Fremont, La Plata, *Larimer) MOURNING WARBLER (*El Paso (CB), Larimer) Hooded Warbler (*El Paso (CB)) Magnolia Warbler (Boulder, *El Paso (CB), *Larimer, *Pueblo (CB), Washington) Blackburnian Warbler (Archuleta) Pine Warbler (Adams) Black-throated Green Warbler (*El Paso (CB)) EASTERN TOWHEE (*Morgan) Field Sparrow (Boulder) Summer Tanager (*Boulder) Hepatic Tanager (*Huerfano) Northern Cardinal (Prowers) Painted Bunting (Pueblo) Baltimore Oriole (*El Paso, Logan) ADAMS COUNTY: --A Pine Warbler was reported by Christoper Rustay at Barr Lake SP on the RMBO side below the dam on May 20. --2 Prothonotary Warblers were reported by Jay Hutchins at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR on May 24. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: --A m Chestnut-sided Warbler was reported by Lois Levinson at Cherry creek Sp south of Lake Loop between bike path and lake on May 23. --On May 24 at Cherry Creek SP, Glenn Walbek and Loch Kilpatrick reported ALDER FLYCATCHER and Gray Flycatcher at Cottonwood Creek Wetlands. ARCHULETA COUNTY: --A Blackburnian Warlber was reported by Jim Beatty at Windsurf Beach in Cottonwood at a Watchable Wildlife area across bridge and east of former railroad bed on May 21. BOULDER COUNTY: --A m Magnolia Warbler was reported by Thomas Heinrich along Boulder Creek below CU/Folsom Stadium on May 19. On May 20, Curt Brown reported Magnolia Warbler along Boulder Creek. --A Magnolia Warbler was reported by Kaempfer at Smith Park in Boulder on May 20. Smith Park is at Gilbert/5th and Aurora. --On May 21, Ron Bolton reported Gray Flycatcher continues at Ryssby Church in NE region. --A Field Sparrow was reported by David Dowell on Skunk Canyon Trails in Boulder on May 21. --A Gray Flycatcher was reported by Hundertmark at Teller Farm and Lakes on May 22. --At Greenlee Preserve in Lafayette, Ted Floyd reported Least Flycatcher on May 18 - 22, and Gray Flycatcher on May 19 - 20. --A Summer Tanager was reported by Scott Severs on White Rocks Trail in Boulder on May 23. --A Gray Flycatcher was reported by Peter Burke on CU East campus at Confluence Ponds on May 24. --An Eastern Phoebe was reported by David Blue at 75th St and Boulder Creek on May 24. --A Summer Tanager was reported by Jhon Tumasonis on the Cresent Springs Trail on Flagstaff on May 25. DOUGLAS COUNTY: --A Bell's Vireo was reported by Hugh Kingery on May 24 in the Franktown Basin. EL PASO COUNTY: --A Baltimore Oriole was reported by Robb Hinds at Ramah Reservoir SWA on May 23. On May 25, Baltimore Oriole was reported by Joy Lake at Ramah Reservoir SWA. --A Least Flycatcher was reported by Gloria Nikolai at Pinello Ranch, Area A on May 23. --A Chestnut-sided Warbler was reported by Tim Leppek at Adams Open Space in Fountain behind the library on May 24. --A Least Flycatcher was reported by Doug Shoffner at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on May 25. EL PASO/PUEBLO COUNTIES (CB): --On May 20, John Drummond reported Wood Thrush and MOURNING WARBLER near banding station. On May 24, David Tonnessen reported MOURNING WARBLER at Chico Basin on the El Paso side. --On May 25 around the banding station at Chico Basin, Brandon Percival reported BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, Least Flycatcher, MOURNING WARBLER, Magnolia Warbler, f Hooded Warbler, and f Black-throated Green Warbler. At Headquarters/Rose Pond, Percival reported 1 m Magnolia Warbler. --An ALDER FLYCATCHER was reported by Norm Lewis at Chico Basin Ranch on the Pueblo side on May 25. DOUGLAS COUNTY: --A Gray Flycatcher was reported by Scott Somershoe downstream of Kingfisher Bridge in Chatfield SP on May 24. FREMONT COUNTY: --On May 21, Percival reported f Golden-winged Wabler near the Sells parking lot of Canon City Riverwalk. --On May 21,
[cobirds] White-throated Sparrow, Estes Park yard, Larimer Co., 5/26
As I was getting my second bowl of cereal this morning at our vacation home on the west side of Estes Park, I glanced out the kitchen door at the back yard area where we have our bird feeders. I saw a bright bird feeding on the ground. Realizing it was something different, I grabbed my binoculars and focused on a very bright White-throated Sparrow. At home in Maryland in late fall, winter, and early spring, we have lots of them in our back yard. But I know it is very unusual in Colorado and especially up here. I managed one documentary photo before it flew off. It has not returned since. I checked eBird and found only one other record in the Estes Park area, at the YMCA Camp in October 2010. There is also an eBird report a bit south in Allenspark, Boulder Co., in November 2012. It is always nice to get a new state bird in our own back yard. Another fun observation was a male Hairy Woodpecker that managed to hold on to a perch on our hummingbird feeder and extract sugar water using its long tongue. We also have been seeing a melanistic Mountain Chickadee which is fairly dark gray in the areas that would normally be white. Jim Nelson Bethesda, Maryland -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/29242260.3035998.1432658643720.JavaMail.root%40vznit170128.mailsrvcs.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Willow Flycatcher at Boulder Rez
I took my dog for a swim on the north end of the Boulder Reservoir yesterday (Monday) and we heard a Willow Flycatcher singing in, well, the willows, along with a Yellow Warbler. There were 4 Great Egrets snoozing on the NW shore and Vesper Sparrows singing in the pastures. The Red-tailed Hawks that nested in the tree with all the Great Blue Herons (north of the reservoir on N 55th) were feeding 3 hungry chicks. The herons seem unperturbed by their presence in their rookery. My backyard in west Longmont saw several migrants this weekend, including Brewer's and Clay Colored Sparrows and a House Wren. Kat Bradley-Bennett Longmont -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/dcb81172-415e-4a1b-b367-7c22d578cf2b%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Kingfisher Ponds NA Fort Collins-Larimer
No luck on the Chestnut-sided or Magnolia Warblers this morning. Though I was only there for 45 minutes or so. Good movement of Western Tanagers. Had at least a dozen. I had one Cordilleran Flycatcher that wouldn't shut up. It was all Pit-peet and re-peet. Fairly certain he must have been from the Department of Redundancy Department. Maybe I'm projecting a wee bit because I have too many meetings today and I'd rather be birding... Bird is the word all! Josh Bruening Fort Collins -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/d2825367-183a-46bf-97d0-d7f3482857fb%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Yard birds NE Colo Spgs
I have had W Tanagers, Male and female at my suet feeder for the last 14 days. At first there was just one male and an occasional female but the last few days there are both male and female all day long. The males are aggressive toward others coming to feed but I have seen three males and two females at one time. They even try to chase the WW doves away. I also have Mountain Chickadees nesting in one of my boxes. Nina Ogilvie Colorado Springs -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/BLU175-W3948823A4838F621CC2EE0B8CC0%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Common Poorwill - Botanic Gardens - Denver
I was fortunate, yesterday, to find the Common Poorwill perched in the open at Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver. Usually, I only see this bird when it flies away from me, after I've flushed it from a Garden trail or under a tree in Cheesman. A photograph of the bird, which was perched on slate in the Conservatory Garden, is here: https://birderbyaccident.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/dsc_0469.jpg. The poorwill has been around the Gardens since May 1. I've come across it 10 times over the last 25 days, so it's a reliable enough bird to find there this month.The best time to see it is right after the Garden opens at 9 a.m., before the buses of energetic children on field trips arrive. Head straight to the Conservatory Garden and look carefully at the top of the slate for a dark lump. If you don't see it, look again. When I find it, it's often on the second try. If you don't see it on the slate, head to the Birds and Bees trail. Look for lumps on the rocks in front of the trail, then slowly walk the trail. Other notable, reliable birds include Black-headed Grosbeak and a Warbling Vireo. Bullock's Oriole and the common warbler species have been around lately too. The best place to find these are in Little Cheesman and the southern edge of Cheesman, among the smaller trees and a dozen or two Chipping Sparrow. Associating with the Chipping have been a Brewer's Sparrow and a few Clay-Colored Sparrow. One or two empid flycatchers can be found among the flocks of Chipping Sparrow in Little Cheesman, main Cheesman, and in the Gardens. The only that I've identified are Dusky. Back in the Gardens, the Bushtit are very active. I saw, I believe, three recently fledged or nearly fledged young huddled on a branch together. The adults were foraging around the Birds and Bees trail and the bamboo. One was especially tame, foraging not an arm's length from me and flying close enough for me to feel its wing beats. Somehow, I didn't manage to get a photograph. But the Gardens appear run by the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, which buzz by human visitors and aggressively defend territories from each other and any other bird unlucky enough to land on their perches. A few weekends ago, I watched one fly, back and forth, at the face of a Chipping Sparrow. The sparrow stood its ground for a few assaults, before deciding the perch wasn't worth the effort. Above Cheesman and the Gardens have been Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, one or two Cliff and Northern Rough Winged Swallow, and Chimney Swift. Six American White Pelicans flew over Cheesman yesterday morning. The same number flew over 8th and Grant St. yesterday evening, as a storm rolled in. Black-crowned Night Heron and Snowy Egret fly over fairly consistently as well. - Jared Del Rosso Denver, CO -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/0addafba-58bc-4d34-bf95-5aa5f658ed17%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Lone Tree Creek Drainage/Weld
Hi all Over the weekend decided to drive the entire Lone Tree Creek drainage from I25 near WY border down to Lone Tree Water Treatment Facility/Platte River east of Greeley on Weld CR 51. Some great birds and a total of 80-85 species (multiple empids) total. From I25 to Antelope Reservoir area is best portion of route. Highlights: Red-necked Phalarope (6) - Antelope Reservoir Common Nighthawk - Carr-area Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) - Weld CR 110 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2) 0 Weld CR 31 Hermit Thrush (1) - Weld CR 110 Gray Catbird - East end of Carr Brown Thrasher - East end of Carr Northern Waterthrush - Weld CR 110 Macgillvary's Warbler - Weld CR 110 Yellow-breasted Chat - Weld CR 110 Western Tanager - Weld CR 108 Great-tailed Grackle (7) - Lone Tree Water Treatment Birds present along almost entire creek: Yellow Warblers Bullock's Orioles Western Wood Pewees Empids (6) Western and Eastern Kingbirds Sparrows Also, had a Western Tanager at house. Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/cf1e13d3-4af3-4775-9d73-bf756a3a9870%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Migration Northeast Colorado (May 23-25)
I visited quite a few spots in northeast Colorado, birding solo most of the time and with Alec Hopping and Bill Kaempfer some of the time (thanks for the good company and birding). Obviously, this year's spring migration will be remembered for rain and flooding. Waders and willpower proved insufficient for birding the flooded areas near the South Platte River, so I was unable to continue recent traditions such as birding a full day at Tamarack SWA near Crook. Alder Flycatchers (on the CBRC state review list) have invaded Colorado this year, with about two dozen individual birds found this month in the state. Bill and I observed two at the Fishin' Hole in Holyoke (Phillips), 1 at Depoorter Lake in Julesburg (Sedgwick), and 2 in Ovid (Sedgwick) yesterday (May 25). Multiple visits to a few places during the previous week suggested that turnover was very rapid. I'm guessing that the birds took advantage of the breaks in the rain, clear conditions, and favorable winds during the weekend (as opposed to the continuous rain and fog during the previous week) to zip northward. The rare warblers found closer to the Front Range didn't turn up farther east on the Plains. However, I and others found Blackpoll and Tennessee Warblers in good numbers. (These are probably typical birds for the date and location, but numbers seemed unusually high.) The sudden appearance of many female warblers suggested that migration had peaked. One of the more memorable bird sightings was a Summer Tanager flycatching from a tree top yesterday at the Fishin' Hole in Holyoke. Other sightings are summarized on ebird. David Dowell Longmont, CO -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/4d992f15-076f-48d7-a525-c397167b1202%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Northern Waterthrush
I birded a relatively new State Wildlife Area...the Schriver-Wright SWA near Home Lake SWA in Monte Vista. The cool thing about this place is it is open year round, so one can bird, hike and enjoy the area during all seasons. Not a bad list of birds either for that matter. Northern Waterthrush in the wetlands SW of the parking lot near the metal buildings of the water treatment sheds. Really nice warbler habitat reminds me of the way Lamar CC woods used to be! Willow Flycatcher Lincoln’s Sparrow Wilson’s, Yellow, and YR Warblers. John Rawinski Monte Vista -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/13C8005DE9024CA59F1E083FEA87D1CD%40blueroom. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
