[cobirds] Re: Ross's Geese at Union Reservoir (Boulder County)
I wonder if one of these birds was the Ross's Goose I saw over my house not far from Union Reservoir just after 5:00 PM Wednesday, after the snow stopped? It was with a mixed flock of about 30 Canada Geese and 30 Cackling Geese struggling to make their way north against the high winds (and only succeeding in going east to west for a minute or two...then swinging back west to east). Sarah Spotten Longmont, CO On Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 12:37:41 PM UTC-6, Jay Hutchins wrote: > > I braved the wind and snow this morning around 9 am and headed out to Jim > Hamm Nature Area and Union Reservoir (Longmont). Yeahnope. Winds were > 30 mph + so didn't last too long. About 700-800 ducks on Jim Hamm (mostly > Redheads), 2 Canvasbacks, 4 Hooded Mergansers and Great Blue Heron staying > low in the reeds. Drove the road on the north side of Union and saw 4 > Green-winged Teal and surprise! 5 Ross's Geese (one dark adult) hunkered > down on the mud flats. Pretty nasty weather today. > > Jay Hutchins > 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/6973b70d-ddd7-40d6-ad23-14c36aa48aa2%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (14 Mar 2019) 11 Raptors
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2019 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 6 6 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0 Cooper's Hawk0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 11 32 32 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 0 0 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 11 41 41 -- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter:Roger Rouch Observers: Visitors: Two women stopped by to talk weather and ask what was going on. They were interested in the program and able to see a couple of migrating Red-tailed Hawks. Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy with brief periods of diffuse sun. Temperatures rose from the low 30's to the mid-40's with a light wind around 1 or 2 Bft from the SE and E. Nearly total snow cover on ground terrain. Raptor Observations: Not much in terms of variety, but generally close views above or just east of the ridge, with a few at eye level and below eye level. Other than a high flier in the late day, all were gliding on a dedicated north flight path with little spiraling. Very little local raptor activity. The day's highlight was a very dark dark morph Red-tailed that flew by at eye level over the Rooney valley. Non-raptor Observations: Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Woodhouse's Scrub-jay, American Robin, Townsend Solitaire, Canada Goose, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Canyon Wren (brief call and visual, not singing). All times reported in Mountain Standard Time. Predictions: The trail will obviously not be in idea conditions for a few days. At days end the trail past the gate at the big turn was mostly snow packed and also a couple or few inches of now. The lower trail was similar, but also had drifts to low and mid calf covering maybe 30% of the lower trail length. There is some packed trail in these areas from myself and two up and back hikers, but these areas could be a bit of challenge or prohibitive for some. There was active melting. The observation platform is mostly wet gravel but some snow pack. Sometimes post storm migration is better than average. Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt.sm...@birdconservancy.org) Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=123 Site Description: Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome. The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
[cobirds] Crane Festival Results Plus More
Well the Crane Festival has passed and thought I would bring you up to date on things in case you are still considering a visit. First of all, it was amazing that Saturday and Sunday were ideal for being outdoors, but that was sandwiched by horrendous winds on Friday and 3 days of snow since Sunday! March weather go figure. Wished the cranes had cooperated a bit more. All was going well and 5,000 birds were feeding at the 8S just 2 days ahead of crane festival. Then, with warm temps, other fields melted their snows and became available and cranes vanished from the refuge overnight. I had never seen such an abrupt change. That left the bus tours having to scramble a bit to show what cranes they could. They made it work the best they could and I hope you all got to see cranes in some manner. I cruised the Refuge again this morning and a few cranes on the 7S road is your best bet. Otherwise, drive the various county roads like 2S, 1S, and go to San Luis Lake (2,000 birds). As I type this, cranes are spiraling over my house and moving out so enjoy them while you can. With warmer temps, some of the local lakes have some open water. Yesterday at Smith Reservoir there was a good assortment of ducks including Gadwall, Am Wigeon, Les Scaup, Ruddy, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, GW Teal, Common Mergansers and some gulls. San Luis Lake is opening up as well and is worth a look. Sagebrush Sparrowsmight find them along county roads around the San Luis Hills, but beware of mud and crud. Home Lake is also worth a look. Yesterday 2 Bald Eagles were terrorizing the ducks there at mid day. Enjoy your visit! John Rawinski Monte Vista, 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/642b3b66-266f-471e-80e7-fd530ae1da57%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, March 14
Thursday, March 14, 2019 Compiler: Burke Angstman Phone: (303) 984-4963 E-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for March 14 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists. Note: formatting of report might be off due to internet being down (blizzard). Needed to use phone instead of laptop to prepare Cobirds post. Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings and updates on CoBirds. Thanks! CAPITAL LETTERS are used for very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee. (*) indicates new information on this species. Rare, out of place and out of season species include: Ross's Goose (Jefferson, *Arapahoe) Trumpeter Swan (*Mesa, Pueblo) Tundra Swan (Broomfield, Mesa, Weld) Black Scoter (Pueblo) Long-tailed Duck (Fremont, Larimer) Glaucous-winged Gull (Pueblo) Great Black-backed Gull (Weld) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Larimer) Varied Thrush (*Boulder) Bohemian Waxwing (Larimer) Mixed Rosy-Finch flock (Jefferson) Field Sparrow (*El Paso) Fox Sparrow (Red) (Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (Larimer) Rusty Blackbird (Denver, Arapahoe) Gull species: Several winter/early spring gulls are being seen, primarily in Pueblo, Larimer, Chaffee, Arapahoe and Adams Counties, e.g., Iceland (Thayer’s), Glaucous, Bonaparte’s, California, Ring-billed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed Gull. For more information on these gulls, as well as other birds not on this RBA list, please check cobirds.org, scroll down to the very bottom “Bird Trax” and click on “sightings”. It should list all birds reported on e-bird, but seems to be on the fritz the past few days. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: —On March 13 (2) Ross's Geese were reported near West Coal Mine Ave and Platte Canyon Road by David Suddjian. —On March 12 (2) Rusty Blackbirds were reported at Cherry Creek SP by Edward Donnan. BROOMFIELD COUNTY: —On March 10 (2) Tundra Swans were reported at Plaster Reservoir by Chipper Phillips. BOULDER COUNTY: —On March 13 a Varied Thrush was reported on Bosque Ct in Boulder. First reported on Jan 23 by Ernest Crvich. DENVER COUNTY: —On March 8 (3) Rusty Blackbirds were reported at First Creek at Denver Open Space. First report in January. EL PASO COUNTY: —On March 13 the overwintering Field Sparrow continues at Red Rock Canyon Open Space. FREMONT COUNTY: —On March 11 (2) Long-tailed Ducks were reported at Blue Heron Ponds on Hwy 115. First reported on March 6 by Rich Miller. JEFFERSON COUNTY: —On March 12 a Ross's Goose was reported at Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS) and adjacent fields by Michael Lester. —On March 8 the overwintering Fox Sparrow (Red) continues at Red Rock Trading Post. —There has been a mixed flock of Rosy Finches in Golden visiting the feeders at the home of Kirsten Witherell. To see them please text her at 720-372-0833. If she is not home you may go around the back gate. Be sure you have the correct address- 19540 W 55th Place, Golden (inside Table Rock Community). The birds have been seen most days this winter, most prominent on colder days. Approx. 35 Black Rosy-Finches reported on Feb 6. LARIMER COUNTY: —On March 10 a Bohemian Waxwing was reported as heard only from Power Trail by Adrian Strong. —On March 12 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that have wintered at Grandview Cemetery were seen again. Both male and female have been reported - see CoBirds post by John Shenot. —On March 8 a Long-tailed Duck was reported at Fossil Creek Reservoir & Regional Open Space. First reported on Feb 16 by David Farmer. —On March 8 there has been a (f) Northern Cardinal visiting the feeders at the home of Steve Martin SW of Wellington since July. Email for current status and directions: falconridge AT cowisp.net. MESA COUNTY: —On March 10 (3) Trumpeter Swans were reported from Canyon View Park (I-70 & 24 Rd) in Grand Junction by Mike Henwood. —On March 13 (2) Trumpeter Swans & (2) Tundra Swans were reported at Highline Lake State Park. First reported on Feb 9 by Glenn Pearson. PUEBLO COUNTY: —On March 8 a Black Scoter was reported by Al Garner at Pueblo SWA--Turkey Creek. —On March 9 (2) Glaucous-winged Gull was reported at Pueblo Reservoir--South Marina area. First reported on Feb 1 by David Tonnesson. —On March 9 (2) Trumpeter Swans were reported at Valco Ponds SWA. There have been 1-2 Swans reported over the past few weeks, moving between locations at Pueblo Reservoir, the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, Rock Canyon Rd. in Pueblo, Mosquito Alley, and Valco Ponds SWA. —Note, a Great Black-backed Gull, “Murray”, is often reported at Pueblo Reservoir, where it has wintered for many years. WELD COUNTY: —On March 12 (3) Tundra Swans were reported at Cozzens Lake by Steve Mlodinow and Scott Somershoe. —On March 9 a Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Bruce Snyder at Weld CR 3.25 and WCR 16.5. Upcoming DFO Field Trips...trip details on dfobirds.org Staunton State Park (Jefferson County) Saturday,
