Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Email: RBA AT cobirds.org
Compiler: Joe Roller, jroller9 AT gmail.com
Phone: (303) 204-0828
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*The Colorado Rare Bird report is an informational service. *
*Because of statewide coronavirus “Stay at Home” orders, the purpose of
this report is to keep homebound readers abreast of rare bird sightings
across the state during spring migration.*
*This report does NOT endorse or encourage illegal travel to see or "chase"
rare birds beyond your own local area.*
*We urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on non-critical
travel and limits on outdoor activities that include birding. Please do so
ONLY at or close to home and ONLY with universally promoted safety
precautions, including physical “social distancing.”*
Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBirds. Thanks!
CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird
Records Committee at the CFO website.
(*) indicates new information on a species.
For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to
the bottom for “Recent eBird Sightings.”
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*Migration notes: *
It's (early) Spring! Swallows, vultures, Broad-tailed Hummers and a few
Swainson’s Hawks and Sage Thrashers have returned. And the sparrow and
longspur migration is upon us.
What’s in your yard?
Rare, out-of-place and some out-of-season species reports are listed below.
Tundra Swan (Summit)
EURASIAN WIGEON (*Logan)
Long-tailed Duck (*Arapahoe)
WHOOPING CRANE (*Garfield)
Mew Gull (Adams)
Neotropic Cormorant (*Bent, *El Paso)
Black Phoebe (Douglas)
Sagebrush Sparrow (Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)
Rusty Blackbird (Douglas)
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*ADAMS COUNTY:*
—On Mar 29 a Mew Gull was last reported at Dunes Reservoir by Adam
Vesely. Subsequent
searches have been in vain. Dunes Reservoir is northwest of the
intersection of E 112th Ave and Highway 85 and appears on the eBird Hotspot
map. There’s a small public parking lot near the southwest corner of the
reservoir, located in the neighborhood.
*ARAPAHOE COUNTY:*
—On Apr 1 the over-wintering Long-tailed Duck continued at South Platte
Park/South Platte Reservoir.
—On Apr 3 a Long-tailed Duck was reported at Quincy Reservoir by G Stacks.
*BENT COUNTY:*
—On Apr 1 a Neotropic Cormorant was found at Lake Hasty by Duane Nelson.
Still there on Apr 3.
*BOULDER COUNTY:*
On Apr 2 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported on the dam at Lagerman Reservoir;
first reported Apr 1 by Cody Limber.
*DOUGLAS COUNTY:*
—On Mar 29 a Black Phoebe was reported at Chatfield SP—Plum Creek Nature
Area by Matt Crooks.
*EL PASO COUNTY:*
—On Apr 3 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported from the hotspot, Memorial
Park and Prospect Lake, by Tyler Stewart.
*EL PASO and PUEBLO COUNTIES:*
—Please note Chico Basin Ranch is closed until at least Apr 15 because of
the Covid-19 outbreak.
*GARFIELD COUNTY:*
—On Mar 31 a flyover possible WHOOPING CRANE was reported from Coulter
Creek Ranch (private) by Connor Coleman.
Description was: *bright white plumage, outstretched black legs, black
wingtips and primaries, and dark forehead and cheeks were all clearly
visible. Observed for nearly five minutes flying from east to west*.
Under review.
Additional information:
1) A few Sandhill Cranes are leucistic.
2) There are no eBird records of this species from the West Slope, apart
from the failed, 1975-1989 cross-fostering experiment.
3) Most (but not all) Whooping Cranes have satellite monitors and are being
tracked as they migrate north from the Texas coast. All are east of
Dodge City KS now.
4) Under review.
*JEFFERSON COUNTY:*
—On Mar 31 two Sagebrush Sparrows were reported at Bear Creek Lake
Park/Pelican Point Area; first reported by Mark Chavez. No subsequent
reports.
*LARIMER COUNTY*:
—On Apr 1 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Lon Hagler Reservoir SWA by
Christopher Murray.
—On Mar 31 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Lake Estes by Marc Hemmes.
*LOGAN COUNTY:*
—On Apr 3 the EURASIAN WIGEON first seen on March 18 by Glenn Walbek at
Merino ponds (private property-view from Hwy 6), was reported again by
Michael Lester. Note, ALL viewing MUST be from US-6. Homeowner has made it
clear that nobody has permission to enter private property for better
views, nor can they enter driveway.
*SUMMIT COUNTY:*
—On Mar 31 a Tundra Swan was reported in Silverthorne at Angler Mountain
Ranch Ponds (PRIVATE, view from road only). First reported on Mar 23 by
Misty Walters.
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*PLEASE NOTE:* Because of concerns and precautions around the Covid-19
pandemic, Denver Field Ornithologists and other birding clubs have
suspended all in-person club activities, including field trips, for the
rest of March and the month of April. The annual Colorado Field
Ornithologists convention has been cancelled.
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