[cobirds] Migration Weather Advisory: Friday Night

[Bryan Guarente]

*Southeast CO*
There is a small potential for movement tonight into SE CO (north to the
Arkansas River, west to the Rocky Mountains) in the 9 pm to 3 am hours, but
that flow pattern modifies after 3 am and birds should end up out into
Kansas once again since there is no longer wind convergence into the
Arkansas Valley.   This time period is a small window and it doesn't
support long-distance migrants, more just short hops of migrants (from New
Mexico or Texas).  You can expect minor turnover tonight in SE CO bringing
in more birds.

*CO north of the Arkansas River*
The winds will be out of the south, which sounds like it would be great for
migration.  In this case, it is good for migration, but birds leaving the
vicinity not coming into the vicinity.  The southerly flow pattern is cut
off by west winds converging into the Arkansas River valley.  So if there
is turnover of migrants with new birds coming into Northern CO, expect them
to be locals not distant migrants.

Hope this helps you find some birds.

Thanks for all the input recently and for the positive vibes,
Bryan

Bryan Guarente
Meteorologist/Instructional Designer
UCAR/The COMET Program
Boulder, CO

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[cobirds] Long-eared Owl

[CHRISTOPHER GOULART]

I had a Long-eared Owl take up residence in the Cherry Tree in my driveway for 
a day.  I got a few iPhone Pictures as the bird allowed me to get within about 
20 feet without any apparent concern.  I did not linger and left him/her to go 
about its business.   It was gone this AM, probably moving on to better 
feeding/breeding grounds than a subdivision in far Eastern Aurora, CO. 

Chris Goulart
Aurora, CO
Arapahoe County 

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Re: [cobirds] paucity of waterfowl at Walden Ponds, Boulder County, and other matters

['Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds]

This seemed to be true last spring when I went to Walden Ponds. I didn’t see 
near the number of ducks or water fowl that I had in the past, they were 
practically empty. Did this change as the season went on?

Deb Carstensen, Arapahoe  County

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 16, 2020, at 8:14 AM, Ted Floyd  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hey, all.
> 
> Dick Pautsch mentioned the dearth of ducks at Walden Ponds, Boulder County, 
> and it's something that was striking to me when I was there late yesterday 
> afternoon, Wed., Apr. 15. Dick conjectures that the recent weather may have a 
> role to play, but I would also say that the various waterbodies at Walden 
> Ponds have been relatively duckless for many weeks now. Nearby Teller Lake 
> No. 5 is teeming with ducks, as is Sombrero Marsh, just a bit farther away. 
> So I wonder what's up at Walden.
> 
> It was getting windy when I was there yesterday afternoon, but a Virginia 
> rail was kek-kek...kek-kek...kek-kek...kek-kek'ing steadily, a magnificent 
> great horned owl posed for passersby, and there was an eastern phoebe well 
> upstream from the 75th Street Bridge. (Which I didn't visit.)
> 
> It was gratifying that various walkers and hikers got to see the owl. 
> Everybody was wearing masks and keeping distances considerably greater than 6 
> feet. (Where did this figure of 6 ft. come from? I don't know about you, but 
> my sneezes expectorate aerosol contamination considerably in excess of that 
> distance! I was a social distancer before social distancing was a thing.) 
> 
> Ted Floyd
> Lafayette, Boulder County
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[cobirds] Two legs of the Longspur Trifecta in Boulder County

[Peter Burke]

COBirders,
Driving along the eastern Boulder County roads this morning brought back
memories of the epic winter storm on May 1, 2013 that featured several
Lapland, dozens of Chestnut-collared and hundreds of McCown's Longspurs. A
true Longspur Trifecta enjoyed by many.

The action this morning was not quite as dynamic, but there were many birds
concentrated along the edges of the roads where plows had exposed a narrow
ribbon of forage. Horned Lark, Western Meadowlark, American Robin,
Killdeer, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows were numerous. The prizes were a
single male McCown's Longspur  and a very
cooperative male Chestnut-collared Longspur 
found by Luke Pheneger.

If those links don't work, photos are posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pgburke/

Good birding,
Peter Burke
Boulder County




Peter Burke

7988 James Court Niwot, CO 80503

(973) 214-0140

Flickr   LinkedIn


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[cobirds] Short-eared Owl, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

[Joe Kipper]

I have not seen this bird for myself, and won't be chasing this bird, as I 
live in Larimer County. However, I thought this should be passed on so that 
birders who live nearby can possibly see this bird. I got a second-hand 
report by way of a friend about a Short-eared Owl that is currently perched 
in a prarie dog town in Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR.
This friend sent me photos, and it is definitely SEOW. So far no reports 
that I have seen on ebird or cobirds, but hopefully others can see it 
becasue of my posting. I am also hopeful it will stop in my county as it 
works its way north to wherever its headed!
Joe Kipper,
Fort Collins

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Re: [cobirds] Determined nesting goose, Boulder

['Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds]

Canada geese are nothing if not great parents! DebCarstensen, Arapahoe county

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 17, 2020, at 3:07 PM, Richard Pautsch  wrote:
> 
> 
> This diligent mother was on her nest on a little island in the Boulder kids' 
> fishing pond after the previous snowfall, and sat there all day through 
> yesterday's.  If I see goslings next week, I am going to have some respect 
> for Canada Geese (and I'll understand why there are so many of them around 
> here).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dick Pautsch
> 427 Pearl St.
> Boulder, CO  80302
> rjpaut...@gmail.com
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[cobirds] Rusty Blackbird - Kettle Lakes - El Paso County 4/17

[Kip Miller]

Hi all,

I had a male Rusty Blackbird earlier today at Kettle Lakes in El Paso 
County. 

It was in the NE corner of the lower pond, where an active flock of 
Yellow-rumped Warblers (mostly Myrtles) and an Eastern Phoebe were actively 
feeding along the water's edge. 

I did not notice it for several minutes while I was standing and watching 
the warblers and phoebe. It was slowly walking near the water's edge in the 
underbrush and making occasional forays to the water's edge. 
 https://ebird.org/checklist/S67364789

Good birding,

Kip Miller
Colorado Springs

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[cobirds] Cassin's finches and bushtits, Louisville

[Bev Baker]

I've enjoyed and been jealous of the recent Cassin's finch activity.  
Walking around Louisville early-ish this morning hoping to see some, just 
as I was wondering whether to head downtown since they've been seen around 
there, ears and brain connected and I realized I was hearing a finch din on 
both sides, not all from house finches.  There were about 3 dozen birds, 
including probably a dozen Cassin's -on Coyote Run open space several 
hundred yards east of Harper Lake and just west of Washington, some at a 
house with feeders on the north side of the trail, and others in a tree on 
the south side.

Then a little while ago, clearing snow off my car, when I took a pause from 
fussing at the hackberry tree above my driveway for dropping snow blobs on 
my head, ears and brain connected again and I realized not all the chatter 
in the hackberry was coming from chickadees - there were several bushtits.  
The little cuties!  I've seen them in the same tree before, and not when 
the gall-filled leaves are on, so they are after something else.  I live 
close to Cottonwood Park and Lake Park, and have seen them a couple times 
in those areas too.

Bev Baker
Louisville




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[cobirds] White-eyed Vireo in Pueblo 17 April

[Brandon]

Evan Carlson found this White-eyed Vireo, along the Arkansas River, on the
south west side
of Runyon Lake in Pueblo, Pueblo County this morning.  Chris Knight and I
were able to also
see it, after noon today.  It was with a large flock of Yellow-rumped
Warblers, also one Orange-
crowned Warbler, and a Common Yellowthroat, was also in the area.

[image: 94021979_666430957488192_7292910127089188864_n.jpg]

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Why the Cassin's Finch invasion?

[Scott Severs]

I had about 30 in SW Longmont, and loved every minute of it! Plus a few 
Pine Siskins.

Here's a little video I shot: https://youtu.be/FvhPuFv4EM8

Scott Severs
Longmont

On Friday, April 17, 2020 at 10:24:43 AM UTC-6, Arvind wrote:
>
> I concur that this is an unusual event.  I estimated around 175 CAFIs in 
> yard yesterday here by horsetooth mountain west do Fort Collins.  They 
> devoured two gallons of birdseed.  This morning I estimated 105.  The most 
> I ever had before this was probably around 30 birds.  Love having them here!
>
> Arvind Panjabi
> Larimer Co.
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone 
> 
>
> On Friday, April 17, 2020, 7:54 AM, Sue Riffe  > wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> We had 2 Cassin's during this past winter in Lyons. The low estimated of 
> 85 Cassin's Finches have been here over the last two snow storms this week. 
> Most winters we will have just single digits even with heavy snows.
>
> Bonus birds this week include a pair of Evening Grosbeaks and 4 
> Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
>
> Stay healthy,
>
> Sue Riffe
> Lyons, CO
>
> On Thu, Apr 16, 2020 at 2:45 PM Richard Trinkner  > wrote:
>
> I'd be very interested in theories to explain this spring's dramatic 
> Cassin's Finch invasion of the lower elevations of the Front Range.  We 
> usually get these prolific snow storms in March and April, but my 24 years 
> of personal records don't show anything previously like this year's 
> Cassin's Finch invasion. (Of course, 24 years is a tiny data window for a 
> species that probably predates humans...) 
>
> Are cone crops in the high country poor this year? Are the finches coming 
> from northern latitudes? Was last year a banner breeding year? Why is the 
> weather disproportionately affecting this particular high-elevation finch 
> species?
>
> I don't have any answers myself, but hope that others might.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard Trinkner
> Boulder
>
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>  
> 
> .
>
>
>
> -- 
> *Sue Riffe*
>
>
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>  
> 
> .
>
>

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[cobirds] Cassin's Finches

[Janet Justice-Waddington]

I have a thought about the invasion of Cassin's Finches. Remember the huge
forest fire in SW Colorado last fall, near Durango?   That certainly burned
areas and areas of suitable habitat for the Cassin's.
Jan Justice Waddington
Coal Creek Canyon
Jefferson County

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[cobirds] Goldfinches- Mead, Weld

[Pauli Driver-Smith]

I've taken down all my feeders except the suet and thistle ones because large 
flocks of red winged blackbirds were taking over, chasing all the other birds 
away. However, I'm really enjoying the small flocks of Goldfinches. The males 
are in full breeding color now. Some other species visiting are Downy 
Woodpeckers, Flickers, Blue Jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and of course the 
Eur. Collared Doves. I haven't seen any Mourning Doves in years around here. 
One day a few weeks ago, I had what appeared to be a male Downey Woodpecker, 
looked pretty much like them, but almost twice as large. I couldn't identify 
what kind it was. The Pelicans showed up on the lake the day after Mead stocked 
it about two weeks ago, maybe three. Also lots of Canada Geese. Saw an Osprey 
fishing on Highland Lake two days ago. One thing that has really been absent 
this year around the lake are the Bald Eagles. Haven't seen a one and I usually 
see several in March and April. Nothing else really unusual, but then I haven't 
been outside a lot lately to look.

They are filling Highland Lake right now, so the water is rising pretty fast. 
Since the Town of Mead took over, the western shore hasn't been mowed or 
maintained, so it is going back to nature. The reservoir company has blocked 
off vehicle access to that part of the lake so only foot traffic is now 
allowed. Parts of the western shore, especially where the springs are, has 
never been tilled. Lots of trees and swampy in places. Makes me wonder if that 
won't attract more species of birds now.

Highland Lake is now publicly owned by the Town of Mead (recreation and surface 
rights), so no longer private.

At the Highlandlake Pioneer Cemetery there has been an injured, male red 
shafted flicker there since early last fall. It can't fly but a few feet off 
the ground, and then only for a short distance, but can run fast and climb 
trees even faster. I was out at the cemetery last week before the Easter storm 
and there he was. He made it through the winter.

Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead in Weld County

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[cobirds] Boulders in Clear Creek were hopping this AM

[David Gulbenkian]

Not with dippers, but with Robins and Bluebirds.
Watched over a dozen Robins and over a dozen Western Bluebirds walking
over cobbles and boulders in the river, furiously pecking up something
(midges?) from the rocks.  With them, a few Mt Bluebirds, a Yellow-rumped,
a Vesper Sparrow, and (briefly) a Grackle.

Last night went down again to 15 near Crown Hill in Lakewood.  Wonder how
many birds didn't make it. Or if they all made it, how in heck do they do 
it?

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[cobirds] Re: Grandview Cemetery and nearby City Park 4/14-16/2020, Ft Collins (Larimer)

[Sharon Kay]

Such an amazing post.

On Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 4:16:33 PM UTC-6, Dave Leatherman wrote:
>
> Had 5 Cassin's Finches at Grandview Cemetery (GC) on the 14th.  Every time 
> I could catch up with them and figure out what they were doing, they were 
> eating European Elm Scales gleaned from the branches of American Elms.  
> This seems to be the only report of late that mentions their eating 
> something other than seeds from cones (Suddjian) or at feeders (mob).  
>
>   
>
> No Cassin's Finches yesterday at GC, surprisingly ditto for today.
>
> As suspected, I have not seen the Red Crossbill adults or their two 
> fledglings since watching them fly west out of GC on the 13th.
>
> Several birds are eating adult hackberry gall-making psyllids of two types 
> at GC.  These insects are emerging from their overwintering sites in the 
> bark to lay eggs on the buds (see photo).  The bird species I've observed 
> nitpicking the tiny adults are: Black-capped Chickadees, Brown Creeper, 
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bushtits, Downy Woodpecker and Red-breasted 
> Nuthatches. 
>
>   
> Hackberry bud with psyllid 
> eggs on left, adult psyllid on right (actual size is about 3mm).
>
> Cedar Waxwings are, of course, going after juniper cones (aka "berries") 
> but notably also have been heavily feeding on green ash flowers and 
> European Elm Scales.  Before the hard freeze on the night of the 13-14th, 
> the ash flowers looked green and more edible than they did since suffering 
> freeze injury.  But the waxwings persisted, as did the Fox Squirrels eating 
> them both before and after the freeze.  
>
>   
>
> Green Ash flowers on 4/13 before the hard freeze overnight.
>
> 
>  Cedar Waxwing eating 
> Green Ash flowers on the 14th after they suffered freeze injury. 
>
> Today in the winter wonderland of the cemetery, a robin was actively 
> defending "his" cone-laden female juniper against 8 or so Cedar Waxwings.
>
> There is a large adobe-looking building near the City Park swimming pool 
> called Club Tico.  Today at least 20 Mountain Bluebirds came in to seek 
> refuge from the snow blowing in from the north by concentrating along the 
> building's south side, sitting in the Virginia Creeper vines, on window 
> sills, on electric boxes.  The male's blue hue against snow is one of the 
> iconic color combo's we get to enjoy.  Unfortunately I was not carrying my 
> camera at the time I had intimate opportunities to capture this.  I did get 
> a few pics of birds on the building.
>
> 
>
> A solo White Pelican tried to go unnoticed in the storm out on Sheldon 
> Lake.  There are more Double-crested Cormorants at this lake than I have 
> ever seen (6 the other day, perhaps that many today).
>
> Had a fast-moving Red-naped Sapsucker at GC yesterday, first seen near the 
> middle moving ne into the neighborhood.  If one uses their imagination in 
> looking at the one terrible photo I managed, there is red on nape.  Got no 
> glimpse of the throat, but bird was an adult.
>
> My first Yellow-rumped Warbler this spring, an Audubon's, chipped along in 
> the saplings just w of Club Tico today.
>
> Dave Leatherman
> Fort Collins
>

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[cobirds] Audubon’s Warbler, COS, El Paso co, Friday.

[Steve Brown]

Hey COBirders.

Just had our FOY adult male Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler in the yard for a 
few seconds. VERY BRIGHT. I’m psyched!

While watching bighorns on the “Scar”, with snowy Pikes Peak in the background, 
a distant Cooper’s Hawk flew into view, then immediately two more buzzed 
through the yard. I assume they are migrants, finally catching some thermals as 
it heats up here (good heat waves looking at the scar, too). Probably they were 
piled-up here yesterday with the lousy weather to the North.

Stay safe, 
Steve Brown
NW COS

Sent from my iPad

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[cobirds] Cassin's Finch Spillage, SW Denver, Denver Co.

[Doug Ward]

Been watching our feeders the past few days like our neighborhood Cooper's 
Hawks to hopefully pick up at least a few Cassin's Finches joining the usual 
crew of House Finches, chickadees, doves, Bushtits, flickers, jays, towhees, 
RWBBs, ... (juncos have been gone for about a week now), but surprisingly no 
luck given the huge numbers showing up at folks places during this 
unprecedented irruption along the northern Front Range.  Well this morning (17 
Apr.'20) while sitting on the back porch (SW Denver (Huston/Athmar Park), 
Denver Co.) having coffee and enjoying the nice bluebird day, heard, then saw 
three (3 - 1m, 2f) CASSIN'S FINCHes sitting atop a neighbor's maple.  They 
stayed a few minute and then flew off to the east, but never came into the 
feeders.  Based on my hard and fast Yard List rule of "if you can see or hear 
it from your yard, or maybe chase it into your yard, then it counts", new yard 
bird!!
In 45+ years of being interested in birds and birding in Colorado, I don't 
recall this many Cassin's, in such large flocks, as are being documented this 
Spring.  Please keep posting your Cassin's sightings, very fun to follow and 
learn.

Cheers,DougDenver

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Re: [cobirds] Why the Cassin's Finch invasion?

['arvind panjabi' via Colorado Birds]

I concur that this is an unusual event.  I estimated around 175 CAFIs in yard 
yesterday here by horsetooth mountain west do Fort Collins.  They devoured two 
gallons of birdseed.  This morning I estimated 105.  The most I ever had before 
this was probably around 30 birds.  Love having them here!
Arvind PanjabiLarimer Co.


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone


On Friday, April 17, 2020, 7:54 AM, Sue Riffe  wrote:

Hi all,
We had 2 Cassin's during this past winter in Lyons. The low estimated of 85 
Cassin's Finches have been here over the last two snow storms this week. Most 
winters we will have just single digits even with heavy snows.
Bonus birds this week include a pair of Evening Grosbeaks and 4 Broad-tailed 
Hummingbirds.
Stay healthy,
Sue RiffeLyons, CO
On Thu, Apr 16, 2020 at 2:45 PM Richard Trinkner  
wrote:

I'd be very interested in theories to explain this spring's dramatic Cassin's 
Finch invasion of the lower elevations of the Front Range.  We usually get 
these prolific snow storms in March and April, but my 24 years of personal 
records don't show anything previously like this year's Cassin's Finch 
invasion. (Of course, 24 years is a tiny data window for a species that 
probably predates humans...) 
Are cone crops in the high country poor this year? Are the finches coming from 
northern latitudes? Was last year a banner breeding year? Why is the weather 
disproportionately affecting this particular high-elevation finch species?
I don't have any answers myself, but hope that others might.
Cheers,
Richard TrinknerBoulder

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Sue Riffe




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[cobirds] Chestnut Collared Longspur Boulder

[Luke Pheneger]

Pipit Road (40.1381728, -105.0598415).


Luke Pheneger
Longmont

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[cobirds] Great-tailed Grackle, Stearns Lake

[Paula Hansley]

CObirders,
A Great-tailed Grackle is sitting in a large cottonwood tree just across the 
road from the bathroom at the Stearns Lake parking lot. I first heard its 
amazing vocalizations. A few Common Grackles are  nearby for comparison. 

Paula Hansley
Boulder County
Sent from my iPhone

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[cobirds] Odd mourning dove pair - Pueblo

[Leon Bright]

COBirders,

   Over the last two decades or so, the number of over-wintering mourning
doves here has greatly diminished, to the point that now one is a real
rarity. Yesterday afternoon I saw two in my back yard, which is about when
we would expect to see returning migrants. These were odd, though, because
one was two-thirds the size of the other. I first saw them when the larger
one was chasing the smaller one along the sidewalk, as if in an attempt to
copulate. They went into our small raspberry patch and each began to forage
for seed below our feeders, the chase apparently forgotten. After a while
they flew off and I didn't see if they continued together or went their
separate ways. I have never seen, at this time of year, such a disparity in
size between mourning doves. Comments welcome.

Leon Bright, Pueblo (city/county)

  

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[cobirds] Savannah sparrow, Stearns Lake

[Paula Hansley]

CObirders,
A Savannah Sparrow is currently singing about 50 m east of the Stearns Lake 
parking lot. About 1/2 way to the lake! 

Paula Hansley 
Boulder County

Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [cobirds] Why the Cassin's Finch invasion?

[Sue Riffe]

Hi all,

We had 2 Cassin's during this past winter in Lyons. The low estimated of 85
Cassin's Finches have been here over the last two snow storms this week.
Most winters we will have just single digits even with heavy snows.

Bonus birds this week include a pair of Evening Grosbeaks and 4
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

Stay healthy,

Sue Riffe
Lyons, CO

On Thu, Apr 16, 2020 at 2:45 PM Richard Trinkner 
wrote:

> I'd be very interested in theories to explain this spring's dramatic
> Cassin's Finch invasion of the lower elevations of the Front Range.  We
> usually get these prolific snow storms in March and April, but my 24 years
> of personal records don't show anything previously like this year's
> Cassin's Finch invasion. (Of course, 24 years is a tiny data window for a
> species that probably predates humans...)
>
> Are cone crops in the high country poor this year? Are the finches coming
> from northern latitudes? Was last year a banner breeding year? Why is the
> weather disproportionately affecting this particular high-elevation finch
> species?
>
> I don't have any answers myself, but hope that others might.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard Trinkner
> Boulder
>
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> "Colorado Birds" group.
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> email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
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> 
> .
>


-- 
*Sue Riffe*

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Re: [cobirds] Why the Cassin's Finch invasion?

[Scott]

Be careful calling them females... Juvenile male Cassin's Finches, like 
Purple Finches don't get their red color until the spring/summer of 
their second year. So some of those  that look like females may actually 
be juvenile males


So it is better to call them "female types"

A goo way to tell  adult female finches from juvenile (sex unknown) id 
to look at their tail feathers.


Adult female birds will have rounded tail feathers, and juvenile birds 
will have pointed tail feathers.


Best,

Scott Rashid
Estes Park


On 4/16/2020 2:48 PM, JIM THOMPSON wrote:
First time in back yard.  Here for three days.  About 25 mostly 
female.  First time in yard.


JIM THOMPSON
On April 16, 2020 at 2:45 PM Richard Trinkner 
 wrote:


I'd be very interested in theories to explain this spring's dramatic 
Cassin's Finch invasion of the lower elevations of the Front Range.  
We usually get these prolific snow storms in March and April, but my 
24 years of personal records don't show anything previously like this 
year's Cassin's Finch invasion. (Of course, 24 years is a tiny data 
window for a species that probably predates humans...)


Are cone crops in the high country poor this year? Are the finches 
coming from northern latitudes? Was last year a banner breeding year? 
Why is the weather disproportionately affecting this particular 
high-elevation finch species?


I don't have any answers myself, but hope that others might.

Cheers,

Richard Trinkner
Boulder


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[cobirds] COLORADO RARE BIRD REPORT for Friday, March 17, 2020

['Allison Hilf' via Colorado Birds]

Date: Friday, April 17, 2020
Email: RBA  AT cobirds.org 
Compiler:  Allison Hilf, ahilf AT me.com
Phone:  303-888-5110
_
 
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.
It does NOT endorse or encourage illegal travel to see or "chase" rare birds 
beyond your own local area.

Once again, we must urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on 
non-critical travel and limits on outdoor activities that include birding.
Please bird ONLY at or close to home and ONLY with universally promoted safety 
precautions, including physical “social distancing” and face coverings.
Or, as Dave Leatherman noted this week, “Be like a Cedar Waxwing . . . very 
compliant in their wearing of masks.”
__

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.”
__
 
Spring migration notes: 
A plethora of Cassin’s Finches are continuing to be reported around the State, 
many at locations around the Front Range where they are usually uncommon, some 
at lower elevations than expected.
Swallows, Turkey Vultures, Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, 
phoebes, finches, and Swainson’s Hawks are returning.  
Sparrow and longspur migrations are also upon us (Vesper, Savannah, Lincoln’s, 
Chipping).
Shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers, phalaropes, Dunlins, curlews, godwits) are 
showing up at shores and flooded fields.
And did somebody say “warblers”?
What’s in your yard or near your home?  Let us know on COBirds.
_
 
Rare, out-of-place and some out-of-season species reports are listed below. 

Trumpeter Swan (Eagle)
Long-tailed Duck (Jefferson)
Red-necked Grebe (El Paso)
Snowy Plover (Kiowa, Larimer)
Long-billed Curlew (*Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, *Denver, El Paso,
Mesa, Montezuma)
Marbled Godwit (Boulder, El Paso, *Montezuma)
Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) (Larimer)
Common Loon (Kiowa)
Neotropic Cormorant (El Paso, Fremont)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (El Paso)
BLACK PHOEBE (Denver, Bent, Larimer, San Miguel)
Vermilion Flycatcher (El Paso)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Teller)
Mixed Rosy Finch Flock (Grand, *Larimer)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (*Jefferson)
McCowns Longspur (*Boulder, *Douglas)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Arapahoe) 
Fox Sparrow (Red) (Washington)
Sagebrush Sparrow (El Paso)
Swamp Sparrow (*Chaffee, *La Plata)
Black-and-white Warbler (Boulder)
Northern Parula (Pueblo)
Summer Tanager (*El Paso)

_
 
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
—On April 16 nine Long-billed Curlew were reported at Cherry Creek State 
Park-Lake Loop by Diane Roberts.
—On April 14 a Grasshopper Sparrow was reported at Cherry Creek State Park, in 
the Pelican Point parking lot area near the bathrooms, by Joey Negreann.
—On April 14 a Long-tailed Duck was reported at Quincy Reservoir.  First 
reported April 3 by G Stacks.
 
ARCHULETA COUNTY:
—On April 12 a Long-billed Curlew was reported by Charles Martinez at Lynch 
Pond northwest of Pagosa Springs. Three LBCUs first reported at this location 
on Apr 10 by Byron Greco.
 
BENT COUNTY:
—On April 11 a BLACK PHOEBE was reported in John Martin Reservoir SWA by Duane 
Nelson.
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
—On April 16 a McCowns Longspur was reported in Longmont at 10936–11440 Oxford 
Rd by Peter Burke.
—On April 14 a Marbled Godwit was reported at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock 
Creek Farms / Stearns Lake, in the field just N of the CloudView Stables and 
west of S 104th St by Chris Petrizzo.
—On April 14 a Black-and-white Warbler was reported at the Grapewood Townhouse 
Complex in North Boulder.  First reported Apr 13 by Jon Webb.
—On April 12 eight Long-billed Curlews were reported at Lagerman Reservoir by 
Peter Burke.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:
—On April 15 a Swamp Sparrow was reported at Mount Ouray State Wildlife Area by 
Greg Mihalik.
  
DENVER COUNTY:
—On April 16 three Long-billed Curlews were reported at Marston Reservoir by 
Claire and Tom H. 
—On April 11, a BLACK PHOEBE was reported at Grasmere Lake in Washington Park. 
First reported Apr 10 by Jeff Dawson. First Denver County eBird record if 
accepted by Colorado Bird Record Committee.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
—On April 16 a McCown’s Longspur was reported at Chatfield State Park -Model 
Airplane Field by Myron Gerhard/

EAGLE COUNTY:
—On April 14 two Trumpeter Swans were reported flying over the Rio Grande Trail 
(from Hooks Spur Rd. to ACES Rock Bottom