Re: [cobirds] Merlin magic with vireos

[J V Rudd]

I'm doing my best to avoid the "Sound ID" trap while birding. As I've
seen recently, all (seems like all) warblers & sparrows have a call
that looks like a line on the spectrogram. i.e. it lasts a very short
amount of time, and encompasses the majority of the frequency range.
While at Walden Ponds last weekend I had one recording (of one bird)
that was "IDed" as a MGWA, COYE, YRWA, SOSP, and CCSP. I got eyes on
the birds and it was a Wilson's Warbler (which, honestly, was the best
possible outcome). So, yes, Merlin tries it's best, but is often
faulty.
Van Rudd
Louisville, CO


On Tue, Sep 13, 2022 at 3:37 PM Charles Hundertmark
 wrote:
>
> Unfortunately, some birders don’t realize they are getting multiple 
> suggestions for one bird, and instead list all of them as species on their 
> eBird reports. This is going to require careful scrutiny, good judgement and 
> delicate communication on the part of reviewers.
>
> Chuck Hundertmark
> Lafayette, CO
>
> On Sep 13, 2022, at 2:58 PM, David Suddjian  wrote:
>
> This is not a Merlin gripe, but just a funny experience from this morning at 
> Deer Creek.
>
> Were I to follow the magician's lead, I had an unprecedented collection of 
> vireos in one spot today near Deer Creek in JeffCo. It's fun anytime you have 
> singing vireos in the fall, as some species do, making it easier to detect 
> them,... if not to view them, But to have five different species singing in 
> one tree in September is virtually unprecedented. Sadly, virtual was all it 
> was.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S118667599
>
> There WERE two Plumbeous Vireos singing near to each other, as you can hear 
> on the recording on the checklist. One was much closer to me, and is louder. 
> And there WAS a Cassin's Vireo nearby, but it was silent for Merlin during my 
> encounter. So that is two species. And while Merlin identified my prominent 
> singing PLVI correctly sometimes, but also variously as a Cassin's, a 
> Yellow-throated, a Red-eyed and a Black-whiskered Vireo. Hey, there's one new 
> state bird in there!! All those were its proposed IDs for the one singing 
> PLVI. Let the user beware for all rare bird reports via dear Merlin. This we 
> know. Personally I can relate, as I have a hard time telling the song of the 
> PLVI from that of the CAVI.
>
> At the same location last week Merlin reported a Water Rail. A Water Rail?!
>
> David Suddjian
> Ken Caryl Valley
> Littleton CO
>
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[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 9/14/22

[Meredith McBurney]

A lovely banding day - relatively cool and mostly wind-free.  We caught 60 
new bird of 21 species.  Highlights included a Tennessee Warbler (6 in the 
last 15 years) and two Vesper Sparrows (5 in the last 15 years).  Here's 
the full breakdown:

Downy Woodpecker 1
Western Wood-pewee 2
Dusky Flycatcher 1
House Wren 2
Swainson's Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 5
Tennessee Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Myrtle 1
Townsend's Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 15
Green-tailed Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Clay-colored Sparrow 7
Vesper Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow, 1 banded 2020
Lincoln's Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow, Mountain 1 (FOS)

If you'd like to enjoy fall birds up close and personal, please come 
visit!  You do need a reservation - just click here 
!
 we 
are offering one-hour slots (up to 15 visitors at a time) from 7:30-8:30 
most weekdays (closed Mondays), and 8-9, 9-10, and 10-11 on weekends. 

We look forward to seeing many of you during the season!

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Barr Lake Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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[cobirds] Red-shouldered Hawk Kit Carson

[Ben S]

Hi all, 
I went to Flagler SWA this morning and had an immature Red-shouldered Hawk 
below the dam. I was able to get a decent view and photo before it flew 
off. Given the two (possibly three?) immature Red-shouldered Hawks still at 
Jumbo, the sighting in Yuma county a few days ago, and this sighting, this 
is the fourth sighting in Colorado this month. Although the Kit Carson bird 
and Yuma bird could concievably be the same bird, the birds at Jumbo appear 
to be continuing, so there are likely at least three individuals in 
Colorado right now. It is strange that this species is usually seen once 
every couple of years or so in Colorado, but at least three have been seen 
so far in this month alone.  Also, all of the reported birds have been 
immature. Keep an eye out for Red-shouldered Hawks elsewhere!

Here is my checklist with a photo:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S118748708

Ben Sampson
Boulder, CO 


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[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (14 Sep 2022) 3 Raptors

[reports]

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2022
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  0  0
Turkey Vulture   0  0  0
Osprey   0  0  0
Bald Eagle   0  0  0
Northern Harrier 0  0  0
Sharp-shinned Hawk   0  0  0
Cooper's Hawk0  1  3
Northern Goshawk 0  0  0
Red-shouldered Hawk  0  0  0
Broad-winged Hawk0  0  0
Red-tailed Hawk  3  3 11
Rough-legged Hawk0  0  0
Swainson's Hawk  0  1  4
Ferruginous Hawk 0  0  0
Golden Eagle 0  0  0
American Kestrel 0  0  2
Merlin   0  0  0
Peregrine Falcon 0  0  0
Prairie Falcon   0  0  2
Mississippi Kite 0  0  0
Unknown Accipiter0  0  0
Unknown Buteo0  0  0
Unknown Falcon   0  0  0
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   0  0  0

Total:   3  5 22
--

Observation start time: 07:45:00 
Observation end   time: 11:30:00 
Total observation time: 3.75 hours

Official Counter:Ajit Antony

Observers:

Weather:
Today's wind forecast on earth.nullschool.net indicated there would be SSW
winds and though this does not usually bode for a good flight I decided to
come up anyway in case the West component of this wind could push any birds
migrating over the Front Range toward Dinosaur Ridge. This morning the
forecast on weather.gov which I have used for years suggested instead that
the winds would be from the North changing to NE – quite a difference in
the 2 forecasts – all the more reason for me to come up and check it out.
As I came up the trail the wind was definitely from the South, as it was on
the West side of the top of the ridge, however 15 feet to the East of the
top of the ridge there was a ridge lift from the East at Level 2 changing
the next hour to Level 4 on the Beaufort wind scale, which shifted in the
last hour to SE, with nary a North wind for the time I was at the watch.
There was excellent cloud cover which made easy to find distant birds.
Clear visibility was up to North Table Mountain.

Raptor Observations:
The 1st migrant was an adult RT at 9:42 AM EST seen to the West over the
ridge which initially seem to be circling and moving northward but because
it kept flying higher with every circle I kept watching it and after about
3 minutes it closed its wings and glided South.
Non-migrant raptors: At 10:05 AM I saw 3 dark birds in the valley south of
"2 Trees" with dihedrals which I thought were TV through my binoculars and
1 of them vanished below the ridge. I was able to find the remaining 2
above the ridge with my scope and they soared rock-steady (TV would be
rocking because of their lighter wing loading) and they had tan carpal bars
on the dorsal (upperside) wings (which is seen in all ages of GE except
juvenile), both of them flying north below the western ridge. RT 5, TV 3.

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-billed Magpie 1, American Robin 1, Barn Swallow 1, Common Raven 3,
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 1, Black-capped Chickadee 1, House Finch 3.

Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
http://www.dfobirds.org


More site information at hawkcount.org:  
https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=123

Site Description:
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawk watch in Colorado and is
the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Hawk
watchers may see 17 species of migrating raptors; and it is an excellent
site to see rare dark morph buteos including Broad-winged hawk,
Swainson’s hawk, Ferruginous hawk, Rough-legged hawk and Red-tailed Hawk.
Other raptors we see include Golden and Bald Eagles, Northern harrier,
Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned
Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlin, and Turkey Vultures. Northern Goshawk is
uncommon but also 

[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies- Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station-9/14/22

[Chicobander]

Today was an enjoyable day at the banding station. Nice birds and good 
people to share the birds with. Twenty bird species captured with two new 
species for the year: Northern Waterthrush and Black-and-White Warbler. We 
recaptured the Chestnut-sided Warbler we banded yesterday. It gained 10% of 
its body weight in one day. The Yellow-breasted Chat we recaptured today 
gained 20% from when we banded it a week ago. The Ovenbird also banded a 
week ago also increased its weight. Veery recaptured also gained weight 
from its original banding date a week ago. So... unless we had radio tags 
on those birds we do not know if they ventured south or north or where they 
had been between today and the last banding date. Capturing them does help 
us determine if they are using this patch of olives and that they have 
increased weight since the last time we captured them. So many questions 
that can be answered with the utilization of different research tools with 
banding, radio transmitters, or observations.

*48 New Birds*
Wilson's Warbler -22
Orange-crowned Warbler -4
Northern Waterthrush -1
Black-and-white Warbler -1
Hammond's Flycatcher -2
Western Wood-Pewee -1
Brewer's Sparrow -3
Clay-colored Sparrow -1
House Wren -1
Cassin's Vireo -3
Yellow-breasted Chat -1
Western Tanager -2
Blue Grosbeak -1
Gray Catbird -2
Brown Thrasher -3

*9 Recaptures*
Wilson's Warbler -2
Yellow-breasted Chat -1
Gray Catbird-1
Ovenbird-1
Chestnut-sided Warbler -1
MacGillivray's Warbler -1
Veery -1
Green -tailed Towhee -1

Banding station is operating weather permitting mornings Monday - Saturday. 
Good opportunities to compare bird species and see field marks on the birds 
up-close.

Julie Shieldcastle, Bander
Chico Basin Ranch
Bird Conservation of the Rockies

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[cobirds] August 2022 Birds, Woodland Park Yard Area and Beyond

[joe...@betterbirdwatching.com]

August 2022 Birds, Woodland Park Yard Area and Beyond

 

Bald Eagle-

Hike to Wilcox and Argentine Peaks on 8-29, 1 adult at Naylor Lake area

 

Swainson’s Hawk-

Near Antero Junction on 8-2

 

Red-tailed Hawk-

Hike to Wilcox and Argentine Peaks on 8-29, imm. hunting above ridges at 
over 13,000

 

Osprey-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, 2, FOS

 

Dusky Grouse-

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, in well-named Grouse 
Canyon, 2 adult F, one with 4 juvs.

 

White-tailed Ptarmigan-

Hike to James Peak on 8-17, feather at about 12,750

 

Spotted Sandpiper-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15, pair

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, pair

South Catamount Lake on 8-31

 

Mourning Dove- 8-7 sing

Princeton Hot Springs area on 6-2

 

White-throated Swift-

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2

 

Broad-tailed Hummingbird- a few around most of the time

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, a pinyon pine in early 
morning sun had a bunch of gnats that attracted mixed flock of Bushtits, 
House Wrens, Mountain Chickadees and a Broad-tailed zoomed in to grab a 
gnat, and then started divebombing the Bushtits.

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23, flying over Van Wit Ridge 
near Chalk Creek Pass at about 12,000

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24

Crystal Res. on 8-27

South Catamount Lake on 8-31

 

Callliope Hummingbird- a few around most of the time

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, 8-25

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10

Crystal Res. on 8-11

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15, male dive bombing male 
Broad-tailed

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, stopped to watch one at a small pool with a trickle 
of water. It would land on a shallow rock to bathe, and was lucky to see it 
fly across the pool surface with its body submerged, like an tiny airboat.

Crystal Res. on 8-27

 

Rufous Hummingbird- 8-4, 8-3, 8-1

 

Downy Woodpecker- juv. on 8-8, 8-3, 8-1

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, at around 10,000

Pikes Peak Highway on 8-19, at about 7500 feet

 

Red-naped Sapsucker-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, juv.

Dome Rock SWA on 8-15

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, family flock of 3

 

Williamson’s Sapsucker- M juv. on 8-16

 

Northern Three-toed Woodpecker-

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23

 

Northern Flicker- 4 on 8-25

 

Western Wood-Pewee- sing on 8-24

Singing at Princeton Hot Springs area on 8-2

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, sing, many

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15, sing

Evergreen Lake on 8-17, sing

Princeton Hot Springs area on 8-23

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, sing

 

Cordilleran Flycatcher- 8-1 sing

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, sing

 

Dusky Flycatcher-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, sing

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, 2, call

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24

 

Western Kingbird

Report from Woodland Park area on 8-19 and 8-23

 

Violet-green Swallow-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10

 

Tree Swallow-

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24

 

Warbling Vireo- 8-7 call, 8-17 call, 8-3 sing, 8-30 call

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, sing, near treeline at 
about 11,500

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, call, juvs.

Crystal Res. on 8-13

 

Canada Jay-

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23, at treeline, 11,500

South Catamount Lake on 8-31

 

Clark’s Nutcracker- a few on 8-30

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2

Hike to Mount Flora and Eva on 8-9, around some cliffs above treeline at 
about 12,000, about a half mile from any trees

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15

Dome Rock SWA on 8-15

Crystal Res., a few on 8-20

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23, a few

 

Common Raven-

Hike to James Peak on 8-17, flock of about 30 above treeline, also on 
sitting on summit cairn

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 8-21 at water

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, call

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23, call

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, call, sing

Hike to Wilcox and Argentine Peaks on 8-29, sing, call

 

Gray Catbird-

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15, call

 

Western Bluebird- juv. on 8-17, juv. on 8-21, 4 juvs. at bath on 8-30

 

Mountain Bluebird-

Hike to James Peak on 8-17, flock of about 20 above treeline

 

Hermit Thrush- juv. on 8-30

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10, juvs.

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, call

 

Swainson’s Thrush-

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, juvs., tame

 

Townsend’s Solitaire-

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, calling, territorial, 
nesting, fledglings?

 

American Robin- 4 on 8-16, 8 on 8-30, juvs.

Hike to Van Wit and Monumental Peaks on 8-23

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24

South Catamount Lake on 8-31

 

American Dipper-

South Platte River near Lake George on 8-15

 

House Wren- 8-21 (FOS), 8-25

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2

Rainbow Gulch on 8-10

Rainbow Gulch on 8-24, brief sing

 

Rock Wren-

Hike to Point 13,626 near Mount Princeton on 8-2, at about 12,5