from:"Peter Ruprecht"

[cobirds] Yard list

2024-03-16 Thread Peter Ruprecht

CObirders,

Thanks for this fascinating discussion.

I'd like to mention my yard list, not the birds on it so much, but the
physical list itself. For 18 years I kept it on paper in the kitchen where
I could easily consult it (and reminisce about past sightings when there
weren't any birds around.) Our house burned in the Marshall Fire and sadly
I did not grab the list when rushing to escape. That was a real
disappointment.

Imagine my delight when I was rummaging through old files in my google
drive and found that I had made a copy of the list a few months prior to
the fire, and then forgotten about it. We just moved back home and I wonder
how long it'll take to add a new species to the list given that there are
few trees and bushes left nearby. That next entry will be so satisfying!

In case you are wondering, we had seen 130 species from our small suburban
yard that backs to a large open space. (I count birds I see from the yard,
even if they're in the OS.) Over 18 years, we had 18 raptor species; having
a pdog colony right over the back fence helps with that. Other fun finds
were Field Sparrow, Bewick's Wren, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and flocks of
migrating Sandhill Cranes every October.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] AOU, Changing bird names

2023-11-03 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Megan's suggestion for a wonderfully lyrical new name for our "dryland
phoebe" delights me. A descriptive name is an improvement over an eponym,
but a descriptive name that poetically celebrates the essence of the bird
is even better. "Thick-billed" certainly beats "McCown's", but does it
really do justice to a bird whose buoyant song-flight over an open prairie
at dawn is a true wonder of nature? Perhaps we can follow the example of
the odonates community who standardized the common names for dragonflies
with creative and mellifluous ones like "boghaunter" and "sundragon".

If we think about naming a species for its habitat, let's keep in mind that
its breeding habitat or the area that we most associate with it might not
be where it lives for most of the year. In Colorado, Lincoln's Sparrow
could accurately be called Willow Sparrow, but that might be confusing to
people who see it in its nonbreeding range (where it spends the majority of
its time). Similarly with Baird's -> Tundra Sandpiper.

We may also want to consider the current preferred names for parts of a
bird, particularly the upper front of the torso. These days, something like
"Crescent-chested" sounds better to a lot of people than "Buff-breasted".

Finally, while we're at it, could we please consider reverting Northern
Harrier to Marsh Hawk? :)

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:04 PM Megan Miller 
wrote:

> I am a freshly minted 31 year old and I have been part of Colorados
> birding community for around 20 years. I grew up here, found my passion for
> birds and wildlife here, and built a career out of it. It was very
> difficult and now that I am here the path forward doesn’t feel any easier.
> We still have great challenges to overcome to create a better planet for
> birds and people.
>
>  A few years ago when discussion about changing bird names moved through
> twitter and instagram I was also initially hesitant. I love Wilson’s
> Warblers with all of my heart. But the more I learned about some (but not
> all) of the men that described these species the more it seemed that they
> were murderers first and avian hobbyists on the side. I think there are
> plenty of platforms to remember the people who described and categorized
> all these birds and it’s time to move on to new naming conventions.
>
> I know for a lot of younger birders this feels important because we feel
> we have so little power the change our world for the better. It feels like
> a tiny step to building a community fitting to our and future generations.
> I do think it’s inevitable and it is only a small change considering the
> changes that could face us in the coming years.
>
> I think Says Phoebe should be called Sunrise Phoebe.
>
> Megan Miller
> Pueblo, Co
>
>
>

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Re: [cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 9/27/23

2023-09-27 Thread Peter Ruprecht

This post reminds me of a funny story from long ago. I was working with a
bird bander and also a guy who was a real jokester. Somehow we all got
invited to a fancy dinner where the dessert was flamingo-shaped
profiteroles. The jokester smuggled out a profiterole and tangled it in one
of the banding nets, where it waited all night to be found by the
astonished bander at dawn. And thus that is probably (hopefully!) the only
case of a "flamingo" ever being caught in a mist net.

Maybe you had to be there... :)

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 4:59 PM meredith  wrote:

> No new news - sunny day, continued warmer than normal, catching very few
> birds.  (I think I'll go look for the Flamingo!)  Here's the breakdown on
> our 9 new birds (and again zero recaps):
>
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
> Gray Catbird 1
> Orange-crowned Warbler 2
> Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 1
> Wilson's Warbler 1
> Song Sparrow 2
>
> f you would like to visit our station, we have one-hour slots (up to 15
> visitors at a time) from 7:30-8:30 most weekday mornings (Tues-Fri, we are
> closed on Mon) and 8, 9, and 10 a.m. one-hour time slots on the weekends.
> As long as the heat continues, you are more likely to see birds if you come
> earlier in the morning.  Click here
> <https://campscui.active.com/orgs/BirdConservancyoftheRockies#/selectSessions/3294337>
>  to
> make a reservation.
>
> Meredith McBurney
> Bander, Barr Lake Station
> Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
>
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Re: [cobirds] Posting

2023-05-29 Thread Peter Ruprecht

 Paula, and anyone,

If you don't want your observations to end up on any of the eBird rare bird
alerts (which greatly increases their visibility) you can go to
https://ebird.org/prefs and check the appropriate box.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 9:46 AM Paula Hansley  wrote:

> I’ve posted my last bird sighting/hearing on CObirds.
>
> The world, unfortunately, has changed.
>
> Too many people now are just interested in getting the best picture of a
> bird without regard for the bird’s well being.
>
> Paula Hansley
> Louisville
>
> P.S.  I will also hide my ebird lists.
>
>
> --
> Paula Hansley
> Petrographic Consultants International, Inc.
> Ph:  720-890-2628
>
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>

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[cobirds] Bands on Cassia Crossbills

2022-07-26 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Cobirders,

It's my understanding that quite a lot of Cassia Crossbills have been
banded in Idaho over the years.  The ratio of the fraction of banded Cassia
to banded Red must be enormous.  If you see crossbills in CO, please take a
special look out for leg bands, as it's possible that that could help
determine whether the CO Cassias have dispersed from southern ID.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] Dark morph Swainson's(?) Hawk, Park County

2022-07-11 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Paula, I think Swainson's is the only dark morph buteo that is normally in
Colorado and that has such light undertail coverts.  So that also supports
your initial ID.  Quite a good-looking bird!  (BTW, dark morph Swainson's
are fairly common where I grew up in Idaho.)

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Mon, Jul 11, 2022 at 10:28 AM Paula Hansley 
wrote:

> CObirders,
>
> This dark hawk was in view just south of Como when Elena and I were
> watching the Ferruginous Hawk.  The white lores suggest that this is an
> adult dark morph Swainson's Hawk, a rare color morph.  Unfortunately, we
> did not get good views of the bird in flight as it flew away from us.
>
> Any ideas are welcome!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paula Hansley
>
>
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>

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[cobirds] Raven spectacle - Boulder Co

2022-06-16 Thread Peter Ruprecht

COBirders,

Over the last month or so, there have been regular congregations of Common
Ravens around Green Mountain just west of Boulder.  Earlier this week I was
astounded to watch as many as 120 flying together at once north and east of
the summit.  They clustered in groups of between four and 40, occasionally
swirling together into one big kettle as they moved back and forth above
the Flatirons.

We all know that ravens are aerobatic, often doing half rolls and
hammerheads.  But some of these birds were taking things up a notch, doing
a tumbling "backflip with full twist", flying upside down for several
seconds, and even spinning down hundreds of feet while talon grasping.  And
then there were the games of tag with sticks and fir cones.  I was in awe!

With all those birds around at once, the surround-sound vocalizations were
also pretty dramatic.  It was a treat to hear so many of the clear, ringing
calls that seem to be part of the ravens' Boulder dialect.

Over the last few years I have tried to be better about not just spotting
and IDing birds but also trying to really experience them.  This group made
me forget about everything else in the world while I was watching them.
You can't see and hear a spectacle like that and doubt that ravens have
souls, and very playful ones at that.

Anyway, if you want to try to see this yourself, you could observe from
below at Woods Quarry or get right in the mix from atop Green Mt.  I tend
to see the most activity around mid-morning to early afternoon.  Usually
there are at most a few dozen flying together, which is still neat to see.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] DFO field trip to South Boulder Creek

2022-05-07 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Hi everyone,

Kind of last-minute, but I'll be leading a DFO field trip (open to anyone)
along the South Boulder Creek trail (Boulder County) on Weds, 5/11.

The South Boulder Creek trail starts in plains riparian woodland with small
ponds, traverses sections of tallgrass and shortgrass prairie, and ascends
gently into foothills scrub and ponderosa habitat. We will walk about four
miles total, returning via the Big Bluestem trail. Elevation gain is
moderate, but some sections of the trail can be rocky or gravelly. This
area is great for sparrows, raptors, and various migrants. Restrooms are
available at the trailhead.

Register at https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=13940

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] eBird Images

2022-03-06 Thread Peter Ruprecht

John,

You can often find great photos on flickr.com that have Creative Commons
licensing.  This can be a lot easier than trying to figure out how to
contact an individual eBird user for permission to use their picture (since
by default on eBird, the photographer retains all copyrights to the photo:
https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000960529-ebird-media-upload-faq#anchorotheruse
).

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Sun, Mar 6, 2022 at 5:55 PM mvjo...@gmail.com 
wrote:

> I am preparing an article regarding birds, and though my own bird photo
> library is pretty extensive, I was hoping to also use images in the eBird
> website. Who should I contact to get permissions? Thanks.
>
> John Rawinski
> Monte Vista, CO
>
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[cobirds] better-than-average raptoring - Boulder County

2022-02-13 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Hi Cobirders,

OK, so the subject line is a bit understated.  Along with the other
participants in this morning's DFO field trip around Lagerman Res, I had my
best overall raptor day ever.  Over the 5.4 road miles between Lagerman and
Potato Hill, we found 8 raptor species, including 6 Golden Eagles and 7
Ferruginous Hawks.  At one point near Potato Hill, I had 5 raptor species
in my binocular field of view (plus several ravens.)

These bright winter days with snow on the ground can be great for viewing
flying birds of prey, as the strong underlighting makes the plumage details
really pop.

One of the great things about seeing so many individual raptors in a short
period of time is the opportunity to compare similar species (eg,
intermediate Harlan's Red-tailed vs darkish female Rough-legged.)  And to
appreciate the plumage variation within species.

Big thanks to everyone who led or participated in the trip, and to the bird
deities for blessing us with great weather and exceptional viewing.

Our eBird Trip Report shows

   - 6 Golden Eagles
   - 9 Bald Eagles
   - 1 Northern Harrier
   - 7 Red-tailed Hawks, including one Harlan's
   - 1 Rough-legged Hawk
   - 7 Ferruginous Hawks
   - 1 American Kestrel
   - 1 Prairie Falcon

and there were another 2-3 redtails and 3-4 kestrels along 75th St heading
back to Lagerman.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] geese at Stearns Lake, Boulder County

2021-11-19 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Hi all,

This morning's Boulder Audubon field trip group at the Carolyn Holmberg
Preserve in Boulder County was treated to several thousand white-cheeked
geese on Stearns Lake.  Among them was one of those "Cackling-body,
Snow-head-and-neck" hybrids.  And, as an interesting comparison, an
apparently non-hybrid dark-morph Snow Goose.  (Photo at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S97785549 ; let me know if you think the ID is
wrong.  In real life, the bird seemed darker and grayer than in the pic.)

Lots of raptors there as usual, including my FOS Rough-legged Hawk.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] late-nesting goldfinches - Boulder Co

2021-10-24 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Cobirders,

I was part of a small birding party in SE Boulder Co this morning and we
were somewhat surprised to see recently fledged Lesser Goldfinches still
being fed by their parents.  It struck us as unusually late in the season.

I'll note that both species of goldfinches seemed late to start nesting in
this area.  I personally did not see any nesting behavior until after July
15.  Granted, goldfinches are not the earliest species to start breeding
... but to me this seems like one more little example of how songbirds'
status is a bit "off" this year.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] Red-shouldered Hawk - Loma - not my sighting

2021-09-11 Thread Peter Ruprecht

A Red-shouldered Hawk was reported on iNaturalist with good photos at
Highline St Park near Loma on 9/9.  I haven't seen it reported elsewhere
and it's a pretty significant rarity so I thought it'd be good to mention
here.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94389425

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] Mallard stealing crawfish from Grebes

2021-08-26 Thread Peter Ruprecht

What a fascinating observation.  Per
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/lifehistory , Mallards eat a
good deal of animal matter, mainly invertebrates, during the summer.  In my
experience, it's rare to see them eat any critter that's bigger than a
half-inch or so.  However, a couple years ago I watched in amazement as a
drake used its bill to dispatch a medium-sized bullfrog and then struggled
for several minutes to swallow it.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Thu, Aug 26, 2021 at 1:11 PM rjpa...@gmail.com 
wrote:

> In the shallow bay at the end of the Boulder West trailhead yesterday, our
> Boulder Bird Club group observed something very strange.  A mother
> Pied-billed Grebe was actively hunting and feeding what looked like small
> crayfish to her three young (they still had head stripes).  They were being
> followed by a lone Mallard, which would aggressively pursue a young grebe
> after it had been given the crawfish by its mother until it was able to
> snatch the crawfish from the young grebe's mouth.  The grebes would dive
> and thus lose the Mallard for a moment, but as soon as it popped up, the
> Mallard was after it again.  This happened three times within 15 minutes.
> I thought Mallards were vegetarians!
>
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Re: [cobirds] Bluebird dearth

2021-04-07 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Bluebird migration, as visible from my home on the west side of Superior,
was a little different than usual this year.  Normally I'll see small
flocks of Mountain Bluebirds passing by intermittently over a period of
several weeks.  This year, I only saw them for three days (around March
23-26) but there were at least a hundred each day, sometimes in flocks of
40-50.

There have been some good-sized flocks (30+) in other areas of S. Boulder
County since then, but not near my house.  Overall, I'd say the total
number I've seen this year is higher than usual.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Wed, Apr 7, 2021 at 5:50 PM 'Hugh Kingery' via Colorado Birds <
cobirds@googlegroups.com> wrote:

> We have not seen many bluebirds this spring, so I compared this year with
> the three prior years' data. This year we have seen only one or two of
> either species only once in a while. The last 3 years we saw them almost
> daily starting in mid-March.
>
> This drop seems striking, at least along our road and on the trail we walk
> regularly. Have others noticed this pattern?
>
> Hugh & Urling Kingery
>
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Re: [cobirds] Re: Aggressive Owl in Superior

2021-02-03 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Just a bit more background on this situation in case anyone is interested.
I live pretty close to where the incidents happened.

At least three groups of people have had a GHO swoop down at them after
sunset in residential neighborhoods.  In at least two cases, the owl hit a
child in the head hard enough to cause deep scratches or punctures.  As I
understand it, all of the groups of people were aware of the owl's presence
prior to it swooping, and my impression is that in some cases they were
observing it from 100 feet or less.

These incidents happened over about a 10 day period.  Two were in the same
neighborhood but one was over 500m away.  Not sure if it's the same owl in
all cases.

Thanks for everyone's feedback both here and on the CFO FB page.  I think a
common theme is that it is important to educate residents about the need to
respect raptors' space, especially when the birds are in territorial mode.
Just like we (or at least some of us!) have learned to respect the coyotes
that share our suburban areas.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Wed, Feb 3, 2021 at 4:28 PM Scott  wrote:

> It is unlikely that  any Great Horned Owl would defend its nest before the
> eggs have hatched.
>
> The owls incubation is 35 days, at least.  This means that the owl would
> have had to lay its eggs in late December. This has only been documented a
> handful of times in Colorado.
>
> I find it hard to believe that the bird was defending anything. It is
> better to believe that the entire thing was a misunderstanding.
>
> When near a Great Horned Owl, the birds will fly away from the intruder.
> Sometimes they will appear to be flying at the intruder. They are a heavy
> bird.  Due to their weight, when they take off they drop a few feet before
> flapping hard enough to gain elevation.  My guess is that the bird was
> simply flying away from someone and they took it wrong.
>
> A Great Horned Owl can capture a mouse while it is running. If they wanted
> to hit someone they would. They wouldn't miss.
>
> Just my thoughts
> Scott Rashid
> Estes Park
>
>
> On 2/3/2021 12:22 PM, mvjo...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Agree. Seems better to let it be. Maybe warn hikers of that situation.
>  John Rawinski Monte Vista, CO
>
> On Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 12:52:49 PM UTC-7 teheinr...@gmail.com
> wrote:
>
>> This article in Boulder’s Daily Camera about an owl (Great Horned, I
>> presume) caught my attention:
>>
>>
>> https://www.dailycamera.com/2021/02/02/who-me-superior-warns-residents-about-aggressive-owl/
>>
>> Seems if the aggression is due to protecting a nest, it would be better
>> not to attempt to relocate the owl.
>>
>> Thomas Heinrich
>> Boulder, CO
>> nyc...@aol.com
>>
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Re: [cobirds] hybrid geese

2020-12-07 Thread Peter Ruprecht

 birdhybrids.blogspot.com has some fairly extensive discussion of waterfowl
hybrids, with contributions from a number of Colorado birders.  See, for
example,
http://birdhybrids.blogspot.com/2014/02/rosss-goose-x-cackling-goose.html
or http://birdhybrids.blogspot.com/2014/02/snow-goose-x-cackling-goose.html
.  The identifications in these examples are based on observed
morphological details, not DNA.

Along these lines, in our area a dark-bodied goose with a whitish head/neck
is much more likely to be a hybrid than a dark morph Snow or Ross's.  I
have appreciated the kind guidance of eBird reviewers and other experts in
reminding me about this!

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Mon, Dec 7, 2020 at 11:17 AM Derek Hill  wrote:

>
> There is, as to be expected, an influx of goose reports for our state. Via
> ebird, there are incoming reports of the gamut: cacklingXross's,
> cacklingXsnow, canadaXsnow, canadaXross's, snowXross's.
>
> How are these hybrids being specifically identified? Can anyone share some
> data or research of hybrids of known parental provenance that would aid or
> even remotely make possible these identifications?
>
> Good birding,
> Derek Hill
> Loveland, CO
>
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Re: [cobirds] Pine squirrels, Douglas County

2020-12-06 Thread Peter Ruprecht

A pine squirrel was visiting birdfeeders here in Superior (elev 5400) a
month or two ago.  That was really unusual.  Not sure if it's still
around.  The person who saw it concluded that there may have been a
population boom in the foothills last year due to the huge cone crops,
while the dearth of cones this year could be pushing the squirrels to
unusual locations to find food.  Kind of like how Red Crossbills were a
dime-a-dozen last year but really scarce now.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 2:00 PM John Ealy  wrote:

> Pardon this peripheral bird topic, but I was wondering if any other
> birders along the front range have noticed pine squirrels encroaching on
> lower elevations.
>
> I am  at about 6,000 feet in Douglas County, and we have had one or two
> present in our backyard for more than a month. I mention this only because
> we have had two of them in our backyard, as well as more Steller's, blue,
> and Woodhouse scrub jays at the same time than we've ever recorded. We
> haven't seen the pine squirrels in the 11 years we've lived here -- an
> occasional ground squirrel (Wyoming ground squirrels, I believe). I'm also
> seeing the pine squirrels throughout our neighborhood.
>
> They are very territorial, and while they don't bother the birds, they do
> chase off the fox squirrels -- even each other -- which is fine by me!
>
>
> Here's a link to a photo from the Colorado Virtual Library of a pine
> squirrel in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ours look identical.
>
> https://www.coloradovirtuallibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/640px-Pine_Squirrel_7368947296-600x450.jpg
>
> John Ealy
> Roxborough Park, Douglas County, CO
>
>
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Re: [cobirds] Re: Varied Thrush in Weld County

2020-12-01 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Jenny,

All rare bird submissions to eBird are automatically marked as unconfirmed
by the software.  After a reviewer has a chance to look at your
documentation, he or she can then upgrade it to confirmed status if
warranted.  Depending on the workload of the reviewers, who are all
volunteers, this process could very well take a couple of days.  It's not
necessarily a reflection of the quality of your report.

Even unconfirmed submissions should show up immediately in eBird's rare
bird reports, though.

Regards,
Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Tue, Dec 1, 2020 at 8:20 AM Jenny Shelton 
wrote:

> Regarding my photos-- For some reason they have been marked as unconfirmed
> by the ebird reviewer. I'm confused as to why. I'm quite certain of the ID
> and it was already seen at this location by someone else. I think this
> means that my submission doesn't get published publicly as well. Any ideas
> why this might have happened?
> Thanks,
> Jenny
>
>
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[cobirds] Western vs Clark's Grebe

2020-11-30 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Hi COBirds,

I'm looking for some help with separating Western and Clark's Grebes in
winter.  Certainly Western is our more expected species at this time of
year, but now and then I see an Aechmophorus that seems a bit Clarkish.

I know that the pattern of black and white on the face is not definitive
for ID in winter.  Are there other clues that are better to look for, like
bill color?

For example, here's one I saw recently that had a yellower bill than the
other similar birds nearby.  But is it yellow/orange enough?
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/277143231

Also see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65853723 for another
confusing example.

Is the width of the black stripe on the back of the neck a better feature?
Or the flank color?  Should I swim out and try to get a DNA sample?

Any advice gratefully accepted!

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] Public Land Closures

2020-10-21 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Several Boulder County Parks and Open Space properties are also closed:
https://www.bouldercounty.org/open-space/parks-and-trails/trail-closures/

Similarly with several Boulder OSMP areas:
https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/temporary-closures

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 2:00 PM Mike Hensley  wrote:

> I'm seeing reports of large scale public land closures. All national
> forest and BLM land is closed to public access here in Boulder County due
> to fire conditions. Are others seeing the same?
>
> Cheers,
> Mike Hensley
> Boulder County
>
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[cobirds] Ring-bill Airlines - Boulder

2020-10-16 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Hi Cobirds,

I stopped by Baseline Reservoir in Boulder this morning to see if any
scoters or loons had blown in. There were some biggish rafts of waterbirds
way offshore and hard to see clearly. Lots of Aechmophorus grebes (50-75,
all of them that I could see well enough were Western), lots of Ruddy Ducks
(50-75), several smaller grebes (probably both Eared and Horned), and
various DC Cormorants, Common Mergansers, Canvasbacks, and Coots.

The real entertainment was the Ring-billed Gulls near the inflow along
Cherryvale. Some were diving headfirst like terns from a few feet up in
the air, and fairly frequently coming up with crawdads. One gull took off,
pursued by a few others, and appeared to be holding something in its feet.
This seemed odd to me since those webbed feet aren't really made for
grabbing. Once I got the binocs on it, I saw that it was in fact a crawdad
doing the grabbing; it had latched onto the gull's belly with one pincher
and was getting the ride of its life. After about a minute, the gull
landed back on the shoreline and managed to disengage the crawdad, which
flipped back into the water and disappeared.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] Rock Wrens (?) at Rocky Mtn. Arsenal

2020-10-04 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Hi Van,
Your mystery bird actually sounds just exactly like a Rock Wren to me. The
bobbing behavior is very distinctive for them.
And they're on the move now; I had two in my backyard yesterday and one this
morning. (It's pretty common to have them here during migration; they seem to
like our brick patio.)
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, 7:24:12 AM MDT, J V Rudd
wrote:

Hi all,Had a great day at RMA with a Lesser Yellowlegs & a Sage Thrasher being
added to my 2020 list. https://ebird.org/checklist/S74362841However, there was
a 3rd bird which stumped me. I initially thought it was a Rock Wren given the
long bill (too long for a Vireo), drab cream-colored breast (no stripes like a
Sage Thrasher), size (slightly larger than the other Rock Wrens we saw), and
eye stripe (very bold). However, it wasn't anywhere near a rock.
We saw it twice, once on top of an outhouse building, and then on some logs. It
was foraging for insects and not making a sound. One interesting behavior I had
not seen before in Rock Wrens: it was bobbing up and down. Not rocking, not
tail flicking, it looked like it was doing deep knee bends! I have never seen
this.
Later on we saw two other Rock Wrens (on rocks this time) and the eye stripe
was less distinct and there was no bobbing. they also looked smaller than the
bird we saw.
One last identifying feature: the bird had black and white bands on the
underside of its tail.Any help would be greatly appreciated.Good birding,Van
RuddLouisville, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty

2020-09-16 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 Buteos are never boring!  Even our most common one, the Red-tailed, has 
variation both subtle and dramatic for a lifetime of interest and wonder.  I 
have appreciated hearing everyone's perspectives on Dave's bird.
I wanted to note that a few weeks ago Chris Petrizzo and I saw a similar 
immature redtail in the Endovalley in RMNP.  Ours had an almost completely 
bright white head.  https://ebird.org/checklist/S73061878 .  If it was a 
Krider's (hard to say for sure because we only got very brief distant looks at 
its dorsal side) then I think it would be unusual to see up in the mts like 
that.  Interestingly, now we have Dave's very light redtail up off of the 
plains as well.
One thing to keep in mind with the "three white lights" field marks of the 
Ferruginous Hawk is that immature redtails can often show a similar pattern.  
They regularly show a white base of the tail, and they have light windows or 
panels on the outer third of the wing.  I admit to having been fooled by this 
(cough cough) more than once!
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 7:55:19 PM MDT, Dave Hyde 
 wrote:  
 
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I accept the pale Red-tail, possible 
Krider’s hawk (even though looking at the photo I thought there’s no way this 
can be a Red-tail: white head, white rump, barred tail!). But there is more to 
the story of this pale red-tail. I was looking out the kitchen window and the 
bird flew up from below the window,  which is when I saw its tail. I got to 
thinking, what would any large hawk be doing on the ground outside my window? 
So I went and looked on the ground there for any signs of avian mayhem. And I 
found … a complete wing of a Yellow-rumped warbler! There were no excess 
feathers or body anywhere although I later found the other wing, also intact. 
Whatever had got this warbler – and it may not have been this hawk as the wing 
feathers were only slightly supple as if the bird had died yesterday or early 
in the morning – had clipped off its wings and carried off the body! In fact, I 
had the impression that the pale hawk had something in its grasp as it landed 
atop the tree because it looked down at its feet when it alit. I dunno, this 
was certainly a strange hawk encounter. Here’s a photo of one of the warbler 
wings, and thank you all again for your advice – Dave

  
 


  
 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10

  
 

 
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com  on behalf of Joe 
Kipper 
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 7:24:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds 
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty 
 
 
 
Yes, this is a definite juvenile Red-tailed. When I see birds like this in the 
field I don't really take note of the field marks like a should I just say 
"this is a Red-tailed because of the GISS," but this is a good opportunity to 
note the field marks since Osprey and Ferruginous Hawk were suggested. This 
bird is paler individual so it doesn't have the "helmeted" appearance that most 
adults and some very dark juveniles have. The "three points of white" field 
mark is a field mark that is useful when looking at the dorsal side of soaring 
buteos. Because this bird is perched, you can't even see the "wrists" mentioned 
by Caleb that would be white on a Ferrug. White speckling on the scapulars is 
another field mark of RTHA. Adult Ferrug would have orangish back with 
steel-blue primaries and juvenile Ferrug would have a uniform brown back. 
Unfeathered legs are also a huge field mark, thank you Todd D.
 
Good Birding everyone! In a few months we will have plenty of opportunities to 
study the many buteos that winter here and their endless myriad of unique color 
morphs and plumages.
 
Joe Kipper,
 
Fort Collins
 
  
 
On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:55:15 PM UTC-6 goldene...@gmail.com wrote:
 

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, check out light western juv. in Sibley. Bands on tail 
from Dave's description. Also, no feathered legs that Ferrug would show.
 
  
 
On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
 

HI CObirders,,

    At 1.25pm today as I looked out my kitchen window I saw a large 
hawk fly upwards and over the house. All I saw was a spread tail with many fine 
bands. I grabbed my binoculars and camera and went to the front of the house to 
see the hawk land atop a pine tree. I spotted it and thought, ‘that looks like 
an Osprey! Better take a picture.’ So I did and got 3 photos before the bird 
flew away. As it went it looked like it had a white rump. This is the best 
photo I got. Can anyone please tell me what hawk this is? – Dave Hyde/nr Storm 
Moutain, Larimer Cty.

 



 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 



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[cobirds] Pectoral Sandpipers - Boulder Co

2020-09-12 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Cobirds,
I stopped by Little Gaynor Lake this morning, where there are now buggy and 
sloppy (and smelly) mud flats.  Due to heat waves visibility was not optimal, 
but it was fairly easy to see a loose group of 15 or so Calidris sandpipers.  I 
think most were Least, but there were 4 similar-plumaged ones towering over 
them, which I'm pretty sure were Pectoral.  eBird flagged them so I thought I'd 
let you all know in case someone wants to try to confirm.  Also, plenty of 
killdeer.  Plus about 20 teal and shovelers in the shallow water and assorted 
larger dabblers out in deeper water.
Anyway, all that mud has got to be attractive to other migrating shorebirds so 
Little Gaynor may be worth a look during the next couple of weeks.
Peter RuprechtSuperior, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Lake County Bird ID

2020-08-24 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

I think the second bird is a Spizella sparrow, like Chipping or Brewer's.
Note the unmarked breast and belly, and the dark line through the eye.
Spizellas have fairly long tails with distinct notches. I think the notch is
just exaggerated in this case by the way the bird is holding its tail.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Sunday, August 23, 2020, 9:47:00 PM MDT, julieama...@gmail.com
wrote:

Good evening!
Yesterday morning I hiked around Turquoise Lake, near Leadville, and observed
two birds I'm not positive in identifying.
The first looked like a House Wren, but I wasn't positive since this was around
10,000ft. I know it's possible for them to reside at this elevation, and it
doesn't quite appear to be another wren, so I wanted to soundboard it with you
guys.
The second I managed to catch only a quick glimpse of. I am rusty with high
altitude, forest birds, and while it looked Finch-like, again, wanted to hear
thoughts.
I attached pictures to my drive where they can be viewed (unless I need to
attach these in a different manner).
Wren -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tHQUgl48RbfG7SGhjrD-32KInI5pN4yM/view?usp=sharingWren
-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LQNQIPQ0f97lne7edSycgqPAjPE0zkfD/view?usp=sharingUnk
-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1msLdNymu0mw44Pd4DJoqYcbK5q_9JcoQ/view?usp=sharing

Julie MartinezAurora, CO

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Re: [cobirds] So Long McCown's Longspur, Hello Thick-billed Longspur

2020-08-12 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 Cross-posting from Boulder County Nature-Net:
Without getting further into the discussion of whether it's appropriate to name 
birds (or plants, or mountains, or towns ...) after people, let me add just a 
few (mostly tongue-in-cheek) observations about what happens if bird names 
change.
I wondered which ornithologists would get hosed the worst by bird nomenclature 
changes, ie, whose name disappears from the most species.  William Swainson's 
name is on nearly 10 species or subspecies, though only a few in N.A.  
Alexander Wilson and John Cassin lose out on at least five each.  (As an aside, 
per Wikipedia, Wilson died of "chronic poverty", and Cassin of arsenic 
poisoning due to handling too many preserved skins.  Clearly ornithology was a 
tough gig back in those days.)
I am totally fine with MacGillivray's Warbler changing to something that I can 
spell correctly consistently.
Along the same lines, if we don't change Steller's Jay to Crested Conifer Jay, 
please make it Stellar Jay so that the majority of the Internet will be able to 
spell it right with no further work needed.
If shooting at birds is a major disqualifier for having them named after you, 
presumably gentle ladies such as Lucy, Grace, Anna, and Virginia are OK to keep 
"their" warblers and hummingbirds?
And should we really name birds after jobs, like the "prothonotary", which was 
apparently a Byzantine court recorder?  I personally think the alternate name, 
"Golden Swamp Warbler", rocks.

The odonates community did a great job when assigning official common names to 
dragonflies, handing out descriptive and mellifluous monikers such as 
"sundragons" and "boghaunters".  Fortunately, "long ass butterfly" didn't make 
the cut.  Perhaps bird nomenclaturists can do similarly well.
 -Peter Ruprecht, Superior (who, based on my inability to call Marsh Hawks 
anything more contemporary, will probably keep referring to "Audubon's Warbler" 
for several more decades after it gets renamed ...)




On Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 4:57:47 PM MDT, Richard Trinkner 
 wrote:  
 
 Forgive me if this has already been covered on Cobirds.  I don't recall seeing 
it's discussion.
The AOU decided last Friday to rename the 
bird-fomerly-known-as-McCown's-Longspur to the Thick-billed Longspur.  I 
personally had not realized how controversial the bird's former namesake was.
https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/science/mccowns-longspur-renamed-thick-billed-longspur/

I would imagine we'll be seeing the change in eBird soon.
Richard TrinknerBoulder

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[cobirds] Boulder Bobolink Bonanza

2020-06-26 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Hi Cobirds,
Chris Petrizzo and I birded a few places around Boulder today, with one 
highlight being the Cherryvale Trailhead area.  In the nearby grassy fields, 
especially between there and Hwy 36, we saw at least 14 Bobolinks.  At one 
point I had five in one binocular view.  Chris also saw a couple of 
Dickcissels.  Other fun birds there included singing Savannah Sparrows, singing 
and winnowing Wilson's Snipe, and a flyover Wilson's Phalarope.
Note that if you walk along Cherryvale Rd itself, there are some spots with a 
LOT of poison ivy.

Peter RuprechtSuperior

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Re: [cobirds] Blue-gray Gnatcatchers?

2020-05-30 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 I also expect to find a lot of Gnatcatchers in April and May in my patch along 
Coal Creek in Superior.  But this year, despite being out more than usual, I 
have seen exactly zero.  There were a few in the low foothills along Plainview 
Rd in northern Jefferson County earlier this week so it's not like they've all 
evaporated.  Like Curt, I'm interested to hear from others about whether I'm 
just blind, or this is a local anomaly, or a more widespread phenomenon.
Thanks,Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Saturday, May 30, 2020, 9:31:45 AM MDT, Curt Brown --- Boulder, CO 
 wrote:  
 
 In my local patch (Bear Creek in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks), 
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are each year one of the earlier migrants to set up 
shop.  I have, for example, had multiple pairs by April 19.  And one of the 
great things about this bird is how pugnacious they are;  you can hardly peep 
without one of them popping up to glower at you.
This year, to date, I have seen none along nearly a mile of nice shrubby 
habitat. I hope that others are seeing lots of this bird.  ??



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Re: [cobirds] big age difference in owl nestlings?

2020-05-14 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

To update on this unexpected observation - the apparent smaller nestling has
not been seen for several days now. The larger fledglings seem to be in nearby
trees most of the time and the adults do not seem to be attending the nest any
more.

Thanks to everyone who offered feedback on the situation. Sorry I don't have a
happier ending to report.
-Peter

On Saturday, May 9, 2020, 8:05:37 AM MDT, Scott wrote:

Yes,

I have seen GHO's lay one egg every three days, and I have see them weight up
to and over a week or longer to lay a second or third egg.

It will be interesting to see what the parents do with the owlets when the
oldest owlets begin branching. But GHO's are very good parents for the most
part.

Scott Rashid
Estes Park

On 5/8/2020 3:46 PM, 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds wrote:

Hi Cobirders,
I've been watching a Great Horned Owl nest near my house in Superior. The
nestlings are getting pretty big and starting to move out of the nest and onto
nearby branches. However, a couple nights ago I thought I saw a small fluffy
white head sticking up among the much bigger other nestlings. And then today
someone sent me a photo which I think pretty clearly shows a young GHOW
nestling (totally downy, maybe 2 weeks old at most) in there.
Has anyone ever heard of such an age difference in GHOW nestlings? This is
clearly not just the usual asynchronous hatching. I thought perhaps the small
one could have been brought in as prey from another nest but it seemed to be
sitting up and alive. I didn't see anything like this in a quick google
search.
Thanks, Peter Ruprecht Superior
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[cobirds] big age difference in owl nestlings?

2020-05-08 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Hi Cobirders,
I've been watching a Great Horned Owl nest near my house in Superior.  The 
nestlings are getting pretty big and starting to move out of the nest and onto 
nearby branches.  However, a couple nights ago I thought I saw a small fluffy 
white head sticking up among the much bigger other nestlings.  And then today 
someone sent me a photo which I think pretty clearly shows a young GHOW 
nestling (totally downy, maybe 2 weeks old at most) in there.
Has anyone ever heard of such an age difference in GHOW nestlings?  This is 
clearly not just the usual asynchronous hatching.  I thought perhaps the small 
one could have been brought in as prey from another nest but it seemed to be 
sitting up and alive.  I didn't see anything like this in a quick google search.
Thanks,Peter RuprechtSuperior

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Re: [cobirds] Phoebe Trifecta possible?

2020-04-12 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 If you were really lucky at, say, Pueblo Reservoir, you might be able to see 
six grebe species.  Which would be 20 Hat Tricks in one shot!  (I think that's 
right for "six choose three" but my last math class was a long time ago...)

Three loons or three doves would be reasonable to expect there too.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, 1:04:06 PM MDT, Curt Brown --- Boulder, CO 
 wrote:  
 
 
Seeing an Eastern Phoebe  this morning (Boulder Creek at 75th St.) got me 
thinking about Trifectas or Hat Tricks.  It is getting more likely each year 
thatsomeone could see the Black, Eastern, and Say’s Phoebes all from the 
samespot.  There are several other Hat Trickspossible, at varying levels of 
difficulty. I’m sure many of us have seen three Jay species together.  Swallows 
(several possible combinations).  Nuthatches (red, white, pygmy)?  Bluebirds 
(east, west, mountain)?  Rosy-finches? Wrens (house, rock, canyon)?   
Longspurs???




We live in an area that makes several Trifectas possiblethat would be 
inconceivable in most parts of the country.  I’m sure there are many additional 
with varyingdegrees of complexity.        -Curt Brown


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Re: [cobirds] Great Horned Owl duet last night

2020-04-05 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 I believe that nesting pairs will hoot to each other when they switch 
incubation duties, bring in food, etc.  Usually this hooting is less extensive 
than during courtship and territory establishment.  Do you know if you have a 
nest nearby?

I also occasionally hear hooting at any time of the year, and not necessarily 
in an established territory, so maybe sometimes they're just talking to each 
other ... ?

Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Sunday, April 5, 2020, 6:52:01 AM MDT, David Gulbenkian 
 wrote:  
 
 3:45 - 4:00 AM.  So far past the usual mating time, what might this signify?A 
failed nest, causing the owls to start again?

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[cobirds] Boulder Yellow-bellied Sapsucker still present

2020-01-09 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Today I took a look for the rarities that had been reported along South Boulder 
Creek during the Boulder CBC.  The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was briefly out in 
the open on Old Tale Road a few houses south of Arapahoe.  However, there were 
no blackbirds of any kind, including Rusty, to be seen in the cattle pen along 
Cherryvale near S. Vale Rd. Baseline Res had a few Common Mergansers and Common 
Goldeneyes, and there was a Bald Eagle on the comm tower on Davidson Mesa south 
of Cherryvale.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

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Re: [cobirds] Northern Shrike, Boulder County

2019-12-29 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

What a thrilling thing to see!
I know this is totally anecdotal, but it's seems like I'm hearing more and more
about shrikes hunting in suburban yards. Maybe in 10 years they'll be here in
town all the time, just like the Cooper's Hawks have converged around the
buffet stations in the suburban forests.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Sunday, December 29, 2019, 4:20:40 PM MST, Paula Hansley
wrote:

Wow! I just walked outside and instantly heard the screams of a small bird in
one of my spruce trees. I walked up to the tree expecting to see one of my
Cooper’s Hawks, but a Northern Shrike burst out of the tree clutching a House
Finch within inches of my face! I could still hear the poor finch screaming 1
1/2 blocks away.

Paula Hansley
Louisville

Sent from my iPhone

Re: [cobirds] Re: red necked grebe . baseline res . boulder

2019-10-25 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 The reservoir itself and much of the land around it is private, but there is 
suitable viewing from Cherryvale Rd on the west side, and from the trail 
heading SW from the nearby Dry Creek trailhead.  

Also out there this morning were about 20 Western Grebes, about 20 Pied-billed 
Grebes, an immature Bald Eagle trying really hard (but unsuccessfully) to catch 
Coots, and Hooded and Common Mergansers.  Chris Petrizzo found a latish 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the trees on the W side of Cherryvale.

Peter

On Friday, October 25, 2019, 12:50:48 PM MDT, Adam Johnson 
 wrote:  
 
 Baseline Reservoir is private, correct?
Thanks,Adam JohnsonFort Collins
On Friday, October 25, 2019 at 10:46:57 AM UTC-6, Peter Ruprecht wrote:
Looking at a red necked grebe at the north side of Baseline res. A scoter and a 
common loon were here earlier but we don't see them right now. 
Peter Ruprecht , with Chris and Karen

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android


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[cobirds] red necked grebe . baseline res . boulder

2019-10-25 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Looking at a red necked grebe at the north side of Baseline res. A scoter and a 
common loon were here earlier but we don't see them right now. 
Peter Ruprecht , with Chris and Karen

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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Re: [cobirds] help converting eBird JSON data to CSV

2019-06-29 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Argh! Why is it always that 10 minutes after you ask for help, you figure out
what the problem was?

Never mind!
Peter

On Saturday, June 29, 2019, 1:46:52 PM MDT, 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado
Birds wrote:

Dear techy birders,
I'm compiling data for a local breeding bird survey for which the observation
data has been recorded in eBird. Using the eBird API, I can easily download
all the data for the relevant checklists in JSON format. However, it would be
easier to work with these checklists if they were in CSV format. The python
scripts I have used in the past to convert JSON to CSV don't seem to handle
some of the downloaded checklist files. I could use an online converter,
several of which work great for this data, but there are about 120 checklists
to deal with and that's a lot of cutting and pasting.
So, has anyone ever done this conversion successfully? Please let me know if
you have any suggestions.
Thanks!Peter RuprechtSuperior

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[cobirds] help converting eBird JSON data to CSV

2019-06-29 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Dear techy birders,
I'm compiling data for a local breeding bird survey for which the observation 
data has been recorded in eBird.  Using the eBird API, I can easily download 
all the data for the relevant checklists in JSON format.  However, it would be 
easier to work with these checklists if they were in CSV format.  The python 
scripts I have used in the past to convert JSON to CSV don't seem to handle 
some of the downloaded checklist files.  I could use an online converter, 
several of which work great for this data, but there are about 120 checklists 
to deal with and that's a lot of cutting and pasting.
So, has anyone ever done this conversion successfully?  Please let me know if 
you have any suggestions.
Thanks!Peter RuprechtSuperior

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[cobirds] red throated loon Adams

2019-03-15 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Viewing a probable red throated loon in winter plumage at 89th Ave pond on s 
Platte river. 
Peter Ruprecht and Chris Petrizzo

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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Re: [cobirds] more than one? Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose

2019-02-04 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

I have a vague recollection of seeing a large but somewhat blurry flock of
pink geese, but that may have been following an exposure to Wild Turkey, Grey
Goose, and Old Crow. Not sure what it would take to induce an entire flock of
Barnacle Geese, or if they'd be countable under those circumstances.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Monday, February 4, 2019, 9:23:12 AM MST, Sandra Laursen
wrote:

Word gets around in the birding world, so I was amused when my parents,
wintering at Port Aransas TX, reported meeting some birders who had recently
spent time in Colorado and talked about seeing "several" Pink-footed Geese and
"hundreds" of Barnacle Geese. As far as I can tell, the discussions on this
list have been talking about repeated sightings of one of each species. So I
am curious if anyone has seen larger numbers of either goose, or if these
sightings got magnified in the re-telling. There are lies, damn lies, and bird
lists

Sandra LaursenBoulder

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Re: [cobirds] Sandhill cranes migrating

2018-10-09 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

 60-80 just flew SW over NW Superior.  3:15pm.  They were pretty low and 
passing in and out of the cloud cover - very loud and dramatic.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 2:55:25 PM GMT-6, Luke Pheneger 
 wrote:  
 
 Just had a flock of about 80 Sandhill Cranes fly overhead in SW Longmont.



Luke Pheneger
Longmont


  

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[cobirds] minor rarities, Boulder Co

2018-10-09 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

During a break in the drizzle today I walked along the Mayhoffer-Singletree and 
Meadowlark trails in Superior.  The east section of the M-S trail up to the 
stone benches had a nice variety of passerines including several that either I 
or eBird thought were unusual: Cassin's Vireo (2), Green-tailed Towhee, Lark 
Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Rock Wren (unusual location.)  There were 
also flyby snipes, a Bald Eagle, and about 60 Mountain Bluebirds.  The mixed 
flock that included the vireos also had quite a few warblers flitting 
maddeningly; I only identified Wilson's and Yellow-rumped for sure but got 
glimpses of some that didn't seem quite like either of those.
Anyway, it seems like the crappy weather is good for seeing small birds even in 
locations that are normally only moderately birdy.  And also, if you stop by 
this location keep an eye out for the big bobcat that's been hanging around.

Peter RuprechtSuperior

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[cobirds] Mayhoffer-Singletree (Boulder) - blackpoll warbler etc

2018-05-12 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

There was a nice variety of resident songbirds and grounded migrants this 
afternoon along the Mayhoffer-Singletree trail in Superior.  
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2317659  The most interesting for me was a male 
blackpoll warbler, but there were also Swainson's thrushes and several flocks 
of spizella sparrows (mainly clay-colored).  I saw several empids that I 
couldn't exactly identify, though one was probably a least, and the 
tail-dipping one was very likely a gray.  Plus the usual chats, Bullock's 
orioles, and towhees.

Peter RuprechtSuperior

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Re: [cobirds] What do y'all make of this woodpecker?

2018-01-23 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

That is a neat looking bird! We had one that looked very similar at our house
in Superior several years ago, including the fully brown crown. Aside from the
lack of saguaros in our neighborhood, I convinced myself that it was not a
Gilded due to the round spots on the "thighs", which in theory would be more
oval on a Gilded. The bird in your pic looks like it has round spots. Ours
didn't obviously have narrow bars on the back and shoulders. Unfortunately I
never saw ours side-by-side with a Northern for size comparison.
Wasn't there also a Gilded-looking flicker in Ft. Collins for a few years?
Maybe they do disperse up this way sometimes. Or maybe Gilded-Northern hybrids
provide a means of gene dispersal.

Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 1:53:18 PM MST, Ted Floyd
wrote:

Hey, folks. Check out this woodpecker, which I photographed yesterday, Mon.,
Jan. 22, at the Lake Park Open Space, Boulder County:

If this photo were from, oh I dunno, Yuma, Arizona, or somewhere, wouldn't we
call this a male Gilded Flicker? It's got the all-brown crown, the extensive
black tail tips, the big black oval on the breast, the pale back, and of course
the telltale red malar and bright yellow in the wing and tail. I well realize
that we're not in Yuma. But, other than the probabilistic argument, can anybody
talk me away from the ledge of calling this a Gilded Flicker?

Sorry, I have no other photos. When I was in the field, I assumed I was looking
at a Red-shafted x Yellow-shafted. I will say that two impressions struck me at
the time: (1) the truly yellow hues to the wings and tail; (2) a sweetness and
wimpiness about the whirrr flushing call.

Also of interest at the Lake Park Open Space was a flock of 10 Steller's Jays.
This is the same place that for several years was the easternmost outpost in
Boulder County for Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay.

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

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[cobirds] Sandhill cranes, Boulder County

2015-10-16 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Several large flocks flew SW over the NW part of Superior at 6:35.  And I hear 
more coming now at 6:42.
Peter RuprechtSuperior

  

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[cobirds] Eastern Towhee - Boulder Co

2014-12-15 Thread 'Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds

Hi cobirders,
I've received a reputable report of a male Eastern Towhee, seen yesterday in 
the Marshall Mesa area by a visiting birder who is well-experienced with the 
species.  He didn't get photos.

The bird's location was described as being just to the north of the Community 
Ditch trail, near a large rock outcrop and in the vicinity of an old fruit 
(apple?) tree.  There was at least one male spotted towhee in the general area 
as well, which provided comparison.
Parking for the Marshall Mesa area is south of Hwy 170 just a little bit east 
of Hwy 93 in far southern Boulder County.  See 
https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/marshall-mesa-trailhead.  It gets a lot of 
bike/runner/dog activity so very early mornings might be most conducive to 
finding active birds along the trails.  (Off-trail access on parts of Marshall 
Mesa requires a Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Habitat Conservation Area 
permit.)
Peter RuprechtSuperior, CO



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[cobirds] large falcon - Boulder CO

2013-02-28 Thread Peter Ruprecht

CObirders,

This morning about 7:20 I got a quick (5s, from about 75-100m with naked eyes) 
look at a very large gray falcon flying near US 36 along the E side of Davidson 
Mesa (Louisville.)  It gave the impression of being very bulky, barrel-chested, 
and broad-winged.  Its flapping motion was stiff, shallow, and seemed 
heavy-winged compared to a prairie or peregrine falcon.  I got no view of the 
underwing or head, unfortunately.

I'm quite familiar with PRFAs and PEFAs and this bird just didn't have the same 
look.  But based on just a quick and fairly unsatisfying view, I am not 
confident about reporting that there's a gyrfalcon in Boulder County.  Still, 
anyone who happens to be in the area might keep an eye out for the possibility.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] Lewis's woodpecker, Boulder Co

2012-09-03 Thread Peter Ruprecht

I hadn't seen a Lewis's woodpecker in the Boulder area for a few years and thus 
was pleased to find one working over a fence post along W. Coal Creek Dr. about 
1/3 mi E of its intersection with 66th St.  (This is in grassland between 
Marshall Lake and Superior.)

Other migrants out this morning included a Townsend's solitaire, 2 sage 
thrashers (the canal along CC Dr. is a surefire spot for these in Aug/Sept), a 
few Brewer's sparrows, and a lone clay-colored sparrow.  Otherwise kind of 
quiet.

Off-topic: I found a few piles of what looked a lot like fresh elk scat - the 
summer patty shape, not pellets.  I have never heard of elk coming that far 
out on the plains from Coal Creek canyon, especially this early in the season.  
Will have to keep an eye out to see if that's really what it was!

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] possible great-crested flycatcher - Boulder

2012-07-02 Thread Peter Ruprecht

I think I heard a great-crested flycatcher calling this morning while biking to 
work at about 8 along Bear Creek behind Williams Village and Bear Creek Apts in 
Boulder.  The wheep calls were coming from high in the thick trees and I did 
not actually see the bird.

This area is about 200m upstream from where Bear Creek crosses Baseline near 
37th St.

This is a species I haven't heard regularly since moving out of the midwest 
many years ago so it's very possible that I'm mistaken - but then I don't 
really know of many (any?) local birds that sound very similar.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] rose-breasted grosbeak, Boulder

2012-05-30 Thread Peter Ruprecht



The breezy conditions made birding a little challenging along Boulder Creek 
over the lunch hour, but a singing male rose-breasted grosbeak made the effort 
worthwhile.  He was about 250m downstream of 30th St right along the creek 
path.  Other birds visible among the thrashing branches included common 
grackles, bullocks orioles, yellow warblers, black-capped chickadees, and a 
possible wood-pewee.

 -Peter Ruprecht
  Superior

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[cobirds] ground effect and flying efficiency

2012-02-21 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Last weekend Ted Floyd reported an astonishing long-distance, ground-skimming 
glide by a prairie falcon over snow-covered open country near Superior.  Those 
of you with an interest in aerodynamics may already know about the ground 
effect that this falcon was likely exploiting.  Those of you who have ever 
watched brown pelicans soaring over calm seas will have seen them glide with 
high efficiency just inches off the water ... it's the same idea.

Flying close to a smooth surface suppresses tip vortices and also allows the 
wing downwash angle to be reduced; both effects significantly reduce drag.  
Depending on the distance from the ground and the details of the wing shape, 
drag may be about half the expected value (in pelicans) and as little as 10% 
(in black skimmers.)  For more details on studies in birds, see 
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/135/1/431.full.pdf .   

Apparently Boeing has designed a transoceanic cargo plan (nicknamed Pelican) 
that relies on the ground effect just as real pelicans do!

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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Re: [cobirds] Sprague's Pipits, Boulder Co

2011-10-01 Thread Peter Ruprecht

For anyone who is planning a trip to the Lake Mesa area, I should have been 
more clear 
that I haven't seen potential pipits along that trail this fall; it was 
last year.  I still think it's a potentially good place to look.

 -Peter




From: Peter Ruprecht prupre...@yahoo.com
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com cobirds@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 9:28 PM
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Sprague's Pipits, Boulder Co


Another possible place to look for pipits would be the Mayhoffer trail 
(trailhead on the E side of 66th, near the intersection with Marshall road.)  
You can't leave the trail, but it goes right over the top of Lake Mesa, within 
easy sight of the pipit site on Davidson Mesa.  
http://bouldermountainbike.org/trail/mayhoffer-singletree-trail has more 
details.  I have seen birds along there that were tantalizingly like Sprague's 
pipits, with the lark-then-freefall flight and skweet call ... but never well 
enough to be totally convinced about.

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Re: [cobirds] Sprague's Pipits, Boulder Co

2011-09-29 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Another possible place to look for pipits would be the Mayhoffer trail 
(trailhead on the E side of 66th, near the intersection with Marshall road.)  
You can't leave the trail, but it goes right over the top of Lake Mesa, within 
easy sight of the pipit site on Davidson Mesa.  
http://bouldermountainbike.org/trail/mayhoffer-singletree-trail has more 
details.  I have seen birds along there that were tantalizingly like Sprague's 
pipits, with the lark-then-freefall flight and skweet call ... but never well 
enough to be totally convinced about.

Also in that area, there is currently a pair of golden eagles, and bald eagles 
and other raptors can be thick over the prairie dog colonies.  I also like to 
check along W Coal Creek Dr, where there's some nice brushy riparian-ish 
habitat.  In the last few weeks this has attracted scrub jays, wood-pewees, and 
a hairy woodpecker -- not your typical grassland species!  In the junipers 
along 66th is a good place to look for bluebirds and solitaires at unexpected 
times of the year, and there can be a sparrow bonanza around the S end of 
66th.  You might even come across a bobwhite - maybe an escapee from the 
Marshall Lake gun club?

We're so lucky to have the southern grasslands complex so close at hand, and 
despite its proximity it seems to be under-birded.

 -Peter Ruprecht
  Superior

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[cobirds] Harris's sparrow, Boulder Co

2011-04-24 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Cobirders,

My 8-year-old son spotted an unfamiliar bird this afternoon along the 
Singletree trail in Superior.  It turned out to be an extremely cooperative 
Harris's sparrow, which appeared to be in transition between first winter and 
adult breeding plumage.  It was with a flock of about 15 white-crowned sparrows 
and spent several minutes singing from the top of a chokecherry bush.

The Singletree trailhead is at the corner of S 3rd Ave and W Thomas St in 
Original Superior.  (Turn S off of Coal Creek Dr onto 2nd Ave, then W on 
Thomas).

There were just a few other migrants in the area, including chipping sparrows 
and yellow-rumped warblers (both races.)  Also, a heavily molting adult bald 
eagle circled overhead, and my FOS vesper sparrow was singing from a fence wire.

 -Peter Ruprecht
  Superior

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[cobirds] Media outreach (was CBRC and ebird.org?)

2010-12-05 Thread Peter Ruprecht

I would like to heartily recommend to all Cobirds readers the regular nature 
columnists in the Boulder Camera.  

Joe Prentice writes a fascinating Words on Birds article monthly (often 
featuring photos by Bill Schmoker.)

Stephen Jones's and Ruth Carol Cushman's monthly Nature Almanac report almost 
always has some interesting birding tidbits.  (They have a monthly show on 
KGNU, too!)

Finally, about a quarter of Jeff Mitton's weekly ecology columns explain some 
aspect of bird-related natural history in detail.

The Camera is a pretty good local paper, but these writers alone make a 
subscription worthwhile.  (Or, for those of you not near Boulder, a search on 
the www.dailycamera.com site.)

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

--- On Sun, 12/5/10, The Nunn Guy lefk...@coloradobirder.info wrote:

 More thoughts ... who is promoting
 and outreaching birders in
 Colorado?  We see the occasional bird story in some of
 our newspapers
 but nothing on a consistent basis.  I know other
 states have newspaper
 writers who write weekly articles about birding.



  

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Re: [cobirds] Sandpiper?, Cottonwoods Trail, Boulder

2010-06-21 Thread Peter Ruprecht


     A non-birder friend of mine informed me
 yesterday that he saw a sandpiper on Friday evening, along
 the Cottonwoods Trail in Boulder just south of Jay Rd. 
 The bird perched up on a wooden fence-post and didn't seem
 too bothered by the light foot traffic. 

I would venture that the sandpiper was a snipe.  I've been seeing them on fence 
posts around Boulder regularly (sometimes they're even singing, though that 
was mostly earlier in the summer.)  Usually they are pretty indifferent to even 
close passers-by, which allows for great views.

There are some good/easy places to look for post-sitting snipes, especially in 
the wet meadows near S. Boulder Creek.  Try along Marshall Road just south of 
Boulder, the CU South property, and also near where the S. Boulder Creek 
trail goes under Hwy 36.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior


  

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Re: [cobirds] Commencement Birding, Boulder County

2010-05-07 Thread Peter Ruprecht


And down along Boulder Creek below the stadium after lunch were at least 5 
hermit thrushes, a female Wilson's warbler, several yellow-rumps (all that I 
saw were myrtle), a wood-pewee, and a whit-ting empid ... plus the usual house 
finches, black-capped chickadees, robins, crows, etc.

 -Peter Ruprecht
  Superior



  

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Re: [cobirds] Falcon Double Feature - Red Rocks - Jefferson Co.

2010-04-02 Thread Peter Ruprecht

Based on my experience watching large falcons in the Boulder Mountain Parks, I 
would say that the courtship and copulation period can easily last several 
weeks.  The eggs are laid over a span of several days (no more than one egg per 
day) and copulation will continue throughout the laying period.  The female may 
not start to incubate continuously until all the eggs are laid.  Once 
incubation starts, there'll be a lot less activity around the nest area, 
probably just the occasional food drop or nest exchange.

It will also be interesting to see how the peregrines and prairies at Red Rocks 
tolerate each other.  In the Flatirons, the PEFAs seem to maintain air 
superiority over the PRFAs when they're both nesting in the same area.  PEFAs 
will dive-bomb or otherwise harass the PRFAs to keep them well away from active 
(or even prospective) PEFA nests.

Aren't raptors amazing to watch in all respects?!  For those of you who aren't 
afraid to risk serious addiction, let me recommend Boulder OSMP's raptor 
monitoring volunteer program.  It's very well-run, beginners get plenty of 
guidance, and it's an amazing opportunity to get to know these incredible birds 
(and spend time amidst stunning scenery.)

Another recommendation: Falcons of North America by Kate Davis.  Easy 
reading, lots of fascinating info, plus plenty of awesome pictures by 
Colorado's own Rob Palmer.

 -Peter Ruprecht
  Superior

 
 I was surprised to see the Peregrines copulating, since on
 Saturday, March 20, an Evergreen Audubon Field Trip saw
 copulation take place.  I surmised the female might be
 sitting on eggs by now.   How long does
 courtship last, and how soon after copulation takes egg
 laying take place?
 



  

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[cobirds] Mt bluebird, etc, Boulder Co

2010-02-27 Thread Peter Ruprecht

A quick walk along Coal Creek Drive west of Superior turned up a few signs of 
spring this afternoon.  A lone male mountain bluebird made a very welcome dot 
of color in the wintry landscape.  Nearby, a pair of kestrels was dropping down 
from power lines to nab earthworms.  I'd never seen that before!  Red-tailed 
hawks and ravens both were doing display flights, though the ravens got 
distracted by a pack of coyotes and took off to follow them.

Yesterday afternoon, just south of the Costco/Target shopping center in 
Superior, I got a thrilling view of a prairie falcon picking off a starling and 
carrying it to the top of a light pole to pluck and eat it.  Although that area 
is hardly wild, it is near the edge of a big expanse of open space and the 
PRFAs seem to like to hunt there despite the human activity.  About once a 
year, without even trying, I see one pick off a pigeon, starling, or prairie 
dog.  Their jump-hunting technique is, to me, just as awesome to watch as a 
peregrine's stoop.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior


  

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Re: [cobirds] Large, large Falcon, Boulder County

2009-12-22 Thread Peter Ruprecht

For those who may go searching for the possibly gyrfalcon north of Boulder, one 
crucial field mark to keep in mind is the diagnostic white spot immediately 
behind the eye of all prairie falcons.  This would be tough to notice on a 
flying bird, but is usually quite easy to see if you get a good look at a 
perched adult prairie.  (It's not quite as obvious on immatures.)  I don't 
think the spot is present in any gyrfalcon plumages, although the bright yellow 
orbital skin on an adult gyr may give the impression of a small light spot 
behind the eye.

Peter Ruprecht
Superior

--- On Sat, 12/19/09, Walter M Szeliga 
 I would encourage anyone
 observing large  
 Falcons along the Front Range to take detailed field notes
 as this  
 identification does not appear as straightforward as most
 drawings and  
 descriptions woud suggest.


  

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[cobirds] Re: More interesting Boulder Co. birds 8/17/2009

2009-08-18 Thread Peter Ruprecht


 Hello everyone,
 Some interesting migrants in the grasslands
 south of Boulder (Coalton Trail, off Hwy 128) this afternoon
 included 1 immature light FERRUGINOUS HAWK, ... This area often  holds a 
 handful of
 Ferruginous Hawks in the winter months, but I feel that Aug
 17th is significantly early for this species in the Boulder
 area.

Funny, just over a week ago I was pretty sure I saw an imm light ferrug on the 
CU South property near S. Boulder Creek.  The view wasn't terrific so I 
didn't want to say anything, but I guess there is the possibility that these 
hawks are moving W toward their wintering grounds especially early this year.  
(Though S. Boulder Cr doesn't seem to be a popular area for ferruginous hawks 
most winters...)

 About 99.5% of the Black-tailed Prairie Dogs south of
 Coal Creek have succumbed to plague this summer. It will be
 interesting to see if there are any repercussions on the
 wintering raptor population in the region. 
 

Last summer several p-dog colonies died out on the north side of Coal Creek and 
wintering raptor numbers in the area W of Original Superior seemed wy down. 
 I don't have scientific data, but I was seeing far fewer ferruginous and 
red-tailed hawks, as well as golden and bald eagles.  Normally you could expect 
to see up to a dozen raptors in an hour's walk on a sunny day, but last winter 
you'd have been lucky to see a couple.

 Peter Ruprecht
 Superior



  

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[cobirds] flying ants - yum!

2009-07-24 Thread Peter Ruprecht



There was a fairly widespread flying ant event south of Boulder overnight and 
this morning.  As I was commuting by bike from Superior to Boulder this 
morning, there were literally hundreds of birds, from house sparrows to 
flickers and everything in between, feasting on the bounty along the roadsides. 
 It was especially nice to see so many fledglings of several species scarfing 
up insect protein.

On a vaguely related note, several times this summer I have heard an unfamiliar 
bird call from the tall willows in the town of Marshall (just S of Boulder) as 
I was biking through.  It's an ascending shweep somewhat reminiscent of a 
great crested flycatcher.  I don't think it is that, though, and I haven't been 
able to get a look at it.  Any ideas what it might be?  

Thanks,
Peter Ruprecht
Superior


  

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