Re: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

[David Suddjian]

I am in the neighborhood here at Delta. Checked the lake just now but the only 
water birds I saw were W grebes and coots.

David Suddjian 
Littleton Co

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 4, 2018, at 3:44 PM, Greg Pasquariello  wrote:
> 
> Anhingas also soar, which I can’t say I’ve ever seen a cormorant do.
>  
> Regards
> -Greg Pasquariello
> Highlands Ranch CO
>  
> From: Peter Burke
> Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 3:32 PM
> To: Brandon K. Percival
> Cc: Joe Roller; Colorado Birds; Sandy Beranich
> Subject: Re: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update
>  
> All,
> Anhingas in flight tend to flap a few times, then glide. Flap-flap-glide, 
> flap-flap-glide... and their long tails are distinctive vs. cormorants. These 
> would be the two primary field marks for flyover Anhinga. Breast pattern 
> varies depending on plumage and light, and is a good character, but more 
> subtle.
>  
> Peter
> 
>  
>  
> Peter Burke
> 300 Forest Ave. Boulder, CO 80304
> (973) 214-0140
> Flickr  LinkedIn
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> On Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 2:50 PM, Brandon  wrote:
> The Colorado Birds Records Committee also accepted a documented
> sighting of an Anhinga, from Barr Lake State Park, Adams County, May
> 3, 2003.  If anyone happens to see one in Colorado again, get a good
> photo, and let us all know.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Brandon K. Percival
> Pueblo West, CO
> 
> 
> On 6/4/18, Joe Roller  wrote:
> > On May 28 Delta County birder Sandy Beranich saw a possible ANHINGA
> > (*Anhinga
> > anhinga*) at Sweitzer Lake, near Delta, Delta County and reported it to
> > eBird.
> >
> >
> > Sandy has been searching the area and will look again with a park ranger,
> > also a birder. Campground hosts also saw the individual in question. Here
> > is the original eBird  note and all subsequent information from Sandy, whom
> > I know from hotspot discussions.
> >
> >
> > Original post to eBIrd:
> >
> >
> > Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (1)
> > - Reported May 29, 2018 08:33 by Sandy Beranich
> > - Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Colorado
> > - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=38.712734,-
> > 108.032265=38.712734,-108.032265
> > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46138997
> > - Comments: "I could only see the underside of the bird, which included a
> > striking very light tan to yellow-colored neck and upper breast; the rest
> > of the bird was black. It was soaring and circling over me and I could not
> > see its bill or back. I didn't note the tail length.The campground hosts
> > had told me earlier that they had seen this bird and that it was one they
> > had seen in Florida. Although skeptical, I compared the bird I saw to a
> > Double-crested Cormorant and believe the flight pattern of soaring and real
> > light tan-yellow neck and upper breast was a confirmation for the anhinga.
> > Note that in 2016, there was a Neotropic Cormorant in nearby Montrose all
> > summer, so I do expect unusual sightings."
> >
> >
> > Joe,
> > Before entering on eBird, I did go online and looked at images for both of
> > these birds and then asked google to side-by-side compare the DC cormorant
> > w Anhinga- the big thing seemed to be the way the anhinga soared, the tail
> > length, and the bill shape- last two which i did not see- i use a 10x
> > binocular and the bird was circling quite high with the sun full on it. I
> > will go back soon- the ranger who knew birds wasn't there today. The campgr
> > hosts were from Tx and knew this bird and said they knew it wasn't supposed
> > to be here- (nor was that neotropic cormorant supposed to be in montrose 2
> > yrs ago!) The convincing part was the way it circled overhead, just kind of
> > floating. I just reviewed images again and note that what also struck me
> > was a clear color change betw the light breast and dark rest of bird.
> >
> >
> > Sandy's note to me from June 4:
> >
> > A little status on the Anhinga. I returned to Sweitzer Lake  on May 30 and
> > drove the west and part of the south side of the lake where there are  two
> > jetties. The park ranger thought it might be hanging out there. I stayed in
> > place at several locations. I did not record findings on eBird and saw the
> > usual expected birds similar to what I had found on the north and east
> > sides.  I didn’t see cormorants or the anhinga. Today, June 3, I returned
> > to talk with the camp host to get more information (the host was not
> > present on the 30th) and to walk the dirt road on the north and east sides
> &

RE: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

[Greg Pasquariello]

Anhingas also soar, which I can’t say I’ve ever seen a cormorant do.

Regards
-Greg Pasquariello
Highlands Ranch CO

From: Peter Burke
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 3:32 PM
To: Brandon K. Percival
Cc: Joe Roller; Colorado Birds; Sandy Beranich
Subject: Re: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

All,
Anhingas in flight tend to flap a few times, then glide. Flap-flap-glide, 
flap-flap-glide... and their long tails are distinctive vs. cormorants. These 
would be the two primary field marks for flyover Anhinga. Breast pattern varies 
depending on plumage and light, and is a good character, but more subtle.

Peter




Peter Burke
300 Forest Ave. Boulder, CO 80304
(973) 214-0140
Flickr  LinkedIn



On Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 2:50 PM, Brandon  wrote:
The Colorado Birds Records Committee also accepted a documented
sighting of an Anhinga, from Barr Lake State Park, Adams County, May
3, 2003.  If anyone happens to see one in Colorado again, get a good
photo, and let us all know.

Thanks,

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO


On 6/4/18, Joe Roller  wrote:
> On May 28 Delta County birder Sandy Beranich saw a possible ANHINGA
> (*Anhinga
> anhinga*) at Sweitzer Lake, near Delta, Delta County and reported it to
> eBird.
>
>
> Sandy has been searching the area and will look again with a park ranger,
> also a birder. Campground hosts also saw the individual in question. Here
> is the original eBird  note and all subsequent information from Sandy, whom
> I know from hotspot discussions.
>
>
> Original post to eBIrd:
>
>
> Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (1)
> - Reported May 29, 2018 08:33 by Sandy Beranich
> - Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Colorado
> - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=38.712734,-
> 108.032265=38.712734,-108.032265
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46138997
> - Comments: "I could only see the underside of the bird, which included a
> striking very light tan to yellow-colored neck and upper breast; the rest
> of the bird was black. It was soaring and circling over me and I could not
> see its bill or back. I didn't note the tail length.The campground hosts
> had told me earlier that they had seen this bird and that it was one they
> had seen in Florida. Although skeptical, I compared the bird I saw to a
> Double-crested Cormorant and believe the flight pattern of soaring and real
> light tan-yellow neck and upper breast was a confirmation for the anhinga.
> Note that in 2016, there was a Neotropic Cormorant in nearby Montrose all
> summer, so I do expect unusual sightings."
>
>
> Joe,
> Before entering on eBird, I did go online and looked at images for both of
> these birds and then asked google to side-by-side compare the DC cormorant
> w Anhinga- the big thing seemed to be the way the anhinga soared, the tail
> length, and the bill shape- last two which i did not see- i use a 10x
> binocular and the bird was circling quite high with the sun full on it. I
> will go back soon- the ranger who knew birds wasn't there today. The campgr
> hosts were from Tx and knew this bird and said they knew it wasn't supposed
> to be here- (nor was that neotropic cormorant supposed to be in montrose 2
> yrs ago!) The convincing part was the way it circled overhead, just kind of
> floating. I just reviewed images again and note that what also struck me
> was a clear color change betw the light breast and dark rest of bird.
>
>
> Sandy's note to me from June 4:
>
> A little status on the Anhinga. I returned to Sweitzer Lake  on May 30 and
> drove the west and part of the south side of the lake where there are  two
> jetties. The park ranger thought it might be hanging out there. I stayed in
> place at several locations. I did not record findings on eBird and saw the
> usual expected birds similar to what I had found on the north and east
> sides.  I didn’t see cormorants or the anhinga. Today, June 3, I returned
> to talk with the camp host to get more information (the host was not
> present on the 30th) and to walk the dirt road on the north and east sides
> again. She said that a state park person was out to do a bird survey on
> Friday, May 25 and thought she had seen an Anhinga.  The camp host who is a
> birder said that on May 27 (Sunday) she had seen a group of 4 Anhinga’s fly
> over, and then I was first there on May 29  and saw one Anhinga. The state
> person thought that the one she saw was just a fly over. Each of us saw the
> bird(s) flying in the same direction to the northwest. The camp host said
> she was positive that she was not looking at a cormorant and was very
> familiar with both birds. I thought the way the breast color had a distinct
> margin and the way it flew made it an Anhinga. The state park person is to
> return and do another bird survey and I will be notified and hope t

Re: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

[Peter Burke]

All,
Anhingas in flight tend to flap a few times, then glide. Flap-flap-glide,
flap-flap-glide... and their long tails are distinctive vs. cormorants.
These would be the two primary field marks for flyover Anhinga. Breast
pattern varies depending on plumage and light, and is a good character, but
more subtle.

Peter



Peter Burke

300 Forest Ave. Boulder, CO 80304

(973) 214-0140

Flickr   LinkedIn





On Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 2:50 PM, Brandon  wrote:

> The Colorado Birds Records Committee also accepted a documented
> sighting of an Anhinga, from Barr Lake State Park, Adams County, May
> 3, 2003.  If anyone happens to see one in Colorado again, get a good
> photo, and let us all know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon K. Percival
> Pueblo West, CO
>
>
> On 6/4/18, Joe Roller  wrote:
> > On May 28 Delta County birder Sandy Beranich saw a possible ANHINGA
> > (*Anhinga
> > anhinga*) at Sweitzer Lake, near Delta, Delta County and reported it to
> > eBird.
> >
> >
> > Sandy has been searching the area and will look again with a park ranger,
> > also a birder. Campground hosts also saw the individual in question. Here
> > is the original eBird  note and all subsequent information from Sandy,
> whom
> > I know from hotspot discussions.
> >
> >
> > Original post to eBIrd:
> >
> >
> > Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (1)
> > - Reported May 29, 2018 08:33 by Sandy Beranich
> > - Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Colorado
> > - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=38.712734,-
> > 108.032265=38.712734,-108.032265
> > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46138997
> > - Comments: "I could only see the underside of the bird, which included a
> > striking very light tan to yellow-colored neck and upper breast; the rest
> > of the bird was black. It was soaring and circling over me and I could
> not
> > see its bill or back. I didn't note the tail length.The campground hosts
> > had told me earlier that they had seen this bird and that it was one they
> > had seen in Florida. Although skeptical, I compared the bird I saw to a
> > Double-crested Cormorant and believe the flight pattern of soaring and
> real
> > light tan-yellow neck and upper breast was a confirmation for the
> anhinga.
> > Note that in 2016, there was a Neotropic Cormorant in nearby Montrose all
> > summer, so I do expect unusual sightings."
> >
> >
> > Joe,
> > Before entering on eBird, I did go online and looked at images for both
> of
> > these birds and then asked google to side-by-side compare the DC
> cormorant
> > w Anhinga- the big thing seemed to be the way the anhinga soared, the
> tail
> > length, and the bill shape- last two which i did not see- i use a 10x
> > binocular and the bird was circling quite high with the sun full on it. I
> > will go back soon- the ranger who knew birds wasn't there today. The
> campgr
> > hosts were from Tx and knew this bird and said they knew it wasn't
> supposed
> > to be here- (nor was that neotropic cormorant supposed to be in montrose
> 2
> > yrs ago!) The convincing part was the way it circled overhead, just kind
> of
> > floating. I just reviewed images again and note that what also struck me
> > was a clear color change betw the light breast and dark rest of bird.
> >
> >
> > Sandy's note to me from June 4:
> >
> > A little status on the Anhinga. I returned to Sweitzer Lake  on May 30
> and
> > drove the west and part of the south side of the lake where there are
> two
> > jetties. The park ranger thought it might be hanging out there. I stayed
> in
> > place at several locations. I did not record findings on eBird and saw
> the
> > usual expected birds similar to what I had found on the north and east
> > sides.  I didn’t see cormorants or the anhinga. Today, June 3, I returned
> > to talk with the camp host to get more information (the host was not
> > present on the 30th) and to walk the dirt road on the north and east
> sides
> > again. She said that a state park person was out to do a bird survey on
> > Friday, May 25 and thought she had seen an Anhinga.  The camp host who
> is a
> > birder said that on May 27 (Sunday) she had seen a group of 4 Anhinga’s
> fly
> > over, and then I was first there on May 29  and saw one Anhinga. The
> state
> > person thought that the one she saw was just a fly over. Each of us saw
> the
> > bird(s) flying in the same direction to the northwest. The camp host said
> > she was positive that she was not looking at a cormorant and was very
> > familiar with both birds. I thought the way the breast color had a
> distinct
> > margin and the way it flew made it an Anhinga. The state park person is
> to
> > return and do another bird survey and I will be notified and hope to meet
> > up with her. I will chase this some more and let you know if something
> > changes.
> >
> > Sandy
> >
> >
> > So in summary we have multiple observers seeing a bird they thought to be
> > an Anhinga. The descriptions 

Re: [cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

[Brandon]

The Colorado Birds Records Committee also accepted a documented
sighting of an Anhinga, from Barr Lake State Park, Adams County, May
3, 2003.  If anyone happens to see one in Colorado again, get a good
photo, and let us all know.

Thanks,

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO


On 6/4/18, Joe Roller  wrote:
> On May 28 Delta County birder Sandy Beranich saw a possible ANHINGA
> (*Anhinga
> anhinga*) at Sweitzer Lake, near Delta, Delta County and reported it to
> eBird.
>
>
> Sandy has been searching the area and will look again with a park ranger,
> also a birder. Campground hosts also saw the individual in question. Here
> is the original eBird  note and all subsequent information from Sandy, whom
> I know from hotspot discussions.
>
>
> Original post to eBIrd:
>
>
> Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (1)
> - Reported May 29, 2018 08:33 by Sandy Beranich
> - Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Colorado
> - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=38.712734,-
> 108.032265=38.712734,-108.032265
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46138997
> - Comments: "I could only see the underside of the bird, which included a
> striking very light tan to yellow-colored neck and upper breast; the rest
> of the bird was black. It was soaring and circling over me and I could not
> see its bill or back. I didn't note the tail length.The campground hosts
> had told me earlier that they had seen this bird and that it was one they
> had seen in Florida. Although skeptical, I compared the bird I saw to a
> Double-crested Cormorant and believe the flight pattern of soaring and real
> light tan-yellow neck and upper breast was a confirmation for the anhinga.
> Note that in 2016, there was a Neotropic Cormorant in nearby Montrose all
> summer, so I do expect unusual sightings."
>
>
> Joe,
> Before entering on eBird, I did go online and looked at images for both of
> these birds and then asked google to side-by-side compare the DC cormorant
> w Anhinga- the big thing seemed to be the way the anhinga soared, the tail
> length, and the bill shape- last two which i did not see- i use a 10x
> binocular and the bird was circling quite high with the sun full on it. I
> will go back soon- the ranger who knew birds wasn't there today. The campgr
> hosts were from Tx and knew this bird and said they knew it wasn't supposed
> to be here- (nor was that neotropic cormorant supposed to be in montrose 2
> yrs ago!) The convincing part was the way it circled overhead, just kind of
> floating. I just reviewed images again and note that what also struck me
> was a clear color change betw the light breast and dark rest of bird.
>
>
> Sandy's note to me from June 4:
>
> A little status on the Anhinga. I returned to Sweitzer Lake  on May 30 and
> drove the west and part of the south side of the lake where there are  two
> jetties. The park ranger thought it might be hanging out there. I stayed in
> place at several locations. I did not record findings on eBird and saw the
> usual expected birds similar to what I had found on the north and east
> sides.  I didn’t see cormorants or the anhinga. Today, June 3, I returned
> to talk with the camp host to get more information (the host was not
> present on the 30th) and to walk the dirt road on the north and east sides
> again. She said that a state park person was out to do a bird survey on
> Friday, May 25 and thought she had seen an Anhinga.  The camp host who is a
> birder said that on May 27 (Sunday) she had seen a group of 4 Anhinga’s fly
> over, and then I was first there on May 29  and saw one Anhinga. The state
> person thought that the one she saw was just a fly over. Each of us saw the
> bird(s) flying in the same direction to the northwest. The camp host said
> she was positive that she was not looking at a cormorant and was very
> familiar with both birds. I thought the way the breast color had a distinct
> margin and the way it flew made it an Anhinga. The state park person is to
> return and do another bird survey and I will be notified and hope to meet
> up with her. I will chase this some more and let you know if something
> changes.
>
> Sandy
>
>
> So in summary we have multiple observers seeing a bird they thought to be
> an Anhinga. The descriptions are plausible for Anhinga, but I am a little
> thrown off by the report of FOUR birds by the campground hosts.
>
> BUT who knows? Birds fly.*
>
> Keep your gas tank full, and prepare an excuse for permission to be gone
> all day if this pans out.
>
>
> There is one previous specimen of Anhinga from Aurora, Coal Creek,
> Arapahoe County on 9/24/1931. Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
>
>
> That's the only Colorado record so far. Another specimen collected from
> 1927 is an Australian Darter (*Anhinga melanogaster*), an escapee from
> someone's darter collection.
>
> Bob and Bob, p 14; also Bailey and Neidrach, p 92
>
>
> Joe Roller, Denver
>
>
> * The Lark Bunting, Sept, 2016
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the 

[cobirds] POSSIBLE ANHINGA in Delta County - update

[Joe Roller]

On May 28 Delta County birder Sandy Beranich saw a possible ANHINGA (*Anhinga
anhinga*) at Sweitzer Lake, near Delta, Delta County and reported it to
eBird.


Sandy has been searching the area and will look again with a park ranger,
also a birder. Campground hosts also saw the individual in question. Here
is the original eBird  note and all subsequent information from Sandy, whom
I know from hotspot discussions.


Original post to eBIrd:


Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (1)
- Reported May 29, 2018 08:33 by Sandy Beranich
- Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Colorado
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=38.712734,-
108.032265=38.712734,-108.032265
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46138997
- Comments: "I could only see the underside of the bird, which included a
striking very light tan to yellow-colored neck and upper breast; the rest
of the bird was black. It was soaring and circling over me and I could not
see its bill or back. I didn't note the tail length.The campground hosts
had told me earlier that they had seen this bird and that it was one they
had seen in Florida. Although skeptical, I compared the bird I saw to a
Double-crested Cormorant and believe the flight pattern of soaring and real
light tan-yellow neck and upper breast was a confirmation for the anhinga.
Note that in 2016, there was a Neotropic Cormorant in nearby Montrose all
summer, so I do expect unusual sightings."


Joe,
Before entering on eBird, I did go online and looked at images for both of
these birds and then asked google to side-by-side compare the DC cormorant
w Anhinga- the big thing seemed to be the way the anhinga soared, the tail
length, and the bill shape- last two which i did not see- i use a 10x
binocular and the bird was circling quite high with the sun full on it. I
will go back soon- the ranger who knew birds wasn't there today. The campgr
hosts were from Tx and knew this bird and said they knew it wasn't supposed
to be here- (nor was that neotropic cormorant supposed to be in montrose 2
yrs ago!) The convincing part was the way it circled overhead, just kind of
floating. I just reviewed images again and note that what also struck me
was a clear color change betw the light breast and dark rest of bird.


Sandy's note to me from June 4:

A little status on the Anhinga. I returned to Sweitzer Lake  on May 30 and
drove the west and part of the south side of the lake where there are  two
jetties. The park ranger thought it might be hanging out there. I stayed in
place at several locations. I did not record findings on eBird and saw the
usual expected birds similar to what I had found on the north and east
sides.  I didn’t see cormorants or the anhinga. Today, June 3, I returned
to talk with the camp host to get more information (the host was not
present on the 30th) and to walk the dirt road on the north and east sides
again. She said that a state park person was out to do a bird survey on
Friday, May 25 and thought she had seen an Anhinga.  The camp host who is a
birder said that on May 27 (Sunday) she had seen a group of 4 Anhinga’s fly
over, and then I was first there on May 29  and saw one Anhinga. The state
person thought that the one she saw was just a fly over. Each of us saw the
bird(s) flying in the same direction to the northwest. The camp host said
she was positive that she was not looking at a cormorant and was very
familiar with both birds. I thought the way the breast color had a distinct
margin and the way it flew made it an Anhinga. The state park person is to
return and do another bird survey and I will be notified and hope to meet
up with her. I will chase this some more and let you know if something
changes.

Sandy


So in summary we have multiple observers seeing a bird they thought to be
an Anhinga. The descriptions are plausible for Anhinga, but I am a little
thrown off by the report of FOUR birds by the campground hosts.

BUT who knows? Birds fly.*

Keep your gas tank full, and prepare an excuse for permission to be gone
all day if this pans out.


There is one previous specimen of Anhinga from Aurora, Coal Creek,
Arapahoe County on 9/24/1931. Denver Museum of Nature and Science.


That's the only Colorado record so far. Another specimen collected from
1927 is an Australian Darter (*Anhinga melanogaster*), an escapee from
someone's darter collection.

Bob and Bob, p 14; also Bailey and Neidrach, p 92


Joe Roller, Denver


* The Lark Bunting, Sept, 2016

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