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
>
> --
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