Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020 Email: RBA AT cobirds.org Compiler: Allison Hilf, ahilf AT me.com Phone: 303-888-5110 _____________________________________________ The Colorado Rare Bird report is an informational service. Because of statewide coronavirus “Stay at Home” orders, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound readers abreast of rare bird sightings across the state during spring migration. It does NOT endorse or encourage illegal travel to see or "chase" rare birds beyond your own local area.
Once again, we must urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on non-critical travel and limits on outdoor activities that include birding. Please bird ONLY at or close to home and ONLY with universally promoted safety precautions, including physical “social distancing” and face coverings. Or, as Dave Leatherman noted this week, “Be like a Cedar Waxwing . . . very compliant in their wearing of masks.” ______________________________________________ Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBirds. Thanks! CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website. (*) indicates new information on a species. For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for “Recent eBird Sightings.” ______________________________________________ Spring migration notes: A plethora of Cassin’s Finches are continuing to be reported around the State, many at lower elevations around the Front Range where they are usually uncommon. Swallows, Turkey Vultures, Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, phoebes, finches, and Swainson’s Hawks are returning. Sparrow and longspur migrations are also upon us (Vesper, Savannah, Lincoln’s, Chipping). Shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers, phalaropes, Dunlins, curlews, godwits) are showing up at shores and flooded fields. And did somebody say “warblers”? What’s in your yard or near your home? Let us know on COBirds. _____________________________________________ Rare, out-of-place and some out-of-season species reports are listed below. Trumpeter Swan (Eagle) Long-tailed Duck (*Jefferson) Red-necked Grebe (El Paso) Black-necked Stilt (Ouray) Snowy Plover (Larimer) Long-billed Curlew (Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Mesa, Montezuma) Marbled Godwit (Boulder, El Paso, Montezuma) Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) (Larimer) Common Loon (*Fremont) Olive-sided Flycatcher (El Paso) Gray Flycatcher (*Ouray) BLACK PHOEBE (Larimer, San Miguel) Vermilion Flycatcher (El Paso) White-eyed Vireo (*Pueblo) Winter Wren (*Fremont) Eastern Bluebird (*Chaffee, *Denver) Curve-billed Thrasher (Teller) Black Rosy-Finch (*Eagle, Grand, Larimer) Chestnut-collared Longspur (*Adams,*Boulder, Jefferson) McCowns Longspur (Boulder, *Douglas, *El Paso) Grasshopper Sparrow (Arapahoe) Fox Sparrow (Red) (Washington) Sagebrush Sparrow (El Paso, *Jefferson) Swamp Sparrow (Chaffee, La Plata) Black-and-white Warbler (Boulder) Summer Tanager (*El Paso) _________________________________________________ ADAMS COUNTY: —On April 17 a Chestnut -collared Lonspur was reported at Rocky Mountain Arsenal on the Wildlife Drive at approx. .5 mile (northern leg), by Bob Shade. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: —On April 16 nine Long-billed Curlew were reported at Cherry Creek State Park-Lake Loop by Diane Roberts. —On April 14 a Grasshopper Sparrow was reported at Cherry Creek State Park, in the Pelican Point parking lot area near the bathrooms, by Joey Negreann. —On April 14 a Long-tailed Duck was reported at Quincy Reservoir. First reported April 3 by G Stacks. ARCHULETA COUNTY: —On April 12 a Long-billed Curlew was reported by Charles Martinez at Lynch Pond northwest of Pagosa Springs. Three LBCUs first reported at this location on Apr 10 by Byron Greco. BOULDER COUNTY: —On April 17 a Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported in Longmont at Pipit Rd east of N. 119th St. by John Rutenbeck.. —On April 16 a McCowns Longspur was reported in Longmont at 10936–11440 Oxford Rd by Peter Burke. —On April 14 a Marbled Godwit was reported at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farms / Stearns Lake, in the field just N of the CloudView Stables and west of S 104th St by Chris Petrizzo. —On April 14 a Black-and-white Warbler was reported at the Grapewood Townhouse Complex in North Boulder. First reported Apr 13 by Jon Webb. —On April 12 eight Long-billed Curlews were reported at Lagerman Reservoir by Peter Burke. CHAFFEE COUNTY: —On April 17 an Eastern Bluebird was reported at Mount Ouray State Wildlife Area by Sally Waterhouse. —On April 15 a Swamp Sparrow was reported at Mount Ouray State Wildlife Area by Greg Mihalik. DENVER COUNTY: —On April 17 an Eastern Bluebird was reported in the Overland Park area, on the east side of platte about 1/4 mile south of Florida bridge, by Eric Dinkel —On April 16 three Long-billed Curlews were reported at Marston Reservoir by Claire and Tom H. DOUGLAS COUNTY: —On April 17 a McCown’s Longspur was reported at Chatfield State Park -Model Airplane Field. First reported on April 16 by Myron Gerhard. EAGLE COUNTY: —On April 17 a Black Rosy-Finch, along with several Gray-crowned and Brown-capped rosy-finches, was reported in Avon at feeders on Old Trail Rd D by Jennifer Prusse. —On April 14 two Trumpeter Swans were reported flying over the Rio Grande Trail (from Hooks Spur Rd. to ACES Rock Bottom Ranch) by John Anderson. EL PASO COUNTY: —On April 17 a McCown’s Longspur was reported at Squirrel Creek Rd on the eastern prairie by Linda Hodges. —On April 17 a Rusty Blackbird (male) was reported at Kettle Lakes by Kip Miller. It was in the NE corner of the lower pond, where an active flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers were actively feeding along the water's edge. —On April 17 a Summer Tanager was reported in a NW Colorado Springs backyard. First reported on April 16 by Marty Wolf. —On April 15 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Bar 10 Rd and S. Ellicot Hgwy. First reported April 13 by David Tønnessen. —On April 14 an Olive-sided Flycatcher was reported at Nancy Lewis Park by Terence Berger. —On April 14 a Red-necked Grebe was reported at Big Johnson Reservoir & Bluestem Prairie Open Space. First reported on March 13. by David Tønnessen. —On April 14 a Marbled Godwit was reported at Big Johnson Reservoir & Bluestem Prairie Open Space. First reported April 13 by David Tønnessen. —On April 14 twenty-eight Long-billed Curlews, yes 28, were reported at several locations in the county by Aaron Driscoll. See his COBirds post dated April 14 for specific locations. —On April 12 a Vermilion Flycatcher was reported at Palmer Park in Colorado Springs. First reported April 7. NOTE: Chico Basin Ranch is closed until at least Apr 30 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. FREMONT COUNTY: —On April 17 a Winter Wren was reported at Cañon City Riverwalk--Sell Lake to S Raynolds Ave by Joel Adams. —On April 17 a Common Loon was reported at Blue Heron Ponds on Hwy 115 by Jerry DeBoer. GRAND COUNTY: —On April 16 multiple Gray-crowned and Brown-capped rosy-finches were reported at CR 8314 by Mark Obmascik. JEFFERSON COUNTY: —On April 17 a Sagebrush Sparrows were reported at Bear Creek Lake Park feeding on the road near the stables by Ginny Bergstrom. —On April 17 two Long-tailed Ducks were reported at South Platte Park/South Platte Reservoir —Southwest Bay Area. First reported March 11 by David Bailey. —On April 16 a Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported at Robert A. Easton Regional Park In the south bay of the lake. flying between the bushes and the shoreline, by Reed Gorner. NOTE: Red Rocks Park is closed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 outbreak. LA PLATA COUNTY: —On April 16 a Swamp Sparrow was reported at Zink’s Pond, near the right end of the second island from left, by James Beatty. LARIMER COUNTY: —On April 16 one Black-Rosy-Finch and twenty-three Brown-capped Rosy-Finches were reported in Estes Park by Scott Rashid. —On April 15 a BLACK PHOEBE Black was reported in Fort Collins on the north side of Rigden Reservoir which is at the east terminus of Horsetooth Road. The bird was foraging along a fenceline that borders the railroad tracks. It was about 150 -200 yards west of the extreme east end of the reservoir across the ditch. Reported by Joe Mammoser. —On April 14 four Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) were reported at Horseshoe Reservoir. First reported on March 10 by Nick Komar. —On April 13 a Snowy Plover was reported at Arapahoe Bend Natural Area - Rigden Reservoir (Strauss Cabin Lake). First reported on April 12 by Nick Komar. MESA COUNTY: —On April 13 Long-billed Curlews were reported at Brewsters Ridge and old Highway 6&50, with a few now and then at Highline Lake by Denise and Mark Vollmar. MONTEZUMA COUNTY: —On April 16 ten Marbled Godwit were reported at McPhee Reservoir by Eric Hendrickson. —On April 15 ten Long-billed Curlews were reported at Summit Reservoir by Erik Hendrickson. OURAY COUNTY: —On April 17 a ray Flycatcher was reported at Ridgeway SP-Visitor Center & Campground By Don Marsh. —On April 17 a Black-necked Stilt was reported at Ridgeway SP - Marina Area. First reported on April 9 by Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter. PUEBLO COUNTY: —On April 17 a White-eyed Vireo was reported along the Arkansas River, on the south west side of Runyon Lake in Pueblo by Evan Carlson. NOTE: Chico Basin Ranch is closed until at least Apr 30 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. SAN MIGUEL COUNTY: —On April 13 Black Phoebe was reported at Gypsum Valley - boat launch to bridge area by Eric Hynes. TELLER COUNTY: —On April 14 two Curve-billed Thrasher were reported in Florissant by Joe LaFleur on behalf of Rodney and Sharon Saunders. The pair has been seen regularly since September. This is a first Teller County record for this species if accepted by the Colorado Birds Record Committee. WASHINGTON COUNTY: —On April 15 a Fox Sparrow (Red) was reported at Last Chance—Rest Area by Glenn Walbek. _________________________________________________ PLEASE NOTE: Because of COVID-19 pandemic precautions, Denver Field Ornithologists has suspended all field trips scheduled for April, May and June. Other birding clubs have also canceled activities, and the annual Colorado Field Ornithologists convention, set for Pueblo in May, has been canceled. Please share interesting and/or unusual birds and behavior observations on COBirds. Good birding, Allison Hilf Aurora, CO ahilf AT aol.com 303-888-5110 Sent from my iPhone -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/46F34993-8A46-4250-A5AB-ACAA1FCA6ECD%40me.com.
