Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: February 20, 2012 e-mail: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, February 20, 2012, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on this species in this report) Red-necked Grebe (*Boulder) TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder) AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (*Morgan) Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Mesa, Summit) Long-tailed Duck (*Larimer, Mesa) MEW GULL (Broomfield) Thayer's Gull (*Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer) ICELAND GULL (Broomfield, *Larimer)) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, *Boulder, Broomfield, *Larimer, *Morgan) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer) Glaucous Gull (Boulder, Larimer) SNOWY OWL (Adams, Weld) Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Weld) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Larimer) American Three-toed Woodpecker (Jackson) VARIED THRUSH (Larimer) White-throated Sparrow (Jackson) Harris's Sparrow (El Paso) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson, Boulder) Lapland Longspur (Lake, Larimer) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Jackson, Jefferson, Lake) Black Rosy-Finch ( Jefferson, Lake) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Jefferson, Lake) Common Redpoll (Larimer) Please note, detailed directions to most of the following locations can be found on the Colorado County Birding Website: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/index.php Adams County: --A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was reported by Shissler south of 88th on February 10. On February 12, Dunning reported the pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes were 300 yards south of the turquoise and white tank S of 88th. --One SNOWY OWL was reported by Combs on February 12, west of Harvest and north of 138th. The dark SNOWY OWL was reported by Plooster on February 14 between 138th and 144th, left of power pole #30. Directions: Take Bromley Lane (152nd) east from I-76 and go 2 miles past Piccadilly to Harvest Road. Turn right and go south to 138th. Arapahoe Country: --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Hudak at Centennial Park on February 9 and refound on February 15 by Hudak. Boulder County: --A GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at the North Teller Farm Trailhead off Valmont Rd through February 15 as reported by Nunes. --An ad TUNDRA SWAN was reported by Nunes at Cottowood Marsh on February 15. --At Erie Reservoir on February 16, Mlodinow reported: 2 Glaucous Gulls (1-st cyc, 2-nd cyc), 8 Thayer's Gulls, and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On February 19 at Erie Reservoir, Floyd reported 1 1-st cyc Thayer's Gull and 1 3rd-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull. --An adult basic plumage Red-necked Grebe was found at Valmont on February 4 by the joint club field trip and was reported by Plage on February 18. --At Prince Lake #1 on February 19, Floyd reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 ad, 1 3rd-cyc), and 1 1-st cyc Thayer's Gull. Broomfield County: --At Anthem Pond, Walbek reported 1 ad MEW GULL, 2 ad Lesser Black-backed Gulls and several Thayer's Gulls (several ad, 1 1-st cycle) on February 9. Walbek reported that the pale Thayer's Gull seen on February 9 is a possible ICELAND GULL. On February 12, Kibbe reported 2+ Thayer's Gulls and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Anthem Pond. El Paso County: --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Pals at the feeders at Foundtain Creek Nature Center on February 11. Staff reported that it is seen daily at the feeders. Jackson County: --On February 1 Craig Dodson reports 2 tan morph White-throated Sparrows and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at the Moose Visitor Center on the west side of Cameron Pass. On February 8, Hopper reported 1 White-throated Sparrow and 200+ Rosy-Finches includes Gray-crowned and Brown-capped. On February 17, Leatherman reported 1 White-throated Sparrow, 250 - 300 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches including Hepburns and heard an American Three-toed Woodpecker drumming. Jefferson County: --The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at the Red Rocks Trading Post feeders continues to be seen thru February 18 as reported by Smart. --On February 18, Smart reported that all 3 species of Rosy-Finches were seen at the Red Rocks Trading Post feeders. There were 70 birds. Lake County: --A Lapland Longspur was reported by Kalback on Halfmoon Road S of Leadville on February 12. All 3 species of Rosy-Finches were visiting feeders in the county on February 12. Larimer County: --At Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Mammoser reported the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER on February 16. It was near the golf course. --Komar reported the following at Carter Lake on Februrary 9: 4 Glacuous Gulls (1ad, 3 imm), imm Thayer's Gull, 1-2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 1 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1-st cyc). --A VARIED THRUSH has been visiting the yard of Steve Martin in Wellington on February 11 and 12. The VARIED THRUSH returned on February 16 and 17. Please contact Steve at falconridge AT cowisp.net for more information. --Lapland Longspurs were reported by Cropper at the feed lot east of I-25 and Owl Canyon Road on February 12. --A pair of Long-tailed Duck was reported by Birek at Hamilton Reservoir on February 19. They were east of the smokestack when viewed from the observation area on the south shore. --10 Common Redpolls were reported by Mary Ellen Moore in Estes Park along Broad View Road which is the first gravel road after crossing the bridge going south on Mary's Lake Road from the intersection of Hwy 36. --2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were reported by Mlodinow at Lake Loveland on February 19. Mesa County: --A f Long-tailed Duck was reported by Arnold upstream on the Colorado River from Ela Sanctuary in Grand Junction on February 14. Also in the area were 2 Barrow's Goldeneyes. They were easily viewed from Hunter's Point. Morgan County: --A m AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, 2-nd cyc ICELAND GULL, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull were reported by Mlodinow at Jackson Reservoir on February 19. Summit County: --6 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Blackburn at the Silverthorne Water Treatment Facility on February 12. Weld County: --A SNOWY OWL was reported by Leatherman 75 yard east of CR 49 and .6 mi north of CR 108 on February 13. On February 14, Hopper reported the SNOWY OWL was .7 mile east of CR 49 and 200 m south of CR 108. --A Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Bol at Crow Valley Campground on February 19. Upcoming DFO fieldtrips: The DFO field trip for Saturday, February 25 will be to South Platte Park led by Richard Anderson (303-757-4582). Meet the leader at 0800 at the South Platte Park's Carson Nature Center, north of Mineral Ave, 1 block west of S Santa Fe Drive. This trip will end by noon so lunch is optional but do bring drinking water. Will Bird South Platte Park, McClellan Reservoir and other places of interest in the surrounding area. The DFO field trip for Sunday, February 26 will be to Castlewood Canyon State Park led by Laurie Duke (303-646-4699). Meet the leader at 0800 at ther north entrace to the park in the Homestead Parking Lot. This will be a half day trip. lunch optional but do bring snacks and drinking wter. The trip will involve hiking over trails but the leader will try to avoid icy areas so wear good hiking shoes. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
