Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 17, 2012

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:      Joyce Takamine

Date:            December 17, 2012

email:           rba AT cfobirds.org

phone:          303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 17, 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)

BRANT (Larimer)
TRUMPETER SWAN (Larimer)
TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder, Denver, Freemont, Larimer)

EURASIAN WIGEON (*Fremont)

Surf Scoter (Weld, Denver)
White-winged Scoter (Denver)
Long-tailed Duck (Denver, Jefferson, *Larimer, Pueblo)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Pueblo, Summit)

Pacific Loon (Pueblo)

MEW GULL (Pueblo)

Thayer's Gull (Pueblo)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)

White-winged Dove (Boulder, *Fremont, Pueblo)

SNOWY OWL (Weld)

ACORN WOODPECKER (El Paso)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Yuma)

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (*El Paso, Fremont)

Hammond's Flycatcher (*Fremont)

Eastern Phoebe (Boulder)
Chihuahuan Raven (Boulder, Denver)

Winter Wren (Boulder, Morgan)

Common Yellowthroat (*Boulder)

Pine Warbler (Pueblo)

Palm Warbler (El Paso)

Fox Sparrow (*Adams, Yuma)

Swamp Sparrow (Pueblo, Yuma)
White-throated Sparrow (Freemont, *Larimer)

Harris's Sparrow (Boulder, *Larimer, Pueblo, Yuma)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

VARIED THRUSH (*Jefferson, *Archuleta)

Snow Bunting (Pueblo, Sedgwick, Yuma)
Northern Cardinal (Boulder, Yuma)

Rusty Blackbird (Morgan)

Grey-Crowned Rosy-Finch (Jefferson)

PURPLE FINCH (Yuma)
Common Redpoll (Boulder, *Jefferson, *Larimer, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Weld, Yuma)

Adams County:

--A red Fox Sparrow was reported by Mlodinow at the Barr Lake feeders on December 16.

Arapahoe County:

--On December 11, Hudak reported a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Centennial Park. On December 16, Hudak reported that the Lesser Black-backed Gull continues at Centennial Park.

Archuleta County:

--A f Varied Thrush was reported by Dexter in Pagosa Springs downstream form the walking bridge at the hot springs on December 15.

Boulder County:
--At Baseline Reservoir in Boulder on November 17, the BBC field trip led by John Vanderpoel had 5 TUNDRA SWANS (2ad, 3 juv). On December 11, Nunes reports the TUNDRA SWANS are still at Baseline Reservoir.

--On December 13, Dowell reports 14 TUNDRA SWANS (ad) at Boulder Reservoir. There is major construction at Boulder Reservoir, but birders are still welcome. Just stop at the temporary entrance gate on your way in.

--A Chihuahuan Raven was seen by Mlodinow along Valmont Rd., not far west of Teller Farms, on December 11.

--A Northern Cardinal was found by Jinx Cooper in Hawthorne Gulch in Boulder on November 11. From Broadway, turn N on Hawthorn and drive to the end and park. Continue on the trail for about 200 yards. Bird was near pump house. On December 13, Heinrich viewed the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorn Gulch.

--A White-winged Dove was reported by Mlodinow at the corner of Oxford and 119th near Panama Reservoir on December 15.

--On the Longmont CBC on December 15, Prather reported an Eastern Phoebe at St Vrain Park in South Central Longmont.  Good

numbers of Harris's Sparrows were seen as well and Common Redpolls and Winter Wren.

--A f Common Yellowthroat was reported by DeFonso in the Qualcomm parking lot in N Boulder on December 16.

Denver County:

--7 TUNDRA SWANS were reported by T. Jones at Marston Reservoir on December 13, on the west side of the lake, off of Old Wadsworth Blvd. next to the wire fence They were in a group. All were in Ad. plumage. The Swans were bobbing their heads up and down, continually, the whole time they watched them. They were in the middle of the lake and then were in the south part of the lake and flew once. The swans were seen around 4pm. You could see how the eye looked separate from the bill somewhat, unlike in a Trumpeter.

--A juv White-winged Scoter was reported by Tina Jones at Marston Reservoir on November 22. On December 14, T. Jones relocated the White-winged Scoters in the northern section of Marston Reservoir. Tina recommends when viewing birds at Marston Reservoir, please beware of signs in this area especially if viewing from the SW, PLEASE let's not give birders a bad name and PLEASE watch the birds from the sidewalk or right next to the sidewalk.

--On December 15, Sanders reported 2 White-winged Scoters and a Long-tailed Duck at Marston Reservoir.  

--A Chichuahuan Raven fly by was reported by Sanders at Fort Logan on December 15.

El Paso:

--A Western Palm Warbler was reported by Farese on the Colorado College Campus.  It was found by Surano on December 12 and was seen again on December 15 several times.  It has been seen on the S side of Barnes Science Hall and on the E side of Palmer Hall.

--A f ACORN WOODPECKER was reported by Marty Wolf on the Colorado Springs CBC in the North Cheyenne Canyon area on December 15.  It was on the N side of W Cheyenne Blvd and W from 21st/Cresta.

--An adult m Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported by Drummond at the Turkey Creek Picnic Area on December 16.

Fremont County:

--On December 11, R. Miller reports 8 TUNDRA SWANS in the east Valco Pond on MacKenzie Ave. in Canon City. S. Moss also saw the TUNDRA SWANS on December 11. She recommends if coming to see them if they are out on the pond that viewing will be very difficult, as the ponds are on private property, access past the gates and fencing is trespass. Walking along the road, (very busy) traffic, driving 50 mpg. to try to see them will be difficult. There is not much room to walk along the road and the irrigation ditch. S. Moss reports the TUNDRA SWANS were flushed from the pond yesterday. "They circled higher and higher as if they were leaving the area." Swans were not seen by S. Moss on December 13.

--On December 9, S. Moss found a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Veteran's Park on Hwy 50.

--On December 8, S. Moss refound the White-throated Sparrows along the Canon City Riverwalk near the MacKenzie Ave parking area.

--A m EURASIAN WIGEON was found by Dan Maynard on the Penrose CBC on December 16.

--A White-winged Dove was reported by Percival at Rouse Park in Canon City on December 16.

--A Hammond's Flycatcher was found by Bill and Dan Maynard in Canon City on December 16.

Huerfano County:

--Neldner reports viewing 9 TUNDRA SWANS (8ad., 1juv) taking flight at Martin Lake at Lathrop State Park on December 14.

--Neldner reports there are 3 Harris's Sparrows at their feeders in La Veta, on December 14.

Jefferson County:

--Skot reports a female Long-tailed Duck is being seen on the South Platte River, probably in the area near the Carson Nature Center. It is being regularly photographed at decently close range from the river (posted by visitors on the South Platte Park facebook page) on December 10.

--Henwood reported on November 26 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continue at Red Rocks Trading Post. On the morning of December 14, after waiting 30 minutes, Henwood saw the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Red Rocks Trading Post.

--On December 13, Carrier reports a (m)VARIED THRUSH coming to their hanging feeder tray, nearest their cabin, since Monday, in Conifer. Directions: Highway 285 to Conifer, south on Foxton Road to Platte River Road, left on Platte River Road 3.9 miles to drive way. At 3.8 miles you will see our cabin and yard feeders up the hill on your left. You will find room to park along Platte River Road or on the drive way up to our cabin. Her day phone is 303-302-6125 and home number after 1pm is 303-838-0239.  Cruz reported seeing the Varied Thrush on December 16.

--On December 9, Henwood reported a small group (6-10) of Rosy-Finches at the feeders at Red Rocks Trading Post, there were Brown-capped and Gray-crowned (including Hepburn's), but no Black Rosy-Finches were seen.

--3 Common Redpolls were reported by Hackos in Soda Creek on the CBC on December 16.

Larimer County:

--On December 12, Lutomski reports a BRANT GOOSE on the small lake just north of Lake Loveland, west of Loveland High School. It was spotted in flock of about 500 Canada and Cackling Geese. Easily identified based on small size, black body, and white necklace.

--On December 15, Mlodinow reported a  Black Brant at Cattail Creek Golf Course.  It was seen from the parking lot.

--On December 9, Mammoser reported 10 Swans, 6 TUNDRA and 4 TRUMPETER, at North Poudre Reservoir #3.

--Biggerstaff reports seeing a Common Redpoll at Dixon Reservoir in west Fort Collins, on the morning of December 11, between 8:00-8:30. It was with a flock of American and Lesser Goldfinches, and House Finches. The flocks were seen just south of the upper parking lot.

--3 White-throated Sparrows were reported by Leatherman at the Plant Environmental Research Center in Fort Collins on December 15.

--A Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Leatherman at the N end of Horsetooth Reservoir on December 15.

--A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Sparks along CR 54 on December 15.

--24 Common Redpolls were reported by Sparks behind the Museum of Discovery in Fort Collins on December 15 and Sparks reported that the Redpolls were at the same location on December 16.

Morgan County:

--At Canfield Park in Fort Morgan, Dowell reported 12 Rusty Blackbirds and a Winter Wren on December 15.

Pueblo County:

--On the Pueblo Reservoir CBC on December 15, Percival reported 2 f Long-tailed Ducks, 1 m Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 Pacific Loon, 1 MEW GULL, 1 Thayer's Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, White-winged Doves, imm male Pine Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, and Common Redpoll.

Rio Blanco County:

--On December 11, Hollowed reports a flock of 58 Common Redpolls at DOW's Cowdrey Lake property in North Park, "tamely" feeding on roadside weeds.

Sedgwick County:

--On December 8, Mlodinow reported a Snow Bunting on the shore of Sedgwick portion of Jumbo Reservoir; (the point that sticks into reservoir from w. side)

Summit County:

--23+ Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Nims at the Silverthorne Blue River Water Treatment Plant on December 15.

Weld County:

--On December 11, Mlodinow reports seeing 1 Common Redpoll at the southeast corner of Union Reservoir.

--On December 13, N. Lewis reports a flock of 30 Common Redpolls at the office/maintenance facility up the road to the north of Crow Valley. The birds were hanging around the north side of the property around a row of junipers. They spent most of their time perched in a couple of dead trees by the junipers, and didn't seem to be doing any feeding, just perching. During the hour I followed them as they moved from tree to tree (they would perch in the tree nearest the road, flush every time a vehicle came by, fly to the farthest tree, and then return to the original tree. No one ever said finches were all that bright), they did no feeding, although they did visit a small patch of snow to "drink". They seemed to be staying in that area and may be "chaseable.

--A SNOWY OWL was reported by Himmel on December 15 near the intersection of CR 52 and CR 43.  

Yuma County:

--On the Bonny CBC on December 15, Walbek reported 28 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 1 red Fox Sparrow, 3 Swamp Sparrows, 1 Harris's Sparrow, 6 Northern Cardinals, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 PURPLE FINCH, and 4 Common Redpolls.

DFO FIELD TRIPS: HELP WITH CBC's..

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder