Denver Urban CBC

[Hugh Kingery]

    The 35th Denver Urban CBC tallied 90 species (ave.  87) and 30,147 birds (ave. 39,674). We failed to cover one section of the South Platte, so that our waterfowl numbers dipped. 135 observers went out in the field and 12 watched at feeders.

* We found three new birds for the count:

        -a White-winged Dove that has patronized a Park Hill feeder for a week or two; and

        -an Eastern Phoebe found by the Tuesday Birders group in Fairmont Cemetery -- and approved by eBird within 2 days.

       - a Bohemian Waxwing (just one) south of Hampden, mixed in (surprise) with 151 Cedar Waxwings.

* Other rarities

        -the count's 2nd Cassin's Finches (30; reflecting the state-wide incursion), 3rd Lapland Longspur, 4th Winter Wren, 4th                 Long-tailed Duck.

* We had record high counts for Townsend's Solitaire (53; average 15), Cedar Waxwing (187; ave. 39), Blue Jay (147 --                         previous high 80), and (surprise) Eur. Collared-Doves (160 - first one on Jan. 1, 2006).

* Near record highs for Robin (1,278; ave. 405); 221 Horned Larks (ave. 119); and 16 Great Blue Herons (ave. 8).

    Lesser Scaup (96; ave. 31).

* House Sparrows and House Finches continue their drop in numbers from the first counts.

* Other drops: Magpie 335 vs ave. 587; Bald Eagle (39 vs. 46 and highs of 94-95 from 2016 to 2019); lowest count for Rock Pigeons (832, ave. 1,966)

Hugh Kingery