Western Kingbird today! Arapahoe county

[Susan Rosine]

I couldn't believe my eyes. Cherry Creek State Park, Arapahoe Co. As I pulled into the parking lot, I assumed the bird was a Say's Phoebe, until it turned around! I watched it for quite some time, flying into the air to catch insects, flying back to a tree. Occasionally went to the ground to get a bug.
After awhile it flew away, but not before I took lots of pictures. Another woman in the parking lot turned out to be a birder, and she agreed it was a Western Kingbird.
Yellow belly, gray chest and head. Narrow white outer edges on dark tail. Typical Kingbird behavior. Definitely Western, not Cassin's.
About to record it in Ebird, with some pics. Oh, and with the other birds I saw. LOL

Susan Rosine
Thornton

[Susan Rosine]

I am going to download my pictures to my computer, and then I can post the best ones here.
For now, I took some pics off the back of my camera,using my cell.
Try this link
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34802925

Susan

[Joe Roller]

Great find, Susan!

The previous high latitude for Western Kingbird for February was that of Dallas, Texas, per eBird.

In 1944 Frank Loesser wrote the ballad, "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year," which became a great American "standard".

He was not talking about this year, 2017.

We need new song.

Joe Roller, Denver

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[linda hodges]

And an early Double-crested Cormorant in Colorado Springs yesterday. At Double Tree pond.

Linda Hodges

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[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Joe et al,

I agree with everyone who thinks this kingbird is an amazing record.  When first announced by Susan I was betting it would be a Tropical/Couch's.  The photo proof of its being a Western is undeniable and I commend Susan for sharing this remarkable occurrence in various outlets including COBIRDS. 

I was in the Lamar area last week.  The daily high temps were in the mid to high 70s the entire visit until the current cold front came in on the 23rd.  At Blue Lake on the 21st we found a Northern Shrike impaling grasshoppers instead of their more normal fare of birds and small rodents.  Several species of grasshopper overwinter as nymphs (and are active on warm days), while many other grasshopper species overwinter in the ground as eggs.  The shrikes seemed to be finding almost full-grown nymphs of a few species (according to hopper guru Tim McNary in the genera Pardalophora (photo of one impaled on tumbleweed caught up in barbed wire fence), Xanthippus and Arphia).  Keeping with the musical theme, maybe the song appropriate for these impaled hoppers would be the jazz standard "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most".

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

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From: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Joe Roller <jrol...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 8:59 PM
To: Susan Rosine
Cc: Colorado Birds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Western Kingbird today! Arapahoe county

 

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[Ben S]

I looked twice for this bird at Cherry Creek State Park today, in the mourning and afternoon. When I was looking at Lake Loop it was 15 degrees F. Therefore, I wouldn't be suprised if he had already moved on. I looked at the ebird bar charts. Not only had this species never been reported in Colorado in Feburary, the earliest it had previously been reported was early April. Nice find! Maybe next winter someone will get us a Tropical Kingbird!