Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 9 September 2017

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:           Joyce Takamine

e-mail:                RBA AT cobirds.org

Date:                   September 9, 2017

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, September 9 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species)

NOTE:  The RBA is now using the new AOU checklist and the order of families has changes.

Greater White-fronted Goose (Denver)

Bufflehead (Custer)

Wild Turkey (Baca, *Denver)

Horned Grebe (Park)

White-winged Dove (Arapahoe, Prowers)

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (*Bent)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Baca, Bent)

Greater Roadrunner (Baca, *El Paso, Kiowa)

Black Swift *Boulder, Pueblo)

Chimney Swift (Prowers)

Sandhill Crane (Costilla, Montezuma, Montrose, Routt, Weld)

American Golden Plover (*Washington)

Snowy Plover (*Alamosa)

Semipalmated Plover (*Washington)

Upland Sandpiper (Baca, El Paso, Yuma)

Stilt Sandpiper (*Alamosa, Jefferson, *Washington)

Sanderling (Larimer, *Washington)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (*Washington)

Pectoral Sandpiper (El Paso, *Washington)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (El Paso, *Washington)

Short-billed Dowitcher (*Washington)

Solitary Sandpiper (*Boulder, El Paso, Jefferson, Montrose, San Miguel)

LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Park)

Sabine’s Gull (Custer, *Douglas, Jefferson)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Douglas, Jefferson, *Washington)

Caspian Tern (*Larimer, Washington)

Black Tern (Kiowa, Morgan)

Common Tern (Larimer, Park, *Washington)

Common Loon (Kiowa, Ouray)

Green Heron (Baca)

Mississippi Kite (Baca, Prowers)

Broad-winged Hawk (Baca)

Lewis’s Woodpecker (Montrose)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Weld, Yuma)

Red-belllied Woodpecker (Yuma)

Williamson’s Sapsucker (*Boulder, Gilpin, El Paso, Larimer)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*El Paso, Pueblo)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Boulder, Gunnison, Larimer)

Merlin (Pueblo)

Least Flycatcher (Baca, Bent, El Paso)

Gray Flycatcher (Montrose)

Black Phoebe (Jefferson, Montrose)

Eastern Phoebe (Baca,  Prowers)

Cassin’s Kingbird (El Paso, Montezuma)

Blue-headed Vireo (Baca, *Bent, El Paso, Pueblo, Weld)

Red-eyed Vireo (Baca, Bent, Powers)

Chihuahuan Raven (El Paso)

Purple Martin (Prowers)

Bewick’s Wren (El Paso)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Baca, Bent, El Paso, Mesa, *Washington, Weld)

Curve-billed Thrasher (*El Paso)

American Pipit (Mesa)

Cassin’s Finch (Mesa)

Evening Grosbeak (Kiowa)

McCown’s Longspur (Weld)

Ovenbird (*Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Weld)

Northern Waterthrush (*El Paso, Jefferson, *Mesa)

Golden-winged Warbler (*Ouray)

Blue-winged Warbler (Weld)

Black-and-white Warbler (El Paso, Pueblo, *Washington, Weld)

Prothonotary Warbler (Baca)

Tennessee Warbler (Adams, Baca, *El Paso, *Weld)

Nashville Warbler (Baca, El Paso, Jefferson, *Weld)

American Redstart (Baca, Bent, Boulder, El Paso, *Washington, Weld)

Northern Parula (*Washington)

Magnolia Warbler (Bent, Larimer)

Bay-breasted Warbler (*Washington)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Baca, *Boulder, Custer, Prowers)

Blackpoll Warbler (Pueblo)

Black-throated Green Warbler (*Pueblo)

Cassin’s Sparrow (*El Paso)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Arapahoe, Baca, *Boulder, Douglas, Eagle, *El Paso, Jefferson, Mesa, *Weld)

Brewer’s Sparrow (Arapahoe, *Boulder, *El Paso, Pueblo)

Field Sparrow (Weld)

Lark Bunting (Boulder, Chaffee, El Paso, *Summit, Weld)

Grasshopper Sparrow (Boulder)

Fox Sparrow (San Juan)

Northern Cardinal (Prowers)

Dickcissel (El Paso, Pueblo, *Weld)

Bobolink (Boulder)

Baltimore Oriole (Prowers, Weld, Yuma)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Barr Lake Banding Station, Meredith McBurney reported banding Tennessee Warbler and Clay-colored Sparrow.  On September 6 at Barr Lake Banding Station, Meredith McBurney reported that the Tennessee Warbler continues near the banding station.

ALAMOSA COUNTY:

--- On September 3 at Blanca Wetlands NWR, JoAnn Riggle reported Snowy Plover.  On September 7 at Blanca Wetlands NWR, John Rawinski reported few Snowy Plovers and Stilt Sandpiper.

---On September 8 at N end of Cattails Golf Course, John Rawinski reported Ovenbird.

ARAPHAOE COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Cherry Creek SP Pelican Point, Ben Sampson reported Clay-colored Sparrow.

---On September 6  at Cherry Creek SP South End, David Hill and Cynthia Madsen reported White-winged Dove, 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, and 2 Brewer’s Sparrows.

BACA COUNTY:

---On September 3 in town of Walsh, Steve Mlodinow reported Mississippi Kite.

---On September 3 at Turk’s Pond SWA, Steve Mlodinow and David Dowell reported Broad-winged Hawk, American Redstart, and 5 Clay-colored Sparrows.

---On September 3 at Two Buttes SWA below the dam, Steve Mlodinow and David Dowell reported Wild Turkey, Upland Sandpiper, 3 Greater Roadrunners, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 3 American Redstart, 3 Chestnut-sided Warblers, Ovenbird, Tennessee Warbler, and Nashville Warbler.  On September 5 at Two Buttes Reservoir below dam, Brandon Percival reported Prothonotary Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, 3 American Redstarts, Ovenbird, Least Flycatcher, Green Heron.

BENT COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Tempel Grove, Dave Leatherman reported American Redstart, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  On September 5 at Melody Tempel Grove, Brandon Percival reported 2 Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 Ovenbird, American Redstart.  On September 7 at Tempel Grove, Duane Nelson reported Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and hatch year f Magnolia Warbler, 2 American Redstarts.  On September 8 at Tempel Grove, John Drummond reported juv  BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and Blue-headed Vireo.

---On September 5 at Hasty Campground, Brandon Percival reported 2 American Redstart, Red-eyed Vireo.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Rocky Mountain NP Ouzel Falls, Aaron and Emil Yappert reported 4 Black Swifts (1 on nest, 3 flying) and American Three-toed Woodpecker.  On September 6 at Rocky Mountain NP Ouzel Falls, Myron Gerhard reported Black Swift on nest.

---On September 5 at Golden Ponds Park and Nature Area, David Dowell reported 2 American Redstarts.

---On September 6 at 66th and Marshall Road, Christian Nunes reported Grasshopper Sparrow, 12 Clay-colored Sparrows, 3 Brewer’s Sparrows, and 5 Lark Buntings.

---On September 8 at Walden/Sawhill Ponds, Ted Floyd reported imm Williamson’s Sapsucker, 3 Clay-colored Sparrows, 2 Brewer’s Sparrows; Mark Holmgren and Elena Klaver reported 2 Solitary Sandpipers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Brewer’s Sparrow.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

---On September 6 on CR 300 outside of Buena Vista, Greg Levandoski reported 5 Lark Bunting.

COSTILLA COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Smith Reservoir, JoAnn Riggle reported 3 Sandhill Cranes.

CUSTER COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Lake DeWeese, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported m Bufflehead and juv Sabine’s Gull.  On Septmeber 4 at Lake DeWeese, Brandon Percival reported juv Sabine’s Gull.  On September 6 at DeWeese Reservoir, Rich Miller reported Sabine’s Gull and juv Chestnut-sided Warbler next to the dam.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Bluff Lake NC, Chris Rurik and his DFO Field Trip reported Wild Turkey.   On September 8 at Bluff Lake Nature Center, Andrew Fontenot reported Wild Turkey.

---On September 5 at Denver City Park Duck Lake, Baila Zohari reported Greater White Fronted Goose.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, Joey Kellner reported sub-ad Lesser Black-backed Gull and juv Sabine’s Gull; Myron Gerhard reported 2 Sabine’s Gulls.  On September 4 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, Bez Bezuidenhout reported 2 Sabine’s Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 Clay-colored Sparrows; Art Hudak reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.  On September 8 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, Chuck Aid and Michael Kiessig reported Sabine’s Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Fountain Creek Regional Park, David Tonnessen reported Cassin’s Kingbird, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow, and 2 Brewer’s Sparrows.

--- On September 4 at Clear Spring Ranch, Steve Brown reported Least Flycatcher and ad Clay-colored Sparrow.  On September 5 at Clear Spring Ranch, Steve Brown banded 2 Clay-colored Sparrows.  On September 7 at Clear Spring Ranch, Steve Brown reported banding ad Northern Waterthrush, and 2 Clay-colored Sparrows.  On September 8 at Clear Spring Ranch, Steve Brown reported ad f Tennessee Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and Clay-colored Sparrow.

---On September 2 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), David Tonnessen reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, 2 Least Flycatchers, 2 Curve-billed Thrashers, 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, and 5 Brewer’s Sparrows.  On September 4 at Chico Basin Ranch, Monday Birders reported Upland Sandpiper, f Williamson’s Sapsucker, 2 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Curve-billed Thrasher, f Black-and-white Warbler, 6 Clay-colored Sparrows, 14 Brewer’s Sparrows and 3 Dickcissel.  On September 4 at Chico Basin ranch, Aaron Yappert reported Curve-billed Thrasher, Black-and-white Warbler, and 2 Clay-colored Sparrows.  On September 5 at Chico Basin Ranch, cathy Bondy reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, 2 Curve-billed Thrasher, Black-and-white Warbler, and American Redstart; John Drummond and Aitken Audubon reported 2 Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bewick’s Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 American Redstarts (1ad m, 1 imm m), Cassin’s Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Lark Bunting.  On September 8 at Chico Basin Ranch, Norm Lewis reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, 4 Cassin’s Sparrows, Clay-colored Sparrow, and 2 Brewer’s Sparrows; Aaron Yappert reported 2 Ladder-backed Woodeckers, and Aaron Yappert  reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, and Clay-colored Sparrow.

---On September 2 on Hanover Road, David Tonnessen reported Greater Roadrunner, Chihuahuan Raven, Clay-colored Sparrow, and 6 Brewer’s Sparrows.  On September 5 on Hanover Road in Fountain, Diane Roberts reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Chihuahuan Raven.  On September 8 on Hanover Road, Norm Lewis reported Greater Roadrunner.

---On September 4 at Ramah Reservoir SWA, Rob Hinds reported 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpiper.

---On September 7 in a huge field at east end of Pike’s Peak Ave in Colorado Springs, Eric Eaton reported Lewis’s Woodpecker.

---On September 6 at Pulpit Rock Park, Alan Versaw reported Blue-headed Vireo, 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Clay-colored Sparrow.

GILPIN COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Golden Gate Canyon SP , Andrew Fontenot reported f Williamson’s Sapsucker near beginning of Horseshoe Trail.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Chatfield SP, Joey Kellner reported Black Phoebe N of Swim Beach and Brian Johnson reported Black and Eastern Phoebe at Swim Beach.  On September 3 at Chatfield SP, Aaron Shipe reported Solitary Sandpiper and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  On September 4 at Chatfield SP Swim Beach, Pablo Quezada reported Eastern Phoebe.  On September 5 at Chatfield SP Swim Beach, Loch Kilpatrick reported 2 Sabine’s Gulls, Black Phoebe, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Waterthrush, Nashville Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow; Phil Lyon reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.  On September 6 at Chatfield SP Swim Beach, Pablo Quezada and Dale Pate reported Black Phoebe and Eastern Phoebe.

---On September 4 at Harriman Lake Park, Brian Johnson reported 3 Clay-colored Sparrows.

KIOWA COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake), Steve Mlodinow reported Greater Roadrunner and Black Tern.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Timnath Reservoir, Joe Mammoser reported 3 Caspian Terns on sandspit on N shore.  On September 8 at Timnath Reservoir, Joe Mammoser reported 4 Caspian Terns.

---On September 3 in Rocky Mountain NP Upper Beaver Meadows, Luke Pheneger reported juv Magnolia Warbler in restoration area north of parking lot.

---On September 2 in Rocky Mountain NP Hollowell Park, Luke and Tracy Pheneger reported American Three-toed Woodpecker and Williamson’s Sapsucker.

---On September 2 Rocky Mountain NP Bear Lake, Luke Pheneger reported American Three-toed Woodpecker.

---On September 3 at Lake Estes, Luke Pheneger reported Sanderling and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers.

---On September 3 at Rocky Mountain NP Endovalley, Luke Pheneger reported American Three-toed Woodpecker.

MESA COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Grand Junction Wildlife Area, Mike Henwood reported 2 Clay-colored Sparrows (ad, juv).

---On September 6 at Vega Reservoir and Vega SP, Mike Henwood reported 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, American Pipit, and 4 Cassin’s Finches.

---On September 8 at Horsethief Canyon SWA, Mike Henwood reported Northern Waterthrush.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Totten Reservoir, Jason St. Pierre reported 2 Sandhill Cranes east of boat launch.

---On September 4 at Mesa Verde NP Wetherill Mesa, Stanton Hunter reported Cassin’s Kingbird.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

---On September 5 at Cooper’s Ditch, Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported Lewis’s Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, and 2 Sandhill Cranes.

---On September 5 at Airport Lake, Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported 3 Solitary Sandpipers.

OURAY COUNTY:

---On September 8 at Ridgway Banding Station, Linnea Rowse reported imm F Golden-winged Warbler.

PARK COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Antero Reservoir, Loch Kilpatrick and Glenn Walbek reported 10 Horned Grebes and LONG-TAILED JAEGER.  On September 4 at Antero Reservoir, Joel Adams reported LONG-TAILED JAEGER.

---On September 3 at Eleven Mile Reservoir, Loch Kilpatrick and Glenn Walbek reported Common Loon and 2 Horned Grebes.

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On September 2 at Lamar Community College Woods north end, Dave Leatherman reported Great Crested Flycatcher, f-type Purple Martin, and a few Mississippi Kites.  On September 4 at Lamar Community College Woods, Dave Leatherman reported Chestnut-sided Warbler (1st fall f), Chimney Swift, and Northern Cardinal.

---On September 5 at 14th and Parkway in Lamar, Dorothy Russell reported Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo and 2 Baltimore Orioles.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On September 2 in Colorado City, Dave Silverman and Brandon Percival reported 3 Black Swifts at Lake Beckwith and Brandon reported Dickcissel behind TruValue Hardware.

---On September 2 at Chico Basin Ranch, Rose Pond area, Robb Hinds reported 4 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Blue-headed Vireo, and 5 Brewer’s Sparrows.  On September 5 at Chico Basin Ranch, Kevin Ash reported Dickcissel.

---On September 7 at Cottonwood Picnic Area below Pueblo Reservoir dam by the parking lot, Brandon Percival reported Black-throated Green warbler and Black-and-white Warbler.  On Septmeber 8 at Cottonwood Picnic Area below Pueblo Reservoir day, Brandon Percival reported Black-throated Green Warbler.

---On September 7 at Cattail Crossing Pond in Pueblo, Brandon Percival reported Blackpoll Warbler.

ROUTT COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Morgan Bottoms Rd, Ted Floyd reported a “plenitude” of Sandhill Cranes.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On September 4 at Snyder’s Pond, George Steel reported Solitary Sandpiper.

---On September 4 at CR 44Z north farm pond, Eric Hynes reported Solitary Sandpiper.

SUMMIT COUNTY:

---On September 8 at Dillon Reservoir Frisco Lake front Trails, Nick Moore reported f Lark Bunting.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

---On September 9 at Prewitt Reservoir, Glenn Walbek reported 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 75 Stilt Sandpipers, 3 Sanderlings, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 29 Pectoral Sandpipers, 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, 2 Black-and-white Warblers, 3 American Redstarts, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted Warbler; Kathy Mihm Dunning et al reported American Golden Plover, 3 Semipalmated Plover, 10 Stilt Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers.

---On September 9 at Prewitt Inlet Canal grove, Kathy Mihm Dunning et al reported 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted Warbler.

WELD COUNTY:

---On September 3 at Norma’s Grove, Gene Rutherford reported 2 Sandhill Cranes (flyover), Least Flycatcher, McCown’s Longspur in field east of grove, north side, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 3 American Redstart (1 hatch yr m, 2 f), 5 Clay-colored Sparrows, 8 Lark Bunting.  On September 4 at Norma’s Grove, Gene Rutherford reported Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ovenbird, m Blue-winged Warbler, hatch yr Black-and-white Warbler, 2 American Redstarts (f, hatch year m) and 2 Lark Buntings.  On September 6 at Norma’s Grove, Gene Rutherford and Loch Kilpatrick reported juv Red-headed Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireo and f-type American Redstart.  On September 7 at Crow Valley CG, Cynthia Kristensen reported Ovenbird.

---On September 5 at Crow Valley CG, Gene Rutherford reported Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, and Baltimore Oriole.  On September 8 at Crow Valley CG, Joey Kellner and Norm Erthal reported Tennessee Warbler and Nashville Warbler.

---On September 6 at Cr 57 N of Hwy 14, Loch Kilpatrick reported Field Sparrow, 3 Clay-colored Sparrows, and 2 Lark Buntings.

---On September 7 at CR 57 S of CR 96 in trees by bridge, Gene Rutherford reported hatch year f Tennessee Warbler, 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, and Lark Bunting.

---On September 8 at Behrens Reservoir, Gene Rutherfold reported Dickcissel and 2 Clay-colored Sparrows.

YUMA COUNTY:

---On September 1 at Hale Ponds, Steve Mlodinow reported Upland  Sandpiper, 6 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 3 Red-breasted Woodpeckers, 3 Least Flycatchers, 9 Clay-colored Sparrows, 2 Brewer’s Blackbirds, 5 Baltimore Orioles.

Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, September 9 will be to Joder Ranch led by Chuck Hundertmark (chundertmark8 AT gmail.com; 303-604-0531)  From US 36 on north side of Boulder, take Lee Hill Drive west.  After the road turns north stay right onto Old Stage Road.  At stop sign at Lefthad Canyon Drive go straight and immediately turn into Buckingham Park Parking lot.  Meet at 0730.  

   This is a moderate to difficult half-day hike of 4 miles.  Bring water, sunscreen, and snacks.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, September 10 will be to Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza and Bill Wuerthele (kvonsaltza AT yahoo.com; 303-941-4881).  Meet at 0800 at  Prairie Loop lot Cherry Creek Sp.  From either park entrance, follow Lake View Rd to the Prairie Loop that is located at the south rim of the reservoir.  State Parks pass or day pass required.  

     This is a half-day of walking that passes through most of the important habitats found in the park over a distance of about 3 miles.  Trails could be slippery or muddy.  Bring water and snacks; lunch is optional.  Beginning birders are welcome.

For more information on the field trips go to dfobirds.org.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder