Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 28 January 2014

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: January 28, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, January 28, 2014

sponsored  by the 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 (* indicates new information on this species in

this report):

BRANT (*Douglas)

TUNDRA SWAN (*Rio Grande)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Boulder, Delta, Garfield, Pueblo)

RED THROATED LOON (Pueblo)

WESTERN GULL (Huerfano)

MEW GULL (Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Thayer's Gull (Boulder)

ICELAND GULL (Arapahoe)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso)

SLATY-BACKED GULL (Arapahoe)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Arapahoe)

Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Boulder)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bent, Pueblo)

Greater Roadrunner (*Pueblo)

SNOWY OWL (Lincoln)

Winter Wren (El Paso, Larimer)

Pacific/Winter Wren (Boulder)

VARIED THRUSH (Huerfano)

Bohemian Waxwing (*Larimer)

PINE WARBLER (Douglas)

Swamp Sparrow (Baca, El Paso)

Harris's Sparrow (Garfield)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Jefferson)

Rusty Blackbird (Adams)

Rosy-Finch (*Jefferson, *Larimer)

ADAMS COUNTY:

--2 Rusty Blackbirds were reported by the DFO Field Trip led by Hundertmark at Barr Lake SP below the dam on January 26.

ARAPHOE COUNTY:

--On January 19, Mlodinow reported that the SLATY-BACKED GULL returned to Aurora Reservoir at around 1530 and was seen from the N side of the dam.   Mlodinow also reported ad Kumliens ICELAND GULL and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Aurora Reservoir on January 19.  On January 23, Hundertmark reported the SLATY-BACKED GULL at Aurora Reservoir.

--On January 18, Suddjian reported Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1-st cyc Glaucous Gull flying over St Mary's Church on S. Prince St in Littleton.

--On January 22, Walbek reported a MEW GULL, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and several pale 1-st cyc Thayer's Gulls on the east ice at Cherry Creek SP.

BACA COUNTY:

--A Swamp Sparrow was reported by Dowell in Cottonwood Canyon on January 26.

BENT COUNTY:

--An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Duane Nelson at John Martin Reservoir on ice shelf in Clayton Bay on January 24.  On January 26, Dowell reported GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and 2 imm Glaucous Gulls on ice shelf in Clayton Bay at John Martin.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--A Pacific Wren was reported by Floyd at the back end of Sawhill Ponds in Boulder on January 19.  On January 21, Erthal reported the Pacific Wren at the W end of Sawhill Ponds.  On January 22, Norfleet reported that the Boulder Bird Club found the Pacific Wren on the west side of Sawhill Ponds along Boulder Creek.  On January 23, Moore reported the Pacific Wren continues at Sawhill Ponds.  On January 24, Mlodinow reported that the wren being seen at Sawhill Ponds sounds like a Pacific Wren but looks like a Winter Wren.

--5 or 6 pairs of Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Bradley-Bennett N of the bridge at Hwy 119 and 3rd Ave east of Longmont on January 24.

--A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Waltman at Clover Basin Reservoir in Longmont on January 25.

--A 1-st cyc Glaucous Gull, ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 2 ad Thayer's Gulls were reported by Floyd at Boulder Reservoir on January 25.

DELTA COUNTY:

--20 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by McConnell on the Gunnison River at Confluence Park on January 26.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--A PINE WARBLER was reported by Sigafoos at their feeders in Highlands Ranch since January 22.  Birders are welcome to try for the bird.  The address is 6754 Blackhawk Ct.  The feeders are in the NW corner of the backyard in a Maple Tree and in the bush in the SW corner of the house.  The PINE WARLBLER was seen on January 24 by Walbek.

--The BRANT was reported by Crooks at Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch on January 27.  It was at the furthest S baseball field next to houses.

EL PASO COUNTY:

--On January 17, Farese reported Swamp Sparrow by the bridge below the Nature Center and Winter Wren at Mile Marker 18 at Fountain Creek RP.  On January 19, Kosar reported the Swamp Sparrow at the Fountain Creek Nature Center.

--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Hinds at Big Johnson on January 25.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--On January 24, Ortenzio reported the Harris's Sparrow at the Filby's in Carbondale.  I believe that Dick Filby is out of town, but if you want to try to see it you might contact his wife Denise at info AT fosgi.org.

--5 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Baron 0.1 mile downriver from the west end of Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs on January 26.

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A probable WESTERN GULL was reported by Mark Peterson on Horseshoe Lake in Lathrop SP on January 19.

--A VARIED THRUSH has been visiting a private yard in La Veta.  The owners welcome visitors but the bird is best seen from inside the home.  If you would like to try to see the bird please contact Polly Neldner at pollywren AT gmail.com and she will help you make arrangements to see the bird.  On January 24, Erthal and Kilpatrick saw the VARIED THRUSH in La Veta.  On January 26, Neldner reported that the VARIED THRUSH continues in La Veta.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On January 27, Suddjian reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post and there were 2 Gray-crowned and 2  Brown-capped Rosy-Finches as well.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--A Winter Wren was reported by Leatherman on January 24 NW of Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins.  It was along the S side of the Poudre River.  On January 25, Mark Miller reported refinding the Winter Wren at the spot as described by Leatherman.  The Winter Wren was reported by Bruening in the same spot as reported by Mark Miller on January 26.

--On January 27, Rashid reported 1000 Rosy-Finches and a single Bohemian Waxwing in his yard.  Birders are welcome to come and see the birds.  His address is 715 Sanborn Drive, Estes Park.

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A SNOWY OWL was reported by Kellner on a power pole on Hwy 94 east of CR 11 on January 26.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--A RED-THROATED LOON, m Barrow's Goldeneye, and ad MEW GULL were reported by Percival at Pueblo Reservoir on January 25.  The loon was at the Sailboard Launch Area to the east, the goldeneye was near the boatramp at SWA, and the gull was at N-1 road in NE corner of the reservoir.

--An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Dowell on the tires at South Marina at Pueblo Reservoir on January 25.

--A Greater Roadrunner was reported by Percival at Swallows SWA on January 26.  Swallows ia at the far west end of Pueblo Reservoir.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

--Simmons reported on January 27 that the TUNDRA SWAN at the Rio Grande Bridge on 3W Road NW of Monte Vista.

DFO Field Trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, February 1 will be to Castlewood Canyon SP led by Laurie Duke (303-646-4699).  Meet the leader at 0800 at the north entrance to the park in the Homestead Parking Lot.  This will be a half-day trip, lunch optional but do bring snacks and drinking water.  The trip will involve hiking over trails but leader will try to avoid icy areas so wear good hiking shoes.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, February 2 will be to 88th and the Platte led by Chris Owens (303-772-6048 leave a message and number or christiel at q.com)  Meet the leader a 0745 at E 88th and S Platte River (parking lot just south of the intersection of 88th and Colorado).  Will check the duck population of this winter river habitat, any overhead raptors, and any other bird that flaps our way while we walk along paved flat trails (about 4 miles).  This will be a half-day trip, birding until noon or shortly thereafter.  Dress for predicted weather.  Bring water, snacks, binocs, and scopes.  Please register with leader in case of weather cancellaltion.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder