Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 16 March 2018

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine

e-mail:      RBA AT cobirds.org  

Date:        March 16, 2018

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 16 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 changed.

Greater White-fronted Goose (Rio Grande)

BRANT (Arapahoe)

Tundra Swan (Chaffee)

Greater Scaup (Weld)

White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Chaffee) 

Chukar (Larimer)

Red-necked Grebe (Arapahoe, *Larimer)

White-winged Dove (Alamosa, Douglas, Pueblo)

White-throated Swift (El Paso)

Virginia Rail (Chaffee, Weld)

Sora (Arapahoe)

Sandhill Crane (Delta, *Larimer, Rio Grande)

Long-billed Dowitcher (Rio Grande)

Greater Yellowlegs (Chaffee, Denver, El Paso, Rio Grande)

Franklin’s Gull (Weld)

California Gull (Douglas, Mesa)

Iceland Gull (El Paso, Pueblo) 

Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)

YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Douglas)

American White Pelican (Douglas)

Turkey Vulture (Adams, Boulder, Chaffee, Jefferson, Larimer, Montrose, *Weld)

Osprey (Boulder, Weld)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Summit)

Northern Goshawk (Jefferson, Larimer, Weld)

HARRIS’S HAWK (Larimer)

Swainson’s Hawk (Adams)

Burrowing Owl (Weld)

Williamson’s Sapsucker (Pueblo)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Denver)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (El Paso)

Black Phoebe (Mesa)

Eastern Phoebe (*Arapahoe)

Say’s Phoebe (*Adams, *Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson,Weld)

Gray Jay (Jackson)

Chihuahuan Raven (El Paso, Fremont)

Tree Swallow (Boulder)

Mountain Chickadee (Weld)

Bushtit (*Weld)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Broomfield, *Denver)

Winter Wren (Morgan)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Jefferson, Weld)

Mountain Bluebird (Pitkin)

Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso)

Brown Thrasher (Rio Grande)

Sage Thrasher (Mesa)

Northern Mockingbird (Adams)

Pine Grosbeak (Jackson, Jefferson)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*San Miguel, Summit)

Black Rosy-Finch (*San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*San Miguel)

Common Redpoll (Elbert, Larimer)

Red Crossbill (Weld)

Cassin’s Sparrow (El Paso)

Lark Sparrow (Jefferson)

Sagebrush Sparrow (Mesa)

Savannah Sparrow (Weld)

Fox Sparrow (Adams)

Lincoln’s Sparrow (Archuleta, Chaffee, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Montrose, *San Miguel)

White-throated Sparrow (Arapahoe, Mesa)

Harris’s Sparrow (El Paso)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Rio Grande)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Arapahoe, Yuma)

Rusty Blackbird (Larimer)

Common Yellowthroat (Chaffee)

Pine Warbler (Larimer)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Arapahoe, Jefferson)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On March 10 at Big Dry Creek Open Space (Metzger Farms), Matt Hofeditz reported Northern Mockingbird.   On March 11 at Big Dry Creek Open Space, David Ely reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 8 at Sage Creek Park, Kim Mauritz reported 2 Red Fox Sparrows.

---On March 10 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Arsenal staff reported Swainson’s Hawk.  On March 13 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Frank Mayer reported Turkey Vulture and Say’s Phoebe by Headquarters Building.  Onb March 15 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Visitor’s Center Rebecca Laroche reported Say’s Phoebe.

ALAMOSA COUNTY:

---On March 11 on Alamosa Rio Grande Riverwalk, Tanja Britton reported White-winged Dove.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:                                                                  

---On March 7 at Ketring Park and Lake, Carol Ortenzio, Brian Johnson, David Chernak and Tom Behnfield reported BRANT; Frank Farrel reported BRANT at 5820 S. Windmere in Littleton.  On March 11 at Ketring Park and Lake, Scott Somershoe and Alison Field reported BRANT.

---On March 8 at Lower Ridgewood Park, David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe and Hermit Thrush.  On March 9 at Lee Gulch Overlook Park, Edward Donnan reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 14 at Lower Ridgewood Psark, David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe.

---On March 9 at South Platte Park Carson Nature Center, Bill Schreitz reported 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

---On March 9 at Aurora Reservoir, Cheri Phillips reported 2 Red-necked Grebes.  On March 11 at Aurora Reservoir, Matt Hofeditz reported White-winged Scoter.

---On March 9 at South Platte Reservoir, Lisa McGloin reported White-winged Scoter.

---On March 9 at Cherry Creek SP, Candice Johnson reported Sora and Brown-headed Cowbird on marsh on 12 Mile Trail.

---On March 11 at Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park, Cynthia Madsen and David Hill reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 13 at South Platte Park C470 Area, Thomas Holub reported Yellow-rumped Warbler.

---On March 14 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Littleton, David Suddjian reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 14 at South Platte Reservoir, Cynthia Madsen reported White-winged Scoter.

ARCHULETA COUNTY:

---On March 12 at Echo Canyon Lake SWA, Ben Bailey reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On March 7 at East Boulder Community Park, Boulder Bird Club reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 11 at Stearns Lake, Bob Spencer reported 2 Tree Swallows.

---On March 12 at Izaak Walton Park in Longmont, Bob and Barb Larsen reported Osprey eating a fish on power line tower.

---On March 14 at 75th and Arapahoe in Boulder, Christian Nunes reported Turkey Vulture.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

---On March 9 at Buena Vista Ice Pond (View from road), Christian Hagenlocher reported 46 Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Virginia rail, Greater Yellowlegs and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 12 near Clear Creek Reservoir, Christian Hagenlocher reported Tundra Swan.

---On March 10 at Sands Lake SWA, Christian Hagelocher reported m Common Yellowthroat.

---On March 14 on Little Arkansas River between Poncha Springs and Salida, Heidi Eaton reported Turkey Vulture

DELTA COUNTY:

---On March 9 at Hart’s Basin, Evelyn Horn reported 50 – 60 Sandhill Cranes.  On March 14 at Hart’s Basin, Evelyn Horn reported 1000 Sandhill Cranes.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On March 9 at First Creek at DEN OS, John Breitsch reported Greater Yellowlegs.

---On March 9 at Fairmount Cemetery, Jeff Dawson reported ad f Yellow-bellied Sapsucker seen near Highline Canal west of Mausoleum.

---On March 15 at Overland Park, Sarah Leavesley reported 2 Pygmy Nuthatch.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--- On March 8 at Chatfield SP Handicapped Fisherman Platform, Doug Kibbe reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.   On March 9 at Chatfield SP Original Heronry Overlook, Joey Kellner and Lisa McGloin reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.  On March 10 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, Joey Kellner reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.  On March 11 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, David Alpeter and Tom Behnfield reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.

---On March 8 in Larkspur, Laura Roberts reported White-winged Dove.

ELBERT COUNTY:

---On March 8 at 296 Antelope Run in Elizabeth (view from road), Loch Kilpatrick reported Common Redpoll at feeder.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On March 7 at Bear Creek Nature Center, Del Nelson reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 7 at Garden of Gods Park, Brook Nelson reported 2 White-throated Swifts.

---On March 9 at Hanover Road, David Tonnessen and Jim Merrit reported Cassin’s Sparrow.   On March 11 on Hanover Road, Robb Hinds reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker; Diane Roberts reported 2 Chihuahuan Ravens and 2 Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On March 9 at Chico Basin ranch (fee area), David Tonnessen and Jim Merrit reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On March 11 at Birdsall Road, Kevin Ash reported Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On March 11 at Hanover Fire Station, Kevin Ash reported Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On March 11 at Squirrel Creek Rd Reservoir, Robb Hinds reported Greater Yellowlegs.

JACKSON COUNTY:

---On March 12 at Moose Visitor Center at Gould, Dave Leatherman and Norm Lewis reported 2 Gray Jays and 3 Pine Grosbeaks.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On March 7 at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Matt Clark reported 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 11 at Staunton SP, Santiago Tabares reported 5 Pine Grosbeak.

---On March 11 at Ralston/Croke, Steve Snyder reported Northern Goshawk near Ralston Creek and Say’s Phoebe by West Woods Golf Course pond.

---On March 13 at Stoney Pass Area, David Suddjian reported m Pine Grosbeak and Golden-crowned Kinglet.

---On March 14 at Hayden Green Mountain Park, Bob Shade reported Lark Sparrow.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On March 13 on Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery Area, Ryan Votta reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On March 9 at Wild Horse Birdfeeder in Loveland, John Reichhardt reported Pine Warbler.

---On February 28 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Dave Leatherman found Red-necked Grebe which was seen by several other birders.   On March 14 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Austin Hess and Caroline Olson reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 15 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Dave Leatherman, Denise Bretting, and Nick Komar reported Red-necked Grebe.

---On March 7 at Ridgen Reservoir in eastern Fort Collins, Dave Leatherman reported m Barrow’s Goldeneye.

---On March 8 at Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal Greenbelt at W Lake St in Fort Collins, Nick Komar reported 2 Common Redpoll.

---On March 9  at Visitors Center in Fort Collins, Richard Herrington reported HARRIS’S HAWK.

---On March 10 at Hillsdale Park in Berthoud, Foothills Audubon led by Ron Harden reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 11 at Horsetooth Reservoir, April Eisele reported Turkey Vulture soaring above Inlet Bay.

---On March 14 on E CR 58 between I-25 and N CR 3, Jonny Appleseed reported Chuckar.

---On March 15 at Wellington SWA, Gary Lefko reported 41 Sandhill Cranes.

LAS ANIMAS COUNTY:

---On March 7 at JE Canyon Ranch Belew Holes, Jack Harlan reported Lincoln’s Sparow.

MESA COUNTY:

---On March 9 at Grand Junction WA, Mike Henwood and Katey Buster reported White-throated Sparrow and Lincoln’s Sparrow.  On March 13 at Grand Junction SW, Carol Ortenzio and Katey Buster reported 2 White-throated Sparrows.

---On March 10 at Connected Lakes SP, Carol Ortenzio and Katey Buster reported Black Phoebe along the canal.

---On March 14 at Colorado/Utah State Line, Kathleen McGinley and Mike Henwood reported Sage Thrasher and 8 Sagebrush Sparrows.

---On March 15 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood and Kathleen McGinley reported Say’s Phoebe.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

---On March 11 at Nucla Sewage Lagoons, Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 12 on Nucla Ave Five, Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported Lincoln’s Sparrow and 3 Turkey Vultures.

MORGAN COUNTY:

---On March 7 at Riverside Park (east section) in Fort Morgan, Norm Lewis reported Winter Wren.

PITKIN COUNTY:

---On March 11 at Basalt High School, Reid Greiner reported 7 Mountain Bluebirds (6m, 1f).

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On March 12 at Pueblo Mountain Park, Darth Aves reported pair of Williamson’s Sapsucker.

---On March 13 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina, Brian Johnson reported Great Black-backed Gull and White-winged Dove.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

---On March 7 at Monte Vista NWR, John Rawinski reported Greater White-fronted Goose and 10 – 15,000 Sandhill Cranes.  

---On March 10 at Home Lake, Laura Aardwolfe and Lisa Clements reported Greater Yellowlegs wading on shore of lake.

---On March 11 at retention pond at NE corner of CR 8S and CR 5E, Kevin Corwin reported Long-billed Dowitcher.

---On March 13 at Monte Vista NWR, Heidi Eaton reported 3 Sandhill Cranes and Yellow-headed Blackbird.  On March 14 at Monte Vista NWR, Tania Britton reported Yellow-headed Blackbird.

---On March 14 at Monte Vista NWR, Cynthia Kristensen reported Brown Thrasher.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On March 15 at The Terrace at Telluride Ski Resort, Eric Hynes reported Lincoln’s Sparrow, 2 Hepburn’s Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 2 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 3 Black Rosy-Finch, and 55 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

SUMMIT COUNTY:

---On March 9 at Keystone Ranch Golf Course in Dillon, Michael Green reported Sharp-shinned Hawk and 3 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch.

WELD COUNTY:

---On March 7 at Glenmere Park in Greeley, Shawn Mason reported Mountain Chickadee.  On March 8 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason reported 2 Mountain Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and 2 Bushtit.  On March 9 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason reported 2 Bushtits.  On March 11 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason and Gene Rutherford reported Mountain Chickadee and 9 type 2 Red Crossbill (4m, 4f).  On March 15 at Glenmeter Park, Shawn Mason reported 2 Turkey Vultures and 2 Bushtits.

---On March 12 near LaSalle north of CR 38 between CR 47 and CR 49, Gene Rutherford reported Burrowing Owl.

---On March 7 at Banner Lakes SWA, Doug Kibbe reported 2 Virginia Rail.

---On March 7 at LUNA reservoir, Bill Kaempfer reported Franklin’s Gull, Iceland Gull, and Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull.

---On March 11 at St Vrain SP, Doug Kibbe, Jeff Dawson, and Elaine Wagner reported Osprey and Northern Goshawk; Christina Yeagley reported Osprey.

---On March 12 on Johnstown utility line, Derek Hill reported Say’s Phoebe.

DFO Field trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, March 17 will be to First Creek at Denver Open Space led by Patrick O’Driscoll (patodrisk AT gmail.com; 303-885-6955 (cell))   This trip is full.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, March 18 will be to Canon City led by Mark Amershek (mamershek AT msn.com; 303-329-8646).  This Trip is full.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder