Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 6 April 2018

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine

Date:        April 6, 2018

e-mail:      RBA AT cobirds.org  

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 6 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.

Snow Goose (*Boulder, Garfield)

Ross’s Goose (*Douglas)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Jefferson, Prowers, Weld)

Wood Duck (*Montezuma)

Dusky Grouse (Delta)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)

White-winged Dove (Weld)

Chimney Swift (*Boulder)

White-throated Swift (*Chaffee, Pueblo)

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (*El Paso)

Virginia Rail (Chaffee)

Sandhill Crane (Chaffee, Jefferson, *Montezuma, Rio Grande, Weld)

Black-necked Stilt (Rio Grande)

Mountain Plover (El Paso, Weld)

Baird’s Sandpiper (Larimer)

Least Sandpiper (La Plata)

Long-billed Dowitcher (El Paso, Mesa)

Lesser Yellowlegs (Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Weld)

Bonaparte’s Gull (Boulder, Chaffee)

Franklin’s Gull (*Montezuma)

California Gull (Douglas, Mesa)

Iceland Gull (El Paso, Pueblo) 

Glaucous Gull (Washington)

American White Pelican (Douglas)

Great Egret (Chaffe, *Moffat)

Snowy Egret (Adams, Denver)

White-faced Ibis (Rio Grande)

Turkey Vulture (Douglas, *Larimer, Mineral, Pitkin)

Osprey (Mesa)

Northern Goshawk (Larimer, Weld)

Swainson’s Hawk (Jefferson, Weld)

Burrowing Owl (*El Paso, Jefferson, Weld)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*El Paso)

Black Phoebe (Fremont, Mesa)

Eastern Phoebe (*Boulder, Custer, Fremont)

Vermilion Flycatcher (*El Paso)

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Adams)

Chihuahuan Raven (Fremont, El Paso)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Archuleta)

Cliff Swallow (*Larimer)

Barn Swallow (Broomfield, Chaffee, *Larimer)

Bushtit (Weld)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Arapahoe)

Eastern Bluebird (Weld)

Gray Catbird (*Larimer)

Curve-billed Thrasher (*El Paso)

Brown Thrasher (Baca)

Sage Thrasher (Boulder, *El Paso, Weld)

Bohemian Waxwing (Clear Creek)

Northern Mockingbird (Baca, Broomfield, El Paso)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Black Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Red Crossbill (Adams)

Chestnut-collared Longspur (El Paso)

Green-tailed Towhee (*Jefferson)

Cassin’s Sparrow (*El Paso)

Vesper Sparrow (Boulder, Jefferson)

Sagebrush Sparrow (*Boulder)

Savannah Sparrow (Denver, Weld)

White-throated Sparrow (Mesa)

Harris’s Sparrow (*Denver, El Paso)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Rio Grande)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Weld)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Weld, Yuma)

Northern Cardinal (Boulder)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Lowell Ponds (Clear Creek Valley Park), Gwen Moore reported Snowy Egret.  On April 3 at Lowell Ponds (Clear Creek Valley Park), Christy Payne reported Snowy Egret.

---On April 1 at East Lake Shores Park, Brian Genge reported 15 Red Crossbills.  On April 3 at east Lake Shores Park, Don Mullson reported Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay.

---On April 3 at Lake Sangraco, Christy Payne reported Snowy Egret.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:                                                                  

---On April 2 on High Line Canal Trail w Mineral Ave to S Elati St, Bill Schreitz reported Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

ARCHULETA COUNTY:

---On April 2 at Pagsoa Springs Town Park,  Ben Bailey reported Northern Rough-winged Swallow

BACA COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Springfield Water Treatment Plant, Tony Leukering reported Brown Thrasher and Northern Mockingbird.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Boulder Reservoir Complex, Peter Burke reported 2 Snow Geese.  On April 4 at Boulder Reservoir complex Ted Floyd reported 2 Snow Geese, Bonaparte’s Gull, Sage Thrasher, and Vesper Sparrow; Dan Zmolek and Leslie S reported 2 Snow Geese and Sage Thrasher.

---On April 1 on White Rocks Trail, Ron Podhajsky reported Sagebrush Sparrow.

---On April 4 at Boulder Creek and 75th St, Nancy Ries Morrison and Ted Floyd reported Eastern Phoebe.  On April 5 at Boulder Creek and 75th St, Gregg Goodrich and Anna Troth reported Eastern Phoebe on both sides of the bridge.

---On April 4 at Pella Crossing OS, Carl Starace reported 5 Chimney Swift.

---On April 4 at Melody Park (16th and Kingwood) in Boulder, Bob Fiehweg reported Northern Cardinal.

---On April 5 at Foothills Community Park North end, Christian Nunes reported Sagebrush Sparrow and several birders got to see it.

---On April 5 at Twin Lakes, Laura Steadman reported 20 Chimney Swifts.

---On April 5 at Stearns Lake, Ted Floyd reported 2 Snow Geese.

BROOMFIELD COUNTY:

--- On April 1 at Plaster Reservoir, Matt Hofeditz reported Barn Swallow.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

---On April 2 at Buena Vista Ice Pond, Christian Hagenlocher reported Great Egret, 5 Sandhill Cranes, and Bonaparte’s Gull.  On April 3 at Buena Vista Ice Pond (view from road), Mike Buccieri  reported Bonaparte’s Gull.  On April 4 at Buenta Vista Ice Pond (view from road), Christian Hagenlocher reported Great Egret and Bonaparte’s Gull.

---On April 4 on CR 367, Christian Hagenlocher reported 2 Barn Swallows.

---On April 5 at Bob’s Rocks, Christian Hagenlocher reported 4 White-throated Swifts.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY:

---On April 1 while snowshoeing up Guanella Pass, Glenn Walbek reported 14 Bohemian Waxwing about halfway up at about 11,300 ft; Christian Hagenlocher reported 18 Bohemian Waxwings.

CUSTER COUNTY:

---On April 4 in Wetmore Area, Jerry DeBoer reported 2 Eastern Phoebe.

DELTA COUNTY:

---On April 2 above Hotchkiss in Gambel Oak, Leon Thurmon reported Booming Dusky Grouse.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On April 1 at First Creek at DEN OS, John Breitsch and Jeff Dawson reported Harris’s Sparrow.  On April 2 at First Creek at DEN OS, Dan Pointon reported Harris’s Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow.  On April 4 at First Creek at DEN OS, Don Glasco reported Harris’s Sparrow.  On April 5 at First Creek at DEN OS, John Breitsch reported Harris’s Sparrow.

---On April 1 at Washington Park, Joe Roller reported Snowy Egret on Grasmere Lake.

---On April 1 at Westerly Creek Park, Jason  Bidgood reported Harris’s Sparrow bet  Creek and Beehler at about 23rd Ave.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Parker Regional Park (aka Salisbury Equestrian Park), Cynthia Kristensen reported Lesser Yellowlegs.  On April 2 at Parker Regional Park (aka Salisbury Equestrian Park), Tim Ryan reported Lesser Yellowlegs.  On April 5 at Parker Regional Park (aka Salisbury Equestrian Park), Tim Ryan reported Ross’s Goose.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On April 1 on Hanover Rd, Ginny Bergstrom reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Chihuahuan Raven, and Curve-billed Thrasher; Robb Hinds reported 5 Burrowing Owls and 7 Curve-billed Thrashers; Roger Masey reported Cassin’s Sparrow and Curve-billed Thrasher.  On April 5 at Hanover Road, Diane Roberts and her DFO Field Trip reported pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Curve-billed Thrasher, 2 Burrowing Owls, 4 Sage Thrashers, and 2 Cassins Sparrows.

---On April 4 at Ramah Reservoir SWA, Cheri Phillips reported Long-billed Dowitcher.

---On April 2 at Squirrel Creek Rd Reservoir, Alan and Mary Lynne Ketcham, John Drummond, Joy and Leonard Lake reported Lesser Yellowlegs; Gloria Nikolai reported 3 Lesser Yellowlegs.  On April 3 at Squirrel Creek Road Reservoir, Diane Roberts, Chris Brobin and Tanja Britton reported Lesser Yellowlegs.

---On April 1 at Hanover Fire Station, Bill Kosar found m Vermilion Flycatcher and many other birders were able to see it.  Brandon Percival also reported Cassin’s Sparrow and Mel and Jeanne Golf reported Curve-billed Thrasher.  On April 2 at Hanover Fire Station, Linda Hodges and many other birders reported m Vermilion Flycatcher and Curve-billed Thrashers, and Cassin’s Sparrows.  On April 3 at Hanover Fire Station, David Tonnessen and several other birders reported that the Vermilion Flycatcher continues with Curve-billed Thrashers.  On April 4 at Hanover Fire Station, Christy Payne and several other birders reported Vermilion Flycatcher.  

---On April 2 on South Peyton Hwy at 1st Ranch house south of Hanover Fire Station on west side of road from 2:30 to 4:00 pm Gregg Goodrich and Debbie Barnes reported Vermilion Flycatcher.

---On April 2 at Chico Basin Ranch on road to banding station, Linda Hodges reported 4 Sage Thrashers.  On April 5 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), Jeannie Mitchell and John Drummond  reported 2 Burrowing Owls, 3 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, and Curve-billed Thrasher; Patraicia Bacchetti reported Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On April 2 at Hanover Road and De Groot, Linda Hodges reported 4 Burrowing Owls.  On April 4 at Hanover Road and De Groot, Rod Schmidt reported Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On April 2 at Squirrel Creek Rd and Bar O Rd, John Bruder reported 6 Chestnut-Collared Longspurs.  On April 2 at Squirrel Creek Rd East, Monday Birders reported 3 Burrowing Owls and 3 Chestnut-collared Longspurs.  

---On April 3 on De Groot Rd, Loch Kilpatrick reported 2 Cassin’s Sparrows.  On April 5 at DeGroot Road John Drummond reported Cassin’s Sparrow.

---On April 3 on Hanover Road, Gregg Goodrich reported 2 Cassin’s Sparrows.  On April 4 on Hanover Road, Cheri Phillips reported 2 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Diana Beatty reported Cassin’s Sparrow.

---On April 5 at 19250 Loop Rd Uldrickson Farm, Christine Alexander, Ginny Bergstrom and Tom Johnson and his Field Guides tour reported Vermilion Flycatcher.

---On April 5 at Hanover Fire Station, Jeannie Mitchell and John Drumond reported Cassin’s Sparrow.

---On April 5 on Birdsall Road, Jim Merrit reported Curve-billed Thasher.

---On April 5 at Blair Bridge OS, Joy Lake reported Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

FREMONT COUNTY:

---On April 2, SeEtta Moss reported Black Phoebe at Florence River Park, MacKenzie Ave  Bridge in Canon City, Sell’s Lake in Canon City.

---On April 3, SeEtta Moss reported 2 Eastern Phoebe at Tunnel Drive Rd in Canon City, and 2 Eastern Phoebe at Sell’s Lake Trailhead to Canon City Riverwalk.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On April 3 at Ponds near Rifle Garfield Airport (view from road), JoAnn Riggle reported 2 Snow Geese.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Arvada Blunn Reservoir, Steven Snyder reported Burrowing Owl near 64th Ave entrance.

---On April 1 on West Woods Golf Course, Steven Snyder reported Greater White-fronted Goose.

---On April 3 at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Prospect Park and Lake, Tuesday Birders and Matt Clark reported 2-3 Lesser Yellowlegs and 100 Sandhill Cranes.  On April 4 at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Prospect Park and Lake, Ginny  Bergstrom reported 3 Lesser Yellowlegs.

---On April 3 at Bear Creek Lake Park at Pelican Point, Mark Chavez and Myron Gerhard reported Vesper Sparrow.

---On April 4 on Kipling going north, north of Ridge Rd, Anne Price reported Swainson’s Hawk.

---On April 5 at Ken Caryl Cathy Johnson Trail, David Suddjian reported Green-tailed Towhee.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On April 3 at Pastoroius Reservoir, Jason St. Pierre reported Least Sandpiper.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On April 2 at Arapahoe Bend NA Rigden Reservoir (Strauss Cabin Lake), Lori Zabel reported Baird’s Sandpiper.  On April 5 at Arapahoe Bend NA Rigden Reservoir (Struass Cabin Lake), Walter Wehtje reported 4 Barn Swallows and 2 Cliff Swallows. 

---On April 1 at Running Deer and Cottonwood Hollow NA, Skyler Bol reported Cliff Swallow.

---On April 5 at Lee Martinez Park, Ethan Kistler reported 125 Turkey Vultures from 0900 and Gray Catbird.

MESA COUNTY:

---On April 1 on Colorado River Trail Audubon Section, Katey Buster reported Black Phoebe at Phoebe Rock.

---On April 2 at Horsethief Canyon SWA, Carol Ortenzio and Katey Buster reported 2 Black Phoebe and White-throated Sparrow.

---On April 1 at 23 ¼ Rd pond, Lee Stigen reported 2 Long-billed Dowitchers.

---On April 1 at Audubon Sanctuary, Lee Stigen reported Osprey.

MINERAL COUNTY:

---On April 5 at West Fork Rd, Ben Bailey reported 2 Turkey Vultures.  West Fork Rd is at mm158 on north Hwy 160.

MOFFAT COUNTY:

---On April 5 at Moffat County Road Dept Ponds, John Vaderpoel reported Great Egret.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY:

---On April 5 at Totten Lake, Glenn Dunmire reported 2 Sandhill Cranes and 6 Franklin’s Gulls.

---On April 5 at Centennial Park pond in Cortez, Glenn Dunmire reported pair of Wood Ducks.

PITKIN COUNTY:

---On April 1 on Owl Creek Ranch Rd, Catherine Hagen reported Turkey Vulture.

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On April 4 at Northgate, Jane Stulp reported 2 Greater White-fronted Geese.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

---On April 1 at Monte Vista NWR, John Rawinski reported 4 – 5,000 Sandhill Cranes and good numbers of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and 4 Black-necked Stilts.  On April 4 at Monte Vista NWR, Dale Pate reported 2 White-faced Ibis and 400 Sandhill Cranes.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On April 4 at The Terraces, Eric Hynes reported 1 Gray-crowned (Hepburn’s) Rosy-Finch, 4 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 6 Black Rosy-Finch, and 140 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

---On April 4 at Prewitt Reservoir, Norm Erthal reported Glaucous Gull.

WELD COUNTY:

---On April 2 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason reported 4 Bushtits.

---On April 1 on CR 124 from CR 111 east, Steve Mlodinow reported 9 Sharp-tailed Grouse.

---On April 1 at Union Reservoir, Gene Rutherford reported White-winged Dove and Brown-headed Cowbird.

---On April 1 in Pawnee NG CR 136 east of CR 99 Cheri Phillips reported 19 Sharp-tailed Grouse.

---On April 1 at Behrens Reservoir, Gene Rutherford reported 4 Greater White-fronted Geese.

---On April 1 at Grover, David Ely reported 34 Sandhill Cranes and 4 Eastern Bluebirds.

---On April 1 on CR 44 between CR 41 and CR 43, David Ely reported Swainson’s Hawk.

---On April 1 on Pawnee NG Murphy’s Pasture Auto tour Stops 2 and 3, Cheri Phillips reported Burrowing Owl, Sage Thrasher and EASTERN MEADOWLARK.

---On April 1 at Lower Latham, Steve Mlodinow, Riley, and Heather Morris reported Savannah Sparrow.

---On April 1 at Clark Lake, Steve Mlodinow reported 6 Greater White-fronted Geese.

DFO Field Trips: 

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, April 7 will be to Denver City Park, Led by Patrick O-Driscoll (patrodrisk AT gmail.com; 303-885-6955 (cell)).  This trip is FULL.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, April 8 will be to Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza and Bill Wuerthle (kvonsaltza AT  yahoo.com; 303-941-4881)  Meet at 0800 at Prairie Loop lot in Cherry Creek SP.  From either park entrance, followLake View Rod to the Prarie Loop that is locataed 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 3.5 miles.  Trails could be slippery or muddy.  Bring water and snacks; lunch is optional.  Beginning birders are welcome.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Monday, April 9 will be to Southwest Metro Area Ponds and Lakes led by David Suddjian (dsuddjian At gmail.com; 831-713-8659)  This trip is FULL.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder