Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 9 December 2014

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: December 9, 2014

 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert Tuesday, December 9 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

 

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

Trumpeter Swan (*Boulder)

Tundra Swan (Pueblo)

White-winged Scoter (*Arapahoe)

Long-tailed Duck (*Arapahoe, Weld)

Barrow's Goldeneye (*Arapahoe)

Red-necked Grebe (Douglas/Jefferson, Larimer, Prowers)

Thayer's Gull (Larimer)

ICELAND GULL (Larimer)

Glaucous Gull (*Arapahoe)

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

Greater Roadrunner (*Bent)

COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Mesa)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Fremont)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Prowers)

Black Phoebe (Mesa)

Winter Wren (El Paso, *Otero)

Varied Thrush (El Paso)

Pine Warbler (Boulder)

Fox Sparrow (Jefferson)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Jefferson)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Moffat, Pueblo)

Black Rosy-Finch (Boulder)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

--On December 8 at Cherry Creek Reservoir, Walbek reported 4 Long-tailed Ducks, White-winged Scoter, Barrow's Goldeneye, ad Glaucous Gull, and 4th-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull.

BENT COUNTY:

--2 Greater Roadrunners were reported by Dowell on CR J on December 7.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On December 6, Kaempfer reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at Fawnbrook Inn -- about 100 Gray-crowned including some Hepburn's, 10 Brown-capped, and 2 Black.  On December 7, Mark Miller reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at Fawnbrook Inn.

--On December 6 on a pond on Hygiene Road, Kaempfer reported a 1st winter Trumpeter Swan.  On December 8, Starace reported Trumpeter Swan on pond on Hygiene Road.

--At McIntosh Lake on December 6, Kaempfer reported an ad Lesser Black-backed Gull.

--At Valmont Reservoir on December 6, Kaempfer reported a 1st winter Trumpeter Swan.

--A Pine Warbler was reported by Tumasonis in Louisvile in Ponderosas behind the Cinebarre Theatre at Macaslin Blvd and Dillon Road on December 6.

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:

--Dunning reported Red-necked Grebe at Chatfield on December 6.

EL PASO COUNTY:

--On December 2, David Rudin reported an ad m Varied Thrush in his backyard on the West side of Colorado Springs. On December 4, Hodges reported the Varied Thrush in Colorado Springs.   For updates and to make arrangements to try to see the bird contact him at dbrudin AT yahoo.com.

--On December 5, Farese reported a Winter Wren at Sondermann Park in Colorado Springs.

FREMONT COUNTY:

--A Red-headed Woodpecker was reported by Rich Miller at Florence River Park near the picnic shelter on December 4.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On December 2, Chavez reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post. On December 6, Hartman reported Fox Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--On December 6 at the Larimer County Landfill, Komar reported 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (mostly ad), 5 Thayer's Gulls (mostly juv), and an ad Kumlien's ICELAND GULL.

--At Horseshoe Reservoir on December 3, Komar reported 1 ad Thayer's Gull and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (4th-cyc).  On December 7, Komar reported multiple Lesser Black-backed Gulls, thayer's Gull, and possible Ad ICELAND GULL and juv ICELAND GULL.

--A Red-necked Grebe was reported by Hopper at Rawhide Energy Plant on December 6.

MESA COUNTY:

--Steve Bouricius (bouricii At earthlink.net) kindly has made arrangements to see the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD.  Here are his instructions.

The Costa's Hummingbird in Grand Junction was still present on November 16.  The hosts, Larry and Twanna Cooksey, graciously welcome birders to view the bird from their courtyard at 2217 Tuscany.  Walbek reported seeing the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD on November 22.  On December 4, Steve Bouricius reported that the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD continues to visit the Cooksey's feeders.  

Directions:  From Redlands Parkway, continue west on S. Broadway about 0.6 mi. and turn left on South Camp Road (the street sign is missing); take S. Camp to Renaissance Blvd., turn left on Renaissance, then right on Tuscany to 2217.  Please enter the gate from the Montero Street side, left of the garage door.

Morning is the best time to see the bird as it may not be present for long periods during mid day.  I suggest leaving the bird to feed undisturbed in late afternoon.  There is seating on the patio but you might want to be prepared with a folding chair.  The courtyard is intimate and the feeders close so a quiet atmosphere may be important to seeing the bird.  She often perches deep in the aspen at the west end of the court yard.

MOFFAT COUNTY:

--A flock of 2500+ Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches was reported by Brett Walker on Buckwater Ridge East of Harper's Corner south of Dinosaur NM on December 6.

OTERO COUNTY:

--A Winter Wren was reported by Dowell at Rocky Ford SWA on December 5

PROWERS COUNTY:

--On December 5, Thompson reported Red-necked Grebe on Valco Ponds in Lamar.

--A m Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Leathernan at Willow Creek Park in Lamar on December 8.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On December 3 at Pueblo Reservoir below the dam, Percival reported Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches.  On December 4, Percival reported a large flock of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches coming to drink at a pool below Pueblo Reservoir Dam.  On December 6, Percival reported that the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at returning to the pool below Pueblo Reservoir Dam about every 20 minutes.

--On December 6, Duane Nelson reported 2 ad Tundra Swans north of US 50 on water treatment ponds between mile markers 331 and 332, about 1/2 mile east of the Arkansas River.  This is about 20 miles east of Pueblo.

WELD COUNTY:

--A f Long-tailed Duck was reported by Norm Lewis on Windsor Lake on December 3.

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, December 13 will be to Chatifled Arboretum led by Lynn Willcockson (Lynnliz2698 AT aol.com, 303-757-7000).  Meet at the Entrance Gate to the Arboretum at 0830.  Enjoy a leisurely walk and see what birds are out making a living.  Lunch optional.  RSVP required.  Limit 15 participants.  

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, December 14, will be the South Platte River Trail at East 74th Ave and I-76 led by Amy Morton (razgoryp AT gmail.com571-480-3113).  Directions:   If Driving north on I-76, exit at East 74th Ave and turn west over freeway.  Look for parking lot on the south side of the road.  

If Driving south on I-76, exit at East 88th Ave.  Drive west to Dahlia and south on Dahlia to E 77th Ave.  Turn right (west) over freeway and look for parking lot on the south side of the road.  Half-day, 3 mile walk along the South Platte River.  

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, December 14, will be to CherryCreek SP led by Karen von Saltza (kvonsaltza AT  yahoo.com 3030941-4881).  Meet at Prairie Loop lot in Cherry Creek Sp.  The Prairier Loop is locate at the south rim of the reservoir.  State Parks pass or day pass required.  This is a half day trip passing through many important habitats in 3 miles.  Trails could be slippery, so dress accordingly.  Bring water and snacks; lunch optional.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Las Vegas, NM